Optical Communications Architect

Impulsespace; Redondo Beach (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, vision, and dental coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Stock options

Job summary

Impulse Space is seeking an Optical Communications Systems Engineer to shape the architecture of free-space optical communications systems. You will be responsible for system-level models, trade studies, and ensuring mission performance.

This role emphasizes strong technical contributions, using modeling tools to recommend architecture and translate results into requirements for multiple teams. Preferred applicants have a degree in a related field and experience with optical communications.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent experience in a relevant technical field.
• Experience building physics‑based engineering models.
• Strong fundamentals in optics and communications.
• Ability to communicate technical risk and assumptions.

Responsibilities

• Own and maintain optical communications link budget models.
• Develop architecture models for lasercom links.
• Quantify link margin and sensitivity to design choices.
• Lead architecture trades across key parameters.

Skills

Optical engineering

Electrical engineering

Modeling in Python

Signal processing

Education

Degree in optical engineering, electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, physics or applied math

Tools

Python

MATLAB

Job description

Optical Communications Systems Engineer

Department: Avionics

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Redondo Beach

Compensation: $150,000 - $220,000 / year

Description

As an Optical Communications Systems Engineer at Impulse Space, you will be a senior technical contributor responsible for shaping the architecture of free‑space optical communications systems. You will own the system‑level models and trade studies that determine link margin, achievable data rate, terminal sizing, pointing requirements, optical throughput, receiver sensitivity, and end‑to‑end mission performance.

This role is intended for an engineer who can operate at an architecture level while staying close to the hardware. You will build and maintain practical Python, MATLAB, or similar modeling tools, use those tools to make architecture recommendations, and translate the results into requirements for optical, electrical, GNC, software, mechanical, and test teams.

Relevant experience may come from space optical communications, terrestrial fiber communications, coherent optical systems, high‑data‑rate telecom hardware, or adjacent optical/electrical communications systems. Prior space hardware experience is valuable but not required.

Leveling will be commensurate with experience, with emphasis on senior, staff, or principal‑level technical contribution.

Responsibilities

• Own and maintain end‑to‑end optical communications link budget models for free‑space optical communications systems.
• Develop architecture models for space‑to‑ground and space‑to‑space lasercom links across relevant mission regimes.
• Quantify link margin, data rate, acquisition margin, and sensitivity to major terminal design choices.
• Model optical transmitter and receiver performance from electrical input through propagation to detected signal.
• Lead architecture trades across aperture size, transmit power, modulation, coding, pointing stability, atmospheric loss, and receiver sensitivity.
• Incorporate relevant assumptions from terrestrial fiber communications and high‑data‑rate optical hardware into space‑based optical communications architecture trades.
• Support PAT architecture by modeling pointing and acquisition sensitivity as it affects link closure and terminal design.

Minimum Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent experience in optical engineering, electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, physics, applied math, or a related technical field.
• Experience building physics‑based engineering models in Python, MATLAB, or a similar environment.
• Strong fundamentals in optics, communications, radiometry, statistics, signal processing, or related disciplines.
• Ability to work across disciplines and clearly communicate assumptions, sensitivities, margins, and technical risk.
• Experience with optical communications, RF communications, telecom systems, high‑speed electrical/optical hardware, or related system‑level communications architecture.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience with free‑space optical communications, lasercom, optical link budgets, or optical terminal architecture.
• Experience with terrestrial fiber communications, coherent optical communications, high‑data‑rate ground hardware, or telecom systems.
• Experience with coherent or direct‑detection optical communications and receiver sensitivity analysis.
• Familiarity with optical transmitter or receiver hardware such as EDFAs, modulators, fiber optics, photodetectors, coherent receivers, or telescope systems.
• Experience modeling atmospheric propagation, turbulence, cloud statistics, weather data, or optical site availability.
• Experience with PAT, jitter, beam steering, fiber coupling, pointing loss, or terminal pointing requirements.
• Space hardware, spacecraft, or mission architecture experience is helpful but not required.

Benefits

Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case‑by‑case basis and may vary based on job‑related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity. In addition to base salary, for full‑time hires, you may also be eligible for long‑term incentives, in the form of stock options, and access to medical, vision & dental coverage as well as a 401(k) retirement plan.

Export Controls

Impulse Space’s spacecraft manufacturing business is subject to U.S. export regulations including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR). This position requires applicants to be either U.S. Persons (i.e., U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent U.S. resident (green card holder), an individual granted asylum in the U.S., or an individual admitted in U.S. refugee status) or persons eligible to obtain an export license from the U.S. Departments of State, Commerce, or other applicable U.S. government agencies. Learn more about the ITAR (here).

Equal Opportunity Employer

Impulse Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Impulse Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.