Camera and Optical System Engineer

Infinite Orbits; Toulouse; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

International team

Creative work environment

Competitive salary and benefits

Job summary

Infinite Orbits in Toulouse seeks a Camera and Optical System Engineer to design, develop, and qualify advanced optical payloads for space applications. You will focus on opto-mechanics, electro-optics, electronics, and qualification testing in space environments, ensuring successful delivery.

The role involves leading environmental testing per ECSS norms, guiding sensor integration, and coordinating with multidisciplinary teams in a fast-paced startup setting.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of system engineering experience designing, integrating, testing, and qualifying space optical payloads.
• Experience with ECSS, NASA and MIL standards and radiation hardening.
• Strong understanding of opto-mechanical materials and space-grade hardware.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop navigation and sensor hardware requirements from system-level specifications with downflow to subsystems and components.
• Lead or perform opto-mechanical analysis including thermal and structural impact on optical system performance.
• Define optical payload alignment procedures and qualification plans, leveraging calibration testbeds to validate resolution and alignment.
• Guide electro-optical characterization of CMOS/CCD image sensors and environmental testing of full system (shock/vibration, thermal vacuum, radiation).
• Work with electronics engineers to integrate optical payloads with imaging sensors and spacecraft interfaces.

Skills

System design

Opto-mechanical design

Space-grade hardware

Environmental testing

Optical tolerance analysis

Imaging sensors integration

Education

Master’s or PhD in Optical/Aerospace/Mechanical/Electrical Engineering or Physics

Tools

ZEMAX

CODE V

FRED

SolidWorks

CATIA

Job description

About the Company

Established in 2017, Infinite Orbits is a NewSpace company based in Toulouse, pushing the boundaries of in-orbit services with cutting-edge spacecraft driven by its own Rendezvous solution, an advanced Autonomous Vision-Based Navigation Solution. Our key projects include "Orbit Guard" a Smallsat capable of monitoring objects in GEO orbit, and "Endurance" a docking service extending customer satellites' lifespans by 5 years.

About the Role

We are seeking a highly skilled Camera and Optical System Engineerto join our dynamic team.

The ideal candidate will specialize in designing, developing, and qualifying advanced optical payloads for space applications, with a strong focus on opto-mechanics, electro-optics, electronics, and qualification testingin space environments. You will also play a key role to oversee quality control and ensure successful delivery.

This position offers the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge technologies in a fast-paced and innovative environment, driving solutions that push the boundaries of space exploration and imaging systems.

Job Description

Technical Responsibilities

• Design and Development:

  • Collaborate in the development of navigation and sensor hardware requirements from system level specifications with flow downs to subsystem and component levels,

  • Assist in the design of camera hardware architecture for space optical payloads,

  • Lead or perform opto-mechanical analysis, including thermal and structural impact on optical system performance,

• Performance Qualification and Testing:

  • Contribute or lead procurement, vendor coordination, delivery, acceptance testing, installation, verification, validation, qualification, and certification of component hardware (optomechanics, electronics, optics),

  • Define the optical payload’s alignment procedure and performance qualification plan, leveraging optical calibration testbeds to validate resolution and alignment,

  • Guide and perform electro-optical characterization of CMOS image sensor,

  • Guide and perform environmental testing including laboratory and flight testing of the full system (shock/vibration, thermal vacuum, radiation etc) to validate top-level system performance and ensure compliance with ECSS norms and mission requirements.

• Integration with Electronics and Systems:

  • Work closely with electronics engineers to integrate optical payloads with imaging sensors and electronic board,

  • Validate and optimize optical system interfaces with spacecraft systems to ensure seamless integration and functionality.

Project Management and Quality Assurance Responsibilities

• Project Oversight:

  • Manage timelines, budgets, and resources to ensure the quality-controlled delivery of optical payloads on schedule and within scope,

  • Serve as a liaison between multidisciplinary teams, external suppliers, and stakeholders, ensuring clear communication and effective problem resolution.

• Quality Control and Acceptance Testing:

  • Define and implement acceptance test procedures to validate end-to-end system performance before delivery,

  • Oversee documentation and reporting of results from optical qualification and acceptance tests, ensuring adherence to ECSS norms and quality standards.

Requirements

Technical Skills

• Strong system design, development and testing skills,

• Strong understanding of opto-mechanical materials, space-grade hardware,

• Proficiency in environmental testing standards and procedures (ECSS, NASA, MIL Standards), including radiation hardening,

• Expertise in optical tolerance analysis (ZEMAX, CODE V, FRED, or LightTools, etc)or opto-mechanical simulation for imaging systems (Soliworks, Catia, ect.)

• Experience with optical calibration testbeds for optical performance and image quality characterization,

• Familiarity with imaging sensors (CCD/CMOS), electronics, and their integration into optical systems.

Soft Skills

• Good technical project management skills, with experience managing resources, schedules, and deliverables in a fast-paced startup environment.

• Excellent communication and organizational skills, with the ability to coordinate multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders.

• Proactive, detail-oriented, and adaptable to the challenges of a startup environment.

Educational Background and Experience

• 5+ years of system engineering experience designing, integrating, testing, and qualifying space optical payloads,

• Master’s, or Ph.D. in Optical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics or a related technical discipline, or equivalent experience.

What we offer

• The opportunity to be part of an international team transforming the space industry.

• A creative and innovative work environment where ideas turn into reality.

• Competitive salary and benefits.