Lead Engineer Telescope Payload Design

Fortune Consultancy; Chennai; On-site; INR 1,200,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Job summary

Fortune Consultancy in Chennai is seeking a Telescope Payload Design Engineer with 5 to 9 years of hands-on experience in design, optical modeling, opto-mechanical integration and flight qualification for high-resolution spaceborne telescopes and defense payloads.

You will own architectures ( Ritchey‑Christien, off-axis, Cassegrain ) for small-satellite Earth Observation payloads and defense tracking platforms.

Qualifications

• 5 to 9 years in design, optical modeling, precision alignment or qualification of telescope assemblies.
• Proficient in Zemax OpticStudio or CODE V with Monte Carlo tolerance analysis.
• Experience with thermal-optical analysis and athermal design.
• Experience with TVAC and vibration testing per ISRO/MIL-STD-810G standards.

Responsibilities

• Architect, optimize and evaluate telescope systems for remote sensing and defense platforms.
• Perform ray tracing, WFE budgeting and stray light analysis.
• Model thermal-optical behavior in orbit and ensure diffraction-limited performance.
• Lead cleanroom optical bench alignment and assembly using precision metrology.
• Plan and execute TVAC, random vibration and EMI/EMC testing per standards.
• Coordinate with detector, electronics and program teams and external labs.

Skills

Optical design

Optical modeling

Telescope alignment

Python / MATLAB

Thermal-Optical analysis

Tools

Zemax OpticStudio

CODE V

FRED

LightTools

Interferometers

Job description

Role & responsibilities

We are looking for a Telescope Payload Design Engineer with 5 to 9 years of hands‑on experience in the design, optical modeling, opto‑mechanical integration and flight qualification of high‑resolution spaceborne telescopes and defense optical payloads. You will own end‑to‑end reflective, refractive and catadioptric optical architectures (Ritchey‑Chrtien, Korsch, Off‑Axis TMA, Cassegrain) for small‑satellite Earth Observation payloads, space surveillance and long‑range defense tracking platforms.

Key Responsibilities

• Architect, optimize and evaluate reflective (on‑axis/off‑axis), refractive and catadioptric telescope systems for VIS/SWIR/MWIR remote sensing and ground‑based tactical systems
• Perform ray tracing, diffraction analysis, wavefront error (WFE) budgeting, stray light/ghost analysis and tolerance budgeting using Zemax OpticStudio, CODE V, FRED or LightTools
• Work with opto‑mechanical engineers on lightweight mirror structures (SiC, Zerodur, fused silica), kinematic mounts, invar metering structures and thermally stable housings
• Model thermal‑optical behavior in orbit and ensure diffraction‑limited performance through athermal design
• Lead cleanroom optical bench alignment and assembly using autocollimators, laser interferometers and Shack‑Hartmann wavefront sensors
• Plan and execute TVAC, random vibration, shock and EMI/EMC testing per ISRO and MIL‑STD‑810G standards
• Measure MTF, encircled energy, Strehl ratio, distortion and relative illumination on assembled payloads
• Coordinate with detector, electronics, ADCS and program teams and external labs (ISRO, DRDO, IN‑SPACe)

Required Skills

• 5 to 9 years in design, optical modeling, precision alignment or qualification of telescope assemblies, space camera payloads or military long‑range optical systems
• High proficiency in Zemax OpticStudio (sequential and non‑sequential) or CODE V, including Monte Carlo tolerance analysis
• Strong knowledge of mirror fabrication, optical coatings (dielectric, metallic, AR/HR), surface figure errors and precision mounting
• Hands‑on with interferometric testing (Zygo / 4D), collimators, theodolites and MTF test stations
• Python / MATLAB for wavefront analysis, image quality metrics and automated test control

Good to Have

• Experience on ISRO, CubeSat or defense imaging satellite payloads (e.g., Cartosat, OceanSat, tactical ISR cameras)
• Familiarity with PAT optics, fast steering mirrors (FSM) or high‑power laser beam expanders/combiners

Sincerely

SnehaRajesh .