Optical Engineer, Test & Metrology - Space Systems Lab

Cowboy Space Corporation; San Carlos (CA); On-site; USD 145,000 - 175,000; 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

Unlimited paid time off

Paid parental leave

Relocation assistance if applicable

Daily lunch in the office

Job summary

Cowboy Space Corporation in San Carlos, CA is seeking an Optical Engineer, Test & Metrology to design and run tests for laser and optical communications hardware, from components to satellite integration.

You will build test setups, align optics, take measurements, and convert data into actionable results for the design team, working closely with optics, photonics, and laser engineers in a lab-centric role.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Optics, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
• 3+ years hands-on optics/photonics lab experience.
• Experience with precision benchtop optical alignment.
• Experience operating standard optical test equipment (power meters, OSAs, oscilloscopes, beam profilers).
• Working knowledge of Gaussian beams, fiber coupling, polarization, interferometry.
• Experience analyzing data in Python or similar language.
• Familiarity with Class 3B/4 laser safety practices.

Responsibilities

• Build, align, and operate optical test setups for free-space, fiber-optic, and interferometric components and subassemblies.
• Measure optical performance (power, spectrum, beam quality, wavefront, polarization, alignment) and summarize results.
• Develop test plans and procedures with lead engineers and execute them.
• Support testing during integration of components, subassemblies, deployable opto-mechanical assemblies, the optical payload, and the full satellite.
• Operate test equipment (OSAs, power meters, oscilloscopes, BER testers, beam profilers, wavefront sensors, interferometers).
• Write scripts to automate measurements and data analysis.
• Investigate anomalies and feed findings back to design.
• Support field campaigns and PAT validation.

Skills

Optics lab experience

Precision alignment

Python data analysis

Laser safety

Education

Bachelor's in Optics/Physics/Electrical Engineering

Master's or PhD preferred

Tools

OSAs

Power meters

Oscilloscopes

Beam profilers

Job description

Cowboy Space Corporation in San Carlos, CA is seeking an Optical Engineer, Test & Metrology to design and run tests for laser and optical communications hardware, from components to satellite integration.

You will build test setups, align optics, take measurements, and convert data into actionable results for the design team, working closely with optics, photonics, and laser engineers in a lab-centric role.