Director of Engineering (Optronics)

TL;DR

Director of Engineering (Optronics): Leading the development of gimbal optics, opto-mechanical design, and EO/IR systems for autonomous defense payloads with an accent on people management, team scaling, and engineering standardization. Focus on building high-performing teams, optimizing internal tooling, and refining organizational structures to accelerate delivery of mission-critical systems.

Location: On-site in Paris

Company

Next-generation defense prime building autonomous and scalable defense systems to deliver mission-critical capabilities to allied forces.

What you will do

• Lead and mentor the Optronics team in Paris, overseeing performance reviews and career growth.
• Own the recruitment process to more than double the team's headcount within the first year.
• Develop and implement standardized work processes across optical, opto-mechanical, and EO/IR engineering.
• Audit and improve internal tooling to ensure engineers have the best resources for success.
• Collaborate with leadership to refine organizational structure and contribute to the long-term technical vision.

Requirements

• Strong academic record in Optics, Photonics, Opto-mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Proven track record as an IC who successfully transitioned into a management role.
• Direct experience leading teams that have shipped stabilized optical payloads or EO/IR products to production.
• Background at organizations such as Safran, Thales, Lynred, Hensoldt, or Teledyne FLIR.
• Location: Must be based in Paris for on-site work.
• 100% dedication to the mission of building autonomous defense systems in a high-pressure environment.

Culture & Benefits

• Opportunity to work on high-impact technology with real-world defense applications.
• Fast-paced, demanding environment that values rigor, ownership, and technical excellence.
• Direct influence on the growth and organizational strategy of a well-funded unicorn startup.