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About the job

IPG Defense , a stand-alone business of IPG Photonics, was incorporated in 2026 to provide direct support for defense products. Headquartered in Huntsville, AL, IPG Defense is bringing commercial scale to laser defense systems, leveraging IPG Photonics' 36 years of experience in fiber laser technology. Our mission: develop and deliver the most advanced, next-generation laser defense solutions for military and civilian use — systems that accurately and reliably detect, track, target, and neutralize threats.

IPG Photonics is the world's leading developer and manufacturer of high-performance fiber lasers and amplifiers for diverse applications in numerous markets. Founded in 1990, IPG pioneered the development and commercialization of optical fiber-based lasers — a critical technology in our high-energy laser (HEL) systems, including the CROSSBOW program.

Your skills and experience will play a key role in shaping our growing organization, building our capabilities, and delivering on our mission. Join us and build a career that will shape the future of laser defense.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Software Engineer – Computer Vision develops real-time image-processing and tracking algorithms supporting beam control, target acquisition, and stabilization in defense laser platforms. Working at the intersection of optics, sensors, and software, this role enables IPG’s directed-energy systems to perform with precision under dynamic field conditions. This opening targets a mid-level engineer; junior and senior candidates may also be considered, with level determined by experience and qualifications.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Design and implement computer-vision algorithms for object detection, optical flow, and target tracking.

Develop tracking and state-estimation pipelines (e.g., Kalman filtering, track initiation and maintenance) for maneuvering targets in cluttered scenes.

Integrate vision pipelines with gimbals, sensors, and beam-steering hardware.

Optimize GPU-accelerated code on embedded platforms such as NVIDIA Jetson, including CUDA and TensorRT deployment.

Process EO/IR imagery to support laser targeting and feedback control, including camera calibration and sensor characterization.

Build data, simulation, and playback tooling to evaluate algorithm performance against recorded and synthetic scenarios.

Support modeling, field testing, and algorithm performance validation.