Electro-Optical Payload Engineer

NCSL International; Tukwila (WA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

BlackSky is seeking a Staff Electro-Optical Payload Engineer to lead integration, verification, and testing of spaceborne EO payloads. You will develop test strategies, support payload integration on satellites, and work with cross-functional teams to ensure robust end-to-end validation from planning to execution.

Required: 10+ years in optical engineering roles, a Bachelors in optical engineering or physics, hands-on lab experience with optical instruments, and proficiency in programming for

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in optical engineering, physics, or equivalent.
• Hands-on lab experience with optical tests and instrumentation (interferometers, theodolite/laser tracker).
• Proficiency in at least one programming language with numerical/technical computing focus.
• Strong understanding of optical image formation and detector phenomenology in VIS/IR spectra.
• Familiarity with radiometry, imaging metrics, and system performance modeling.

Responsibilities

• Develop integration, verification, and test strategies for EO payloads.
• Maintain optical test facilities and support payload integration onto satellites.
• Collaborate with engineering, program management, and production for end-to-end validation of payload tests.
• Define requirements and oversee design/build of test Ground Support Equipment for payloads.
• Support new EO payload architectures and concepts; simulate and analyze sensor designs.

Skills

Programming (Python)

Optical system fundamentals

Requirements definition

Technical communication

Education

Bachelor's in optical engineering/physics

Tools

Interferometers

Theodolite / Laser tracker

Job description

Staff Electro-Optical Payload Engineer

BlackSky is a real-time intelligence company. We own and operate the world’s most advanced space-based intelligence platform and provide customers satellite imagery, automated analytics and high-frequency monitoring of strategic locations, economic assets and events from around the globe. BlackSky is trusted by the most demanding allied military and intelligence organizations and commercial companies to deliver foresight into critical matters that affect national security and the economy. BlackSky’s data enables governments and businesses to see, understand and anticipate change as it happens, giving them the ultimate strategic advantage so they can act quickly. Our global team works with cutting-edge technology to make a difference around the world and prides itself on being people-first, customer-focused and fun.

About Us:

BlackSky is a real-time intelligence company. We own and operate the world’s most advanced space-based intelligence platform and provide customers satellite imagery, automated analytics and high-frequency monitoring of strategic locations, economic assets and events from around the globe. BlackSky is trusted by the most demanding allied military and intelligence organizations and commercial companies to deliver foresight into critical matters that affect national security and the economy. BlackSky’s data enables governments and businesses to see, understand and anticipate change as it happens, giving them the ultimate strategic advantage so they can act quickly. Our global team works with cutting-edge technology to make a difference around the world and prides itself on being people-first, customer-focused and fun.

Responsibilities:

• Develop comprehensive integration, requirements verification, and test strategies for EO payloads.
• Develop and maintain optical and sensor test facilities.
• Test payloads and support the production team as they integrate your payloads onto satellites.
• Partner with engineering, program management, and production to ensure comprehensive and efficient end-to-end validation of payload test from plan through design and execution.
• Define requirements for and oversee the design and build of test Ground Support Equipment (GSE) and other test infrastructure for the payload.
• Support the development of new EO payload architectures and concepts.
• Simulate and analyses new sensors, designs, and/or phenomonologies to support R&D and technical strategy development.
• Develop optical system requirements associated with new designs.
• Provide technical assistance and oversight with design procurement and integration.
• Support the characterization and commissioning activities of orbital imaging systems.
• Evaluate on-orbit imaging systems performance, compare with your ground predictions, and evolve your test & performance prediction capabilities.
• Other job-related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• At least 10 years of experience in technical engineering roles involving the specification, modeling, design, integration, and/or test of imaging or non-imaging optical systems and associated components/subsystems, particularly the testing of space-based optical systems.
• Bachelor's degree in optical engineering, physics, or other area of appropriate technical focus (or equivalent experience of four additional years).
• Hands-on laboratory experience and familiarity with typical optical test and meteorology instrumentation and practices, e.g., interferometers, theodolite/laser tracker, optical alignment.
• Proficiency in at least one computer language with an emphasis on numerical or technical computing.
• Strong technical grasp of the physics of optical image formation and associated detector phenomenology, especially in the visible and infrared spectra.
• Proficiency with radiometry, optical imaging and detection figures of merit, and optical system performance modeling/estimation/simulation.
• Adept with developing concise specifications for optical systems within a well-defined, systematic requirements framework.
• Familiarity with satellite/payload interface and CONOPs constraints and associated systems engineering.
• Due to program requirements, this position requires holding US citizenship.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Post graduate degree in a relevant technical field.
• Direct experience in spaceborne optical remote sensing systems.
• Direct experience in focal plane array design and engineering.
• Direct experience in satellite radiometric, spatial, and spectral calibration.
• Proficiency with numerical and technical programming in Python.
• Familiarity and experience with a technical discipline complementary to optics, e.g., mechanical, thermal, electrical engineering.