Senior Optical Engineer

Spire; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading space-to-cloud analytics company in the United Kingdom is seeking a Senior Optical Engineer. This role involves designing and testing optical systems for satellites, ensuring they meet high-performance standards. Candidates should have substantial optical testing experience, knowledge of optical design theory, and leadership skills. This position offers a hybrid work model, requiring in-office work at least three days a week, along with competitive global perks.

Benefits

Name Your Satellite Program (NYSP)

Launch Attendance

Generous Time Off Policy

Education Assistance Program

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP)

Family Leave

Fitness Reimbursement

Employee Referral Program

Healthy snacks & beverages in every office

Qualifications

• Significant hands-on experience in optical testing, ideally in aerospace.
• Strong understanding of optical design theory and practice.
• Experience in leadership and coordination of design campaigns.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and test of optical systems such as Star Trackers.
• Maintain and improve testing equipment for qualification.
• Guide and mentor junior engineers in testing strategies.

Skills

Optical testing experience

Optical design theory

Technical leadership

Optical design software (Zemax)

Documentation and process control

Tools

SolidWorks

Ansys

Siemens NX

Job description

As a Senior Optical Engineer at Spire, you’ll play a leading role in developing and testing the various optical products and systems on our Spire satellites. You’ll take ownership of our optical design processes and guide the qualification and acceptance of flight hardware. Your work will ensure that our satellites meet rigorous performance standards and you’ll be a key contributor to the successful delivery of mission‑ready spacecraft. This is an opportunity to lead from the front, mentoring engineers, shaping test strategy, and building the infrastructure that supports world‑class testing campaigns.

What you’ll do as a Senior Optical Engineer

• Lead the design and test of optical systems such as Star Trackers, O-ISL terminals, and Imagers.
• Design and maintain the tooling for optical calibration of satellite systems.
• Maintain and improve opto‑mechanical test equipment and facilities to support qualification and acceptance test campaigns.
• Define and implement optical design and test processes and practices to ensure repeatability, traceability, and efficiency across all programs.
• Provide technical leadership in the area of optics.
• Mentor junior test engineers and support their professional development by sharing knowledge, setting standards, and reviewing work.

Key Skills

• Significant hands‑on experience in optical testing, ideally in aerospace, or other high‑reliability environments.
• Strong understanding of optical design theory and practice, and experience using them in applied optics projects.
• Strong technical leadership, able to coordinate design and test campaigns across multiple teams and disciplines.
• Experience with Optical design software such as Zemax.
• Strong documentation, process control, and test traceability mindset.

Preferred Skills

• Proficiency in mechanical CAD (e.g., SolidWorks) for test fixture and support equipment design.
• Experience with FEM software for STOP (Structural‑Optical Analysis) such as Ansys or Siemens Nx.
• Familiarity with hardware qualification campaigns and system‑level test campaigns.
• Working knowledge of Aerospace standards (e.g., ECSS, NASA) and mission assurance practices.

Spire operates a hybrid work model, and this position will require you to work a minimum of three days per week in the office.

Access to US export‑controlled software and/or technology may be required for this role. If needed, Spire will arrange the necessary licenses—this is not something candidates need to have before applying.

Global Perks

• 🛰️ Name Your Satellite Program (NYSP)
• 🚀 Launch Attendance
• 🌴 Generous Time Off Policy
• 🎓 Education Assistance Program
• 🥰 Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• 📈 Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP)
• 👣 Family Leave
• 💪 Fitness Reimbursement
• 🧡 Employee Referral Program
• 🍉 Healthy snacks & beverages in every office

About Spire

We improve life on Earth with data from space.

Spire Global is a space‑to‑cloud analytics company that owns and operates the largest multi‑purpose constellation of satellites. Its proprietary data and algorithms provide the most advanced maritime, aviation, and weather tracking in the world. In addition to its constellation, Spire’s data infrastructure includes a global ground station network and 24/7 operations that provide real‑time global coverage of every point on Earth.

Spire is Global and our success draws upon the diverse viewpoints, skills and experiences of our employees. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or veteran status.

To help maintain a safe and secure workplace for Spire employees, all candidates who receive a conditional offer will be required to complete a background check. This may include criminal history and employment verification.

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