Optical Engineer - Free-Space Laser Communications

Cowboy Space Corporation; 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 calendar year

Paid parental leave

Relocation assistance

Daily lunch in the office

Job summary

Cowboy Space Corp. is seeking an Optical Engineer to design and build the free-space optical path for our next generation laser communications system.

You will collaborate with laser, mechanical, and systems engineers to deliver an end-to-end optical link, spanning transmitter beam path, ground receive telescope, and beam diagnostics. The role requires a Bachelor's in Optical Engineering or Physics, 3+ years of experience in free-space optics, proficiency with Zemax or Code V, and hands-on

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 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.

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 op to-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.

Skills

Free-space optical design

STOP analysis

Optical tolerance budgeting

Fiber-to-free-space coupling

Alignment and testing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering or Physics

Tools

Zemax

Code V

Job description

Cowboy Space Corp. is seeking an Optical Engineer to design and build the free-space optical path for our next generation laser communications system.

You will collaborate with laser, mechanical, and systems engineers to deliver an end-to-end optical link, spanning transmitter beam path, ground receive telescope, and beam diagnostics. The role requires a Bachelor's in Optical Engineering or Physics, 3+ years of experience in free-space optics, proficiency with Zemax or Code V, and hands-on