Lead Hardware Engineer

Bohr Systems is building chip-based LiDAR missile seeker systems for counter-UAS interceptors. The company is at the ground floor — the photonics simulations exist, the team is in place, and now it’s time to turn that work into a physical, ruggedized product that can be mounted on the front of a missile and qualified for flight.

The Opportunity

Bohr Systems is looking for a Lead Hardware Engineer to own the hardware architecture and mechanical design of their LiDAR missile seeker from scratch. There is no CAD of the seeker yet. You will define the full hardware architecture, deliver a physical prototype within the first 60-90 days, own the qualification and certification process, and hire and lead a small hardware team beneath you.

 This is a high-ownership, architecture-level role. You must have previously designed payloads, seekers, or systems for high-G environments at a defense prime (Raytheon, Lockheed, Northrop) or a national lab (AFRL, Draper, Livermore). The work requires translating photonics simulations into a buildable, ruggedized system — and then getting it qualified to mount on partner missile platforms.

What You’ll Do

• •      Define the full hardware architecture for the LiDAR missile seeker — mechanical packaging, lens mounting, PCB placement, and seeker diameter — translating photonics simulations into a buildable system
• •      Deliver a physical prototype and CAD within the first 60-90 days that can demonstrate form factor and system capabilities to customers
• •      Own the certification and qualification process required to mount a seeker on partner missile platforms
• •      Work alongside the photonics and electrical teams as the integration layer, packaging their optical and power architectures into a high-G ruggedized system ready for flight
• •      Hire and lead a mechanical engineer to handle hands-on prototyping, setting the technical bar for the growing hardware team

You Should Have

• •      8-15 years of experience designing missile seekers or payloads for high-G environments at a defense prime or national lab
• •      Demonstrated experience designing or integrating a seeker or payload on a missile at Raytheon, Lockheed, Northrop, Draper, AFRL, or a comparable national lab
• •      Experience with missile qualification certifications and ruggedization for high-G environments
• •      Optomechanical experience from a LiDAR, imaging, or electro-optical systems company
• •      System architecture experience for electro-optical or active sensing hardware including optomechanical design, lens mounting, PCB placement, and seeker packaging
• •      Environmental testing experience with MIL-STD-810, shock, vibration, and thermal qualification
• •      Prototype-to-production transition experience including design reviews and qualification builds
• •      Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, or Physics

Nice to Have

• •      Experience hiring and leading small hardware engineering teams
• •      Background in counter-UAS or interceptor programs