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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' more than 35 years of experience in fiber laser technology.

IPG Photonics is the world's leading developer and manufacturer of high-performance fiber lasers and amplifiers for diverse applications in numerous markets. IPG's diverse lines of low, medium and high-power lasers and amplifiers are used in materials processing, defense, medical, biotechnology, scientific and advanced applications. 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.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Software Engineer – UX / Front-End develops operator dashboards and visualization tools for IPG’s defense-grade high-energy laser systems. This position combines UX design principles with high-performance C++/Qt development to create real-time control and situational-awareness interfaces for mission-critical applications. 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 intuitive, easy-to-use GUIs in C++/C# and Qt (including QML) for laser command, camera views, diagnostics, and health monitoring.

Integrate real-time telemetry, video, and safety data into unified, low-latency visual displays.

Work directly with system operators and test teams to refine workflows, run usability evaluations, and iterate on interface designs.

Support AR-based visualization for alignment and targeting.

Apply secure-coding, code-review, and CI practices across the interface codebase.

Ensure adherence to DFARS cybersecurity and MIL-STD usability standards.