Optical Engineer - Space Laser Communications

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

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.