Principal Optical Systems Engineer

4 weeks, 2 days ago
Full-time
Lead
IoT and Embedded Systems

K2 Space Corporation

K2 Space builds high-powered satellite platforms and satellite buses for missions across LEO, MEO, and GEO, emphasizing higher payload power, large payload mass, vertical integration, and in-house manufacturing.

Defense and Space Manufacturing
51-200
Founded 2022
$180M raised

Description

  • Define system architecture, SNR budgets, and system-specific optical models such as stray light and fiber coupling.
  • Perform detailed optical design and tolerancing for optical benches and payload subsystems.
  • Develop risk-reduction plans, test strategies, and overall development timelines.
  • Lead environmental qualification, reliability testing, laboratory characterization, and system-level validation.
  • Support mission readiness and on-orbit commissioning of optical payloads.
  • Collaborate with optical and satellite bus teams to determine feasibility and system requirements.
  • Prepare and present design reviews to secure stakeholder alignment across hardware, software, test, and manufacturing teams.
  • Forecast staffing needs, define team roles, and interview candidates for the optical payloads team.
  • Mentor engineers, scope work, provide feedback, and review technical deliverables.
  • Evaluate manufacturing equipment and work with production teams to develop factory layouts, work instructions, in-process checks, and end-of-line tests.

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in physics, optics, computer science, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or a related technical field.
  • 8+ years of experience in the design, manufacture, and test of optical systems.
  • Experience designing and deploying optical systems across the full product lifecycle, including requirements generation, design, analysis, tolerance, procurement, build, alignment, test, deployment, and operation.
  • Familiarity with high-volume manufacturing, including design for manufacturability, supply chain management, and productionizing assembly and test processes (preferred).
  • Experience with optical mechanisms, including requirements definition, feedback and actuation methods, basic controls analysis, mechanism error quantification, and system-level testing (preferred).
  • Deep knowledge of electro-optical sensing technologies such as focal plane arrays and photodiodes, including non-idealities, noise mechanisms, mitigations, testing, characterization, and system integration (preferred).
  • Experience conducting experimental research, data analysis, and visualizing complex datasets (preferred).
  • Understanding of failure modes of electrical, mechanical, and optical systems in the space environment (preferred).
  • Ability to work in an export-controlled environment and meet ITAR/U.S. person requirements.
  • Encouragement to apply even without 100% of the preferred skills and experience.

Benefits

  • Base salary range of $190,000 to $280,000 plus equity.
  • Comprehensive benefits package.
  • Paid time off.
  • Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
  • Life insurance.
  • Paid parental leave.
  • Additional perks and benefits.
  • Reasonable accommodation support during the application and interview process.

Interested in this position?

Apply directly on the company website

Apply Now

Similar Roles

Principal Design Verification Engineer (Silicon Engineering)

SpaceX 10K-50K Aerospace & Defense

SpaceX is hiring a Principal Design Verification Engineer for its Starlink silicon engineering team to verify next-generation ASICs and FPGA-based hardware for space and ground infrastructure.

Python
1 hour, 42 minutes ago

Sr. ASIC Design Verification Engineer (Silicon Engineering)

SpaceX 10K-50K Aerospace & Defense

SpaceX is hiring a Sr. ASIC Design Verification Engineer to help develop and verify next-generation ASICs for Starlink’s space and ground infrastructure.

Python
5 hours, 22 minutes ago

BMS Design Engineer - Data Center

Olsson 1K-5K Construction & Engineering

Olsson is hiring a BMS/Control Systems Design Engineer to design building management and control systems for data center projects, from concept through construction support and verification.

Fiber
5 hours, 59 minutes ago

Failure Analysis Engineer (Starshield)

SpaceX 10K-50K Aerospace & Defense

SpaceX’s Starshield team is hiring a Failure Analysis Engineer to investigate hardware and component failures in production, pre-production, qualification, and flight environments for government-focused space systems.

SEM
6 hours, 42 minutes ago

You're on a roll! Sign up now to keep applying.

Sign Up

Already have an account? Log in

Used by 14,729+ remote workers