• Job Description

  Req#: 177672

  Job Details

  Job Location: Colt Optics - Brighton, MI

  Position Type: Full Time

  Education Level: 4 Year Degree

  Salary Range: $170000.00 - $200000.00 Salary/year

  Travel Percentage: None

  Job Shift: Day

  Job Category: Engineering

  Principal Electro-Optical Engineer - Colt Optics

  Colt Electro Optics (Colt Optics), a division of Colt CZ Group North America, is looking for a Principal Electro-Optical Engineer.

  Located in Brighton Michigan, Colt Optics is a global supplier of electro-optics, magnified optics, night vision systems and other weapons, accessories and enablers.

  The Principal Electro-Optical Engineer will lead the strategic vision, development, and execution of our electro-optical product portfolio, including fire control systems, thermal imaging devices, and advanced sighting solutions. The Engineer will collaborate with cross-functional teams, manage R&D initiatives, and ensure compliance with industry standards such as MIL-STD-810G and MIL-PRF-13830B, while fostering partnerships with key stakeholders, including the U.S. Department of Defense and international clients.

  Job Responsibilities

  • Lead the integration of electro-optical components, including sensors, lasers, and digital displays, into compact, ruggedized systems suitable for military use.
  • Work closely with product managers and military clients to translate mission requirements into innovative electro-optical designs.
  • Partner with manufacturing teams to ensure designs are scalable and cost-effective, leveraging domestic and international production capabilities.
  • Represents the company at industry events (e.g., SHOT Show, AUSA) to showcase advancements in electro-optical fire control systems.
  • Implement quality control measures to maintain precision and reliability, benchmarking against industry standards.
  • Develop prototypes for next-generation fire control systems, ensuring compatibility with common platforms.
  • Direct R&D efforts to push the boundaries of electro-optics, focusing on novel technologies.
  • Lead Testing and Evaluation (T&E) programs to ensure systems meet military specifications and client requirements.
  • Develop and oversee rigorous testing protocols to validate optical performance, including resolution, field of view, and thermal sensitivity, under extreme conditions (e.g., waterproofing to 20 meters, shock resistance).
  • Collaborate with electrical and software engineering teams to embed advanced features like real-time ballistic correction and sensor fusion.
  • Define and execute the technical vision for electro-optical systems, including thermal weapon sights, laser rangefinders, and ballistic-corrected reticle designs.
  • Oversee optical system architecture, ensuring optimal performance in low-light, adverse weather, and high-stress combat environments
  • Design and help implement vision systems for manufacturing and product testing.

  Qualifications

  
  

  • Bachelor’s degree in Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field. Master’s or Ph. D relevant to electro-optical defense applications is a plus.
  • 10+ years of experience in electro-optics, with at least 5 years in a technical leadership role within the defense industry. Prior work with designing and testing weapon sights for small arms is a plus.
  • Experience executing on complex and multi-disciplinary R&D projects.
  • Strong communication, management and leadership skills.

• About the company

  722959 Colt's Manufacturing Company, LLC is an American firearms manufacturer, founded in 1855 by Samuel Colt.

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