Job Description

Vision and Sighting Systems Technical Director

Location: Richardson, TX

Department: Research and Development / Engineering

Reports to: President or CEO

Employment Type: Full-time

Optex Systems, Inc. headquartered in Richardson, Texas manufacturers optical sighting systems and assemblies primarily for the Department of Defense (DoD) applications and also manufactures and delivers numerous periscope configurations, rifle and surveillance sights and night vision optical assemblies. Optex delivers its products both directly to the military services and to prime contractors. These products have earned a reputation for world-class field performance. Additionally, we are expanding and making our products available to the commercial sector.

We are currently seeking a highly experienced and technically proficient Technical Director with a strong background in opto-mechanical systems to lead strategic growth initiatives, develop customer relationships, and drive new business opportunities. The ideal candidate will blend deep engineering knowledge with market insight to expand our presence across key sectors including aerospace, defense, medical imaging, semiconductors, and photonics.

Key Responsibilities:

Technical Expertise:

• Translate customer requirements into technical solutions in collaboration with the engineering and R&D teams.
• Develop strategies for new products and solutions.
• Present complex opto-mechanical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Stay informed on industry trends, emerging technologies, and competitive landscape.

Customer Engagement:

• Act as the technical voice of the customer, ensuring their needs are understood and addressed in product development.
• Drive pre-sales and post-sales support in collaboration with engineering teams.
• Attend trade shows, conferences, and technical symposia to represent the company and gather market intelligence.

Leadership & Collaboration:

• Collaborate with engineering, product management, and executive teams to align technology roadmaps with business goals.
• Mentor and guide junior team members in both technical and commercial aspects.
• Contribute to annual planning, forecasting, and revenue growth targets.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in opto-mechanical systems with a minimum of 5 years in business development, sales, or customer-facing technical roles.
• Proven track record of managing multi-million-dollar projects.
• Deep understanding of optical and mechanical integration, alignment tolerances, material selection, and thermal/mechanical stability.
• Experience working with OEMs, defense primes, or research institutions.
• Strong presentation, negotiation, and communication skills.
• Willingness to travel domestically (~25%).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in regulated industries (ITAR, ISO 13485, ISO 9001, MIL-STD, AS9100etc.)
• Familiarity with optical simulation and CAD tools (e.g., Zemax, Code V, SolidWorks, Creo)
• Existing network in photonics, aerospace, or defense sectors.

What We Offer:

• Competitive compensation + performance incentives
• Equity participation (if applicable)
• Comprehensive health, dental, vision, Life/AD&D, LTD, 401(k), HSA, PTO, Holiday Pay, etc.
• Opportunities for advancement in a growing high-tech organization
• Collaborative and innovation-driven culture

Optex Systems is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Prohibits Discrimination and Harassment of Any Kind: Optex Systems is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at Optex Systems are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. Optex Systems will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.”

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