Optical Payload Architect

AMOS; Luik; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

AMOS, located in Liège, Belgium, is hiring an Optical Payload Architect to lead the design of Very High Resolution payloads for space and astronomy applications. You will define architectures, select materials, and ensure opto-mechanical stability from concept through integration.

You will mentor payload engineers, defend architecture in proposals, and work in an international team within the Aerospacelab group. Fluent English is required; French is a plus.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in space optical instruments.
• Experience with Very High Resolution (VHR) Earth observation instruments.
• Familiar with ECSS standards.
• Strong opto-mechanical design background.
• Fluent in English; French is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Define the payload architecture for VHR optical payloads.
• Act as design authority on opto-mechanical concepts and trade-offs.
• Mentor payload engineers and defend the architecture in proposals.
• Lead the technical content of proposals and ensure architecture feasibility.

Skills

Opto-mechanical design

Mirror substrates

Isostatic mounts

Lightweighting

ECSS standards

Matlab/Python

Zemax/OpticStudio

Systems engineering

English fluent

Education

Master/PhD in Physics/Aerospace/Optical/EM Engineering

Job description

Located in Liège, AMOS (Advanced Mechanical & Optical Systems) is a company specialized in the development of ultra-high opto-mechanical systems, mostly dedicated to space industry and professional astronomy.

AMOS is now part of the Aerospacelab group, a Belgian satellite manufacturer. Within the group, AMOS develops Very High Resolution (VHR) optical payloads of Earth observation satellites.

Since 1983, AMOS has been a recognized player around the world. AMOS works with prestigious international clients and partners. More than 100 passionate employees put their expertise at the service of the development of innovative solutions, while respecting the values of the company:

• Team spirit, to unite individual strengths and assets to achieve collective success;
• Excellence, through the commitment and quality of everyone's work;
• Respect, through recognition by listening, openness and consideration, whether colleague, partner, or client.

In order to strengthen its teams, AMOS is looking for an « Optical Payload Architect » (H/F).

Main responsibilities

As an Optical PayloadArchitect , you define the architecture of our Very High Resolution (VHR) optical payloads. You are the technical authority on their design. Opto-mechanics is the core of the job: mounts, materials, athermalization, dimensional stability. You will be part of the VHR payload team. You will be responsible for

• Defining the payload architecture: telescope configuration, mirror substrates and lightweighting, mounts, metering structure, thermal design, focal plane.
• Defining the opto-mechanical design principles: isostatic mounts and flexures, athermalization, dimensional stability under launch, thermal and gravity-release loads, alignment philosophy.
• Exploring the design space in phase 0/A/B. Formalizing the trade-offs. Justifying the selected concept.
• Translating the mission needs — ground sampling distance, swath, spectral bands, revisit — into payload requirements and first-order budgets.
• Establishing the preliminary budgets: MTF, wavefront error, line-of-sight stability, radiometry, straylight. Supported by first-order STOP analyses.
• Checking the concept against the platform: mass, power, volume, thermal, pointing, data rate.
• Acting as design authority during development. Arbitrating the architectural changes. Supporting the team of payload engineers composed of various engineering disciplines.
• Leading the technical content of the proposals. Defending the architecture against customer needs.
• Capitalizing the design rules and lessons learned. Mentoring the engineers from the payload team.

Requirements

• Master or PhD in Physics, Aerospace, Optical or Electromechanical Engineering.
• At least 10 years in space optical instruments, including the definition phases of at least one instrument.
• Strong opto-mechanical design background: mirror substrates (SiC, Zerodur, ULE), lightweighting, isostatic mounts and flexures, bonding, CFRP or Invar structures.
• You know how a mount, a material or a thermal gradient turns into wavefront error and line-of-sight drift.
• You identify the design driver before the analyses confirm it.
• Experience with Very High Resolution (VHR) Earth observation instruments is a strong asset.
• You are comfortable with incomplete data: orders of magnitude, sensitivity, margins.
• Familiar with system engineering practices and ECSS standards.
• Good knowledge of Matlab/Python and Zemax/OpticStudio.
• You design what can be built, aligned and tested.
• You explain and defend a technical choice in front of customers and management.
• Curious, team player, a natural technical reference.
• Fluent in English. French is an asset.

Soft skills: Autonomous / Rigorous/ Proactive/ Flexible / Result-oriented

Our offer

• An exciting international business sector, at the forefront of technology.
• A teamwork in a friendly and international environment.
• Learning and evolution opportunities.
• A permanent contract with a complete salary package.

Willing to take on this challenge?