Optical Engineer

Socket.dev; San Carlos (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity in Cowboy Space Corp.

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) retirement savings plan

Paid time off

10 paid holidays per year

Paid parental leave

Relocation assistance

Lunch in office

Job summary

Cowboy Space Corp in San Carlos, CA is seeking an Optical Engineer to design and build the free-space optical path for our laser communications system. You will work with laser, mechanical, and systems engineers to deliver a full end-to-end optical link.

The role emphasizes Zemax/Code V modeling, tolerance budgeting, STOP analysis, and deploying opto‑mechanical subassemblies in lab environments. Competitive salary, equity, and relocation support available.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, or related field.
• 3+ years designing free-space optical systems.
• Proficiency in Zemax or Code V.
• Experience specifying, procuring, and testing custom optical components and coatings.
• Experience with optical tolerance budgeting including Monte Carlo methods, alignment sensitivity analysis, and thermal/athermal analysis.

Responsibilities

• Design and optimize free-space optical assemblies including beam expanders, collimators, and telescope interfaces.
• Build and maintain optical system models using Zemax or Code V with tolerance and stray light analyses.
• Define optical interface specifications for mechanical and opto‑mechanical design.
• Specify optical components, coatings, and filters, and manage procurement and acceptance testing.
• Own the optical coupling efficiency budget from the receive telescope to the fiber injection point.
• Perform STOP analyses in coordination with mechanical and thermal engineers.
• Define alignment budgets and verification procedures for deployable opto‑mechanical subassemblies.
• Define alignment procedures and execute hands‑on integration and alignment in the lab.
• Generate design specifications, analysis reports, and test plans.

Skills

3+ years experience

Zemax

Code V

optical tolerance budgeting

STOP analysis

hands-on alignment

fiber-to-free-space coupling

Education

Bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering/Physics

Master's or PhD in Optical Engineering/Physics

Tools

Zemax

Code V

Job description

Optical Engineer

About Cowboy Space Corp:

MissionCowboy Space Corporation is solving the global energy crisis by building the infrastructure for abundant, resilient space-based solar energy. We are tackling one of humanity’s most complex engineering challenges with a world-class team dedicated to delivering a revolutionary power platform. Cowboy Space Corporation is transforming how civilization powers, computes and connects - from orbit to Earth.

BackgroundCowboy Space Corporation is building the infrastructure to power and connect the orbital economy. Our modular, scalable satellites collect sunlight in Low Earth Orbit to enable multiple integrated applications: transmitting energy via infrared lasers (space-to-earth and space-to-space), powering on-orbit high-performance computing clusters (GPU/TPU), and providing secure, high bandwidth optical data transport.

Current energy and data systems rely on complex logistics and outdated infrastructure. Cowboy Space Corporation overcomes these challenges by enabling direct, on-demand, secure, and scalable energy distribution and data processing from space. This will revolutionize how we operate in orbit and on Earth, supporting the rapidly expanding space industrial base, ISAM (In-Space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing) operations, remote regions, and military bases.

Baiju Bhatt founded Cowboy Space Corporation in 2024. Inspired by his father’s work with NASA Langley Research Center, Baiju earned his B.S. in Physics and M.S. in Mathematics at Stanford before co-founding Robinhood, now a public company that has helped over 20 million Americans access the financial system. Cowboy Space Corporation has raised ~$365 million from Index Ventures, Interlagos, Construct Ventures, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, NEA, and others.

This is an ambitious mission that demands extraordinary talent. Cowboy Space Corporation ’s team has worked at places like SpaceX, Blue Origin, Stoke Space, Astranis and NASA, and is based in San Carlos, CA. If you're ready to solve complex technical challenges and help build the most important energy company in the world, we want to hear from you.

About the Role:

The Lasers & Optics team is looking for an Optical Engineer to design and build the free-space optical path for our next generation laser communications system. This role spans the transmitter beam path, the ground receive telescope, and beam diagnostic systems. You will work closely with laser, mechanical, and systems engineers to deliver a working end-to-end optical link.

Responsibilities:

• Design and optimize free-space optical assemblies including beam expanders, collimators, and telescope interfaces.

• Build and maintain optical system models using Zemax or Code V, including tolerance and stray light analyses.

• Define optical interface specifications for mechanical and opto‑mechanical design.

• Specify optical components, coatings, and filters, and manage procurement and acceptance testing.

• Own the optical coupling efficiency budget from the receive telescope to the fiber injection point.

• Perform structural‑thermal‑optical (STOP) analyses in coordination with mechanical and thermal engineers.

• Define alignment budgets and verification procedures for deployable opto‑mechanical subassemblies, accounting for structural compliance and launch loads.

• Define alignment procedures and execute hands‑on integration and alignment in the lab.

• Generate design specifications, analysis reports, and test plans.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, or related field.

• 3+ years of experience designing free-space optical systems.

• Proficiency in Zemax or Code V.

• Experience specifying, procuring, and acceptance testing custom optical components and coatings.

• Experience with optical tolerance budgeting including Monte Carlo methods, alignment sensitivity analysis, and thermal/athermal analysis across operating temperature ranges.

• Experience with structural‑thermal‑optical (STOP) analysis and multi‑physics optical performance modeling.

• Hands‑on experience aligning and characterizing optical assemblies.

• Familiarity with fiber‑to‑free‑space coupling and single‑mode fiber injection.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's or PhD in Optical Engineering or Physics.

• 5+ years of experience in an aerospace or defense optical systems role.

• Experience with FSO communication.

• Familiarity with adaptive optics.

• Experience with alignment stability analysis for deployable or launch‑survivable optical assemblies.

• Experience with environmental validation of space‑based optical systems (thermal‑vacuum, vibration, radiation).

• Experience with Class 4 laser lab environments.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $120,000 - $200,000 annually. The actual base salary offered will depend on factors such as job‑related skills, experience, qualifications, and internal equity.

• Equity in Cowboy Space Corp.

• Employees and their eligible dependents may enroll in medical, dental, and vision insurance

• 401(k) retirement savings plan

• Paid time off

• 10 paid holidays per calendar year

• Paid parental leave

• Relocation assistance if applicable

• Daily lunch in the office and a fully stocked kitchen with beverages and snacks

ITAR Requirements

• Export Control Requirement: To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about ITAR here.

Disclaimer

This job description is a summary of the primary duties and responsibilities of the job and position. It is not intended to be a comprehensive or all-inclusive listing of duties and responsibilities. Contents are subject to change at Cowboy Space Corp.’s discretion.

Cowboy Space Corp. is an equal employment opportunity employer. We consider individuals for employment or promotion according to their skills, abilities and experience. Cowboy Space Corp. is committed to complying with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religious creed, age, national origin, ancestry, physical, mental or developmental disability, sex (which includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and medical conditions relating to pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding), veteran status, military status, marital or registered domestic partnership status, medical condition (including cancer or genetic characteristics), genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, as well as any other category protected by federal, state or local laws.