Optical Engineer – Space Payloads & High-Power Telescopes

K2 Space Corporation; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Equity stake

Job summary

K2 Space Corporation is seeking an Optical Engineer to contribute to a payload portfolio spanning fiber lasers, photonic systems, and compact telescopes. You will engage in the full lifecycle from analysis to on-orbit operation, collaborating with senior engineers in a fast-growth, multi-mission environment.

The role emphasizes designing, aligning, and validating optical systems, developing models and data tools, and supporting environmental and payload integration activities, with opportunities

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in optical engineering, physics, applied physics, EE, ME, aerospace, or related field.
• 1+ years of relevant experience; internships, co-ops, academic research, student projects count.
• Working knowledge of geometrical and physical optics; familiarity with free-space and fiber-optic components.

Responsibilities

• Own technical deliverables from problem definition through validated results.
• Build, align, calibrate, automate, and maintain optical test systems and fixtures.
• Plan experiments to characterize components and quantify performance.
• Develop optical models, tolerances, and data-processing tools; compare with results.
• Design, procure, and validate optics, optomechanical components, fixtures, and test equipment.
• Develop repeatable fabrication and assembly processes for high-volume production.
• Support environmental qualification and on-orbit activities; troubleshoot issues.
• Communicate work through reviews, tests, drawings, specs, and procedures.

Skills

Geometrical optics

Physical optics

Free-space optics

Fiber optics

Optomechanics

Python

MATLAB

LabVIEW

Technical comms

Education

Bachelor's degree in optical engineering or related field

Tools

OpticStudio

CODE V

FRED

LightTools

Lumerical

Job description

K2 Space Corporation is seeking an Optical Engineer to contribute to a payload portfolio spanning fiber lasers, photonic systems, and compact telescopes. You will engage in the full lifecycle from analysis to on-orbit operation, collaborating with senior engineers in a fast-growth, multi-mission environment.

The role emphasizes designing, aligning, and validating optical systems, developing models and data tools, and supporting environmental and payload integration activities, with opportunities