The operating principles and design of an optical receiver for a Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) remote sensing instrument are addressed. The performance and limitations of a biaxial monostatic LIDAR system utilizing this design are investigated. The complete optical and structural design of the receiver, including specifications of components are outlined. The thermal stabilization of the detector assembly and the integration of control electronics are described. A detailed discussion of alignment procedures and possible improvements are made. A sample observation is presented with suggestions for fully automating the system.