Optical Design & Integration Engineer — Space-Grade Imaging

Diffraqtion; Somerville (MA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Medical, dental and vision benefits

401K match

Job summary

Diffraqtion, based in Somerville, MA, seeks an Optical Design and Integration Engineer to lead the imaging optics for our Quantum Camera. You will translate system requirements into Zemax designs, specify components, and drive alignment from lab prototypes to field-ready hardware.

You will collaborate with opto-mechanical, electronics, and AI teams, manage vendor relations, and deliver test plans that prove out MTF and image quality on real host platforms.

Qualifications

• BS/MS in Optical Engineering, Optics, Physics, or related field.
• 3–5 years in design, build, and test of optical imaging systems with tangible products.
• Strong Zemax OpticStudio proficiency for sequential imaging design, optimization, and tolerancing.
• Experience integrating optical instruments or payloads with telescopes or cameras, including pupil and f-number matching.
• Experience designing or integrating diffractive optics and understanding diffraction and image formation.
• Proven track record taking optical designs through vendor fabrication, assembly, and performance verification.
• Hands-on test/metrology experience: interferometry, MTF measurement, collimators, image-quality analysis.
• Ability to write optical component specifications with vendors; strong communication skills.
• Willingness to work on-site in Somerville, MA; periodic travel for field testing.

Responsibilities

• Design and optimize optical imaging systems in Zemax OpticStudio to meet resolution, FOV, MTF, distortion, and mass targets.
• Integrate diffractive optical elements with refractive/reflective optics and model performance and manufacturability.
• Perform tolerance analyses, set assembly tolerances, and develop compensator strategies balancing performance, cost, and yield.
• Model and interface optics for host telescopes and cameras, designing relay and adapter optics.
• Define ICDs for hosts; coordinate mounting, alignment references, and focus adjustment with engineers.
• Write specifications and drawings; select vendors, review quotes, and manage procurement and inspection of optics and coatings.
• Lead hands-on assembly, alignment, and integration on lab benches and host platforms.
• Develop test plans and setups to verify MTF, wavefront error, focal length, distortion, PSF, and throughput using interferometers and collimators.
• Correlate measurements with models, diagnose root causes, and drive design iterations to closure.
• Support STOP analysis and environmental testing as hardware matures toward flight qualification.
• Produce design docs, test reports, and requirements traceability; present results in reviews.

Skills

Optical design

Zemax OpticStudio

System integration

Vendor coordination

Test & metrology

Education

B.S./M.S. in Optical Engineering or related

Tools

Python

MATLAB

Job description

Diffraqtion, based in Somerville, MA, seeks an Optical Design and Integration Engineer to lead the imaging optics for our Quantum Camera. You will translate system requirements into Zemax designs, specify components, and drive alignment from lab prototypes to field-ready hardware.

You will collaborate with opto-mechanical, electronics, and AI teams, manage vendor relations, and deliver test plans that prove out MTF and image quality on real host platforms.