Position Overview:
The Laser System Director is an Executive position accountable for driving the development and execution of a comprehensive laser technology and engineering strategy that aligns with EOS business goals and enables our growth plans.
This role requires deep technical expertise coupled with exceptional commercial and customer experience.
To be successful in this role, you will drive the strategic development and commercialisation of advanced laser technologies. This role requires deep expertise in system engineering, system design, laser physics, opto-mechanical design, industrial development and business operations. The successful candidate will have significant experience leading teams in the creation, testing, and deployment of cutting-edge laser systems, experience driving commercial outcomes and a well-established global network within the Defence, Space and associated industries.
This is a unique opportunity to lead and inspire a talented technology team, drive business growth over a multi-year time horizon and shape the technological future of the laser business for EOS.
Accountabilities:
The successful candidate must have
Technology Strategy: development and execution
Design & Developmen
- Oversee the design and implementation of opto-mechanical systems, provide expert guidance in laser physics, and use modelling and simulations to enhance system performance across various applications.
- Lead cross-disciplinary teams to manage laser development projects, overseeing timelines, budgets, and resources, and coordinate with vendors to integrate advanced technologies.
- Lead and work collaboratively with engineers across functional teams to solve complex problems as a team and ensure all requirements are identified, captured, and analysed such that the design/product can be developed that satisfies the safety, quality, policy, legislative and design authority requirements.
- Undertake clear and pragmatic tests, evaluation, and verification activities on integrated system designs and prototypes to verify and provide recommendations for sign-off of all design/product requirements to the Chief Engineer and Design Authorities based on relevant legislative requirements, standards, and contracts.
Research & Innovation
- Stay at the forefront of emerging laser technologies, trends, and industry best practices.
- Guide applied research initiatives to create next-generation laser technologies, including materials science, photonics, and quantum optics.
- Collaborate with academic and industrial partners on joint research programs and innovation projects that drive EOS objectives forward.
Manufacturing and Industrialization
- Work closely with manufacturing teams to translate prototypes and laboratory systems into scalable industrial solutions.
- Oversee the transition from R&D to production, ensuring design for manufacturability, cost-effectiveness, and high-quality standards.
- Develop and implement processes to monitor product performance in the field, driving improvements based on customer feedback.
Commercial Focus
- Develop and execute strategies for the commercialisation of laser technologies including a strong sales and business development focus to achieve commercial outcomes, enabling product innovation, market penetration driving project performance (including schedule, cost, quality, margin and cash flow) and leading a team of precision optics manufacturing professionals.
- Collaborate with marketing and business development teams to identify and capture market opportunities and customer needs
- Readily apply technical knowledge and experience to provide the required organisational leadership to ensure EOS DS meets its contractual requirements.
Workplace Health and Safety
- Create a safe workplace for our people
- Ensure that all aspects of the laser team's operations and activities are always undertaken in a healthy and safe manner and are compliant with required workplace health and safety legislation and regulations.
- Approve all Safe Working Procedures and Emergency Plans for Directed Energy lasers.
- Ensure Laser Safety Officers/Engineers are appropriately trained and qualified.
- Maintain oversight of relevant laser safety legislation and standards.
Leadership
- Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement.
- Create a sense of urgency and action orientation across multiple teams.
- Actively listen, share knowledge and experience, provide guidance and mentorship, and work collaboratively to mobilise teams across engineering and other relevant internal and external customers to deliver customer and business outcomes.
The successful candidate may have (desirable)
Business Strategy and Development
- Execute the appropriate business strategy for the laser team, which enables the team to be positioned as a partner/supplier-of-choice in its chosen market segments.
- Contribute to and influence strategy for emerging, new, and current technologies, products, services within Defence Systems and have authority over and accountable for the innovation and delivery practices required to assure the implementation of this strategy.
- Assess and ensure a high level of leadership and deep industry, defence system knowledge and systems engineering best practice to maintain competitive advantage, exploit EOS DS technologies and minimise exposure and risk.
- Communicate, advocate and influence persuasively through effective negotiation and communication while fostering an environment of innovation, learning and continuous improvement within and outside the organisation.
- Represent EOS as the Subject Matter Expert in laser systems engineering both internally and externally to the organization.
Customer Relationship Management
- Proactively engage with customers to understand their technical needs and identify opportunities for new product development.
- Present cutting-edge laser technologies to clients, stakeholders, and industry conferences.
- Provide technical expertise to the sales and marketing teams to effectively communicate product value propositions to the market.
Experience:
- 15+ years of experience in the development of laser technologies, including substantial hands-on experience in opto-mechanical design, laser physics, and industrial application.
- Minimum 10 years leadership experience leading a multi-disciplinary team in a project role.
- Proven track record of successful leadership in the laser or photonics industry, with a strong ability to manage multi-disciplinary teams.
- Deep understanding of laser systems, opto-mechanical design principles, and integration of laser technology into commercial products.
- Strong and proven commercial acumen with experience managing multi-million-dollar budgets and revenue targets.
- Strong market presence and customer / stakeholder base
- Demonstrated ability to drive complex technical programs to successful completion.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, capable of interacting with stakeholders, customers and partners at all levels, including executive leadership and c-suite.
Qualifications:
- Ph.D. or Master's degree in Physics, Optics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field with a focus on laser systems.
- Bachelor's degree in engineering (electronics or Software, Systems Engineering, excluding civil).
- Postgraduate qualifications in Systems Engineering, Engineering are highly desirable.
- Significant systems design and integration experience
- Significant leadership expertise required and leadership qualifications favourable.
