Sr. Optical Engineer (Starshield)
Core
Design, validate, and operate free-space optical communication systems and observation payloads for government satellite constellations.
Role type
Senior IC optical engineer (laser communications)
Builds
Laser communication terminals and imaging products for the Starshield satellite constellation
Domain
Aerospace / Satellite communications / Photonics
Deliverable
production ML models | product features | infrastructure
Required skills
Optics and photonics system design, Free-space optical principles, Laser technology, Optical system validation, Risk assessment, Hardware development for high-reliability applications, Pointing acquisition and tracking, Atmospheric optical effects analysis, Opto-mechanical design, Optical test equipment operation
Preferred skills
Zemax proficiency, Mixed-signal circuit design, FPGA and SERDES interfaces, Precision metrology, Infrared system alignment, Python scripting, Linux environment
Technologies
Zemax, C++, MATLAB, Python, Linux, FPGAs, Ethernet, SERDES, DDR4, I2C, SPI
Responsibilities
Define requirements for high-performance optical systems in challenging environmental conditions, Lead optical architecture definition through trade studies and concept of operations, Participate in verification testing including environmental qualification and reliability testing, Define and lead field testing of optical experiments, Review test data and lead anomaly investigation, Interface with manufacturing and supply chain teams, Collaborate with software teams for automated optical testing tools
Seniority
Senior, hands-on IC