Optical Engineer - Airborne

Matter Intelligence; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity package

100% employer-paid health, dental, and

Vision coverage

Job summary

Matter Intelligence, based in El Segundo, CA, is seeking an Optical Engineer to design, integrate, calibrate, and operate the optical path for our sensing payload. You will work across optical design, optomechanics, calibration, systems engineering, and test to enable next-generation vision sensing systems.

The role emphasizes Zemax-driven design, system-level trade studies, and hands-on assembly with a cross-functional team to ensure robust performance in the field.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in optics, physics, engineering, mathematics, or a related field.
• Proficiency with Zemax or equivalent optical design software and experience with alignment, calibration, lab test methods.
• Experience with stray-light analysis in FRED or equivalent; modeling and prediction of performance.
• Hands-on experience building and aligning optical assemblies with cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Generate optical designs and system trade studies for advanced electro-optic sensors, balancing performance, manufacturability, and end-user utility across the required spectral range.
• Decompose system requirements into optical system and subsystem requirements; derive optical specifications, drawings, interfaces, alignment approaches, tolerances, and performance budgets with adjacent engineering teams.
• Perform optical analysis—including image simulation, radiometry, stop analysis, and stray-light analysis—and plan and execute optical assembly, alignment, characterization, calibration, and integration activities.
• Support the design of optical test equipment, environmental, ground, and flight testing; analyze results, investigate performance gaps, and lead root-cause efforts.
• Participate in design reviews and document optical requirements, test methods, calibration results, as‑built optical designs, and configuration changes.

Skills

Optical engineering

Cross-functional collaboration

Hands-on assembly

Education

Advanced degree in optics/physics/engineering

Tools

Zemax

FRED

Job description

Optical Engineer

About Matter Intelligence

Welcome to Matter, where we are building the future of vision AI: pairing a world-first sensor that sees molecular chemistry, temperature, and 3D shape with a Large World Model that will be the most powerful intelligence engine for the physical world. This system doesn't just see what something looks like; it understands everything from a single pixel. We call this Superintelligent Vision.

Our team has delivered technologies to Mars for NASA/JPL, designed advanced sensors for U.S. Defense, and frontier artificial intelligence systems. We are now building the next generation of space- and airborne-based sensing systems.

About the Role

Matter is hiring an Optical Engineer to help design, integrate, calibrate, and operate the optical path for our sensing payload. This role will work across optical design, optomechanics, calibration, systems engineering, and test.

Key Responsibilities

• Generate optical designs and system trade studies for advanced electro-optic sensors, balancing performance, manufacturability, and end-user utility across the required spectral range.

• Decompose system requirements into optical system and subsystem requirements; derive optical specifications, drawings, interfaces, alignment approaches, tolerances, and performance budgets with adjacent engineering teams.

• Perform optical analysis—including image simulation, radiometry, stop analysis, and stray-light analysis—and plan and execute optical assembly, alignment, characterization, calibration, and integration activities.

• Support the design of optical test equipment, environmental, ground, and flight testing; analyze results, investigate performance gaps, and lead root-cause efforts.

• Participate in design reviews and document optical requirements, test methods, calibration results, as‑built optical designs, and configuration changes.

Qualifications

Required

• Advanced degree in optics, physics, engineering, mathematics, or a related field, with a strong foundation in optical engineering and experience applying it to physical systems.

• Proficiency with Zemax or equivalent optical design and analysis software, along with experience in optical alignment, characterization, calibration, laboratory test methods, and design of test equipment and validation procedures.

• Experience with stray-light analysis in FRED or equivalent, modeling optical alignment procedures, and using performance-prediction tools for novel optical systems.

• Hands‑on experience building and aligning optical assemblies, with a cross‑functional approach to integration and troubleshooting.

Preferred

• Experience with imaging, spectroscopy, remote sensing, or precision optical instruments; familiarity with diffractive or meta‑optics applications, manufacturing, and modeling.

• Experience working across broad spectral ranges and tightly constrained payload packaging.

• Familiarity with flight test, environmental test, and calibration under operational conditions.

What Success Looks Like

• Optical system meets defined performance and calibration requirements.

• Alignment and calibration processes are repeatable, documented, and practical for field operations.

• Flight‑test data is translated quickly into clear root causes and design or process improvements.

Location

This role is based in El Segundo, CA, and requires onsite work.

ITAR Requirements

To comply with U.S. export regulations, applicants must be one of the following:

• A U.S. citizen or national

• A lawful permanent resident (green card holder)

• Eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State

Employee Offerings and Benefits

At Matter, we believe in rewarding high performance and providing the support you need to thrive. Our compensation and benefits package includes:

• Competitive compensation based on experience

• Early‑stage equity package

• 100% employer‑paid health, dental, and vision coverage

• Opportunity to work on novel sensing, data, and AI systems with real‑world deployment paths to the largest industries in the world

Matter Intelligence is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds who can raise the ambition and performance of the team.