Chief Optical Engineer, LEO Data Relay Constellation

Lumira Search; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 230,000 - 350,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

End-to-end ownership

Benefits package

Job summary

Lumira Search is partnering with an early-stage NewSpace company to recruit a Chief Engineer, Optical, leading optical architecture for a LEO data relay constellation. You will own link design, requirements, and verification, and interact with the vendor to drive performance.

This sole-contributor leadership role requires 6+ years in free-space optics, an advanced degree, and a track record of directing vendor performance.

Qualifications

• 6+ years in free-space optical communications or spaceborne photonics.
• MS or PhD in optics, EE, or physics or equivalent depth.
• Experience directing vendor performance and NRE programs.
• Ability to act as the sole optical authority and accountable for technical calls.

Responsibilities

• Own the optical ISL and feeder-link architecture, including wavelength plan, modulation and coding, aperture sizing.
• Develop end-to-end optical link budgets with realistic impairment considerations.
• Author optical requirements and ICDs, flowing to vendor and internal teams.
• Direct the vendor through down-select, diligence, SOW and NRE scoping and design reviews.
• Adjudicate R&D direction with the vendor and decide on buy vs. co-develop.
• Potentially lead a ZR-800G-class transceiver NRE for the optical terminal.
• Maintain compliance with CCSDS O3K and SDA OCT standards where relevant.

Skills

LEO optical links

Vendor management

NRE programs

Optical link budgets

Coherent optical transport

Spaceborne photonics

sole optical authority

Education

MS/PhD in optics/EE/physics

Job description

Lumira Search is partnering with an early-stage NewSpace company to recruit a Chief Engineer, Optical, leading optical architecture for a LEO data relay constellation. You will own link design, requirements, and verification, and interact with the vendor to drive performance.

This sole-contributor leadership role requires 6+ years in free-space optics, an advanced degree, and a track record of directing vendor performance.