Principal Electro-Optical Engineer

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.

• 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.