Optical Systems Engineer: Free-Space & IR Navigation

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP; Hawthorne, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 135,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

401(k) plan

Paid time off

Medical, vision, dental

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking an Optical Engineer (Starfall) to own free-space optical system design for a high-rate navigation sensor combining visible and IR sensing. You will lead optics, detectors, circuits, and mechanical enclosures able to survive space environments and be manufactured at scale.

You will analyze, validate, and troubleshoot assemblies, drive architecture trades, and collaborate with software and automation teams to develop testing protocols for automated optical/IR validation in

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in optical engineering, physics, or other engineering discipline.
• 2+ years of hands‑on optics, photonics, imaging, infrared sensing, or related testing experience.
• 1+ years of programming in C++, MATLAB, or Python.

Responsibilities

• Apply optics and photonics knowledge to optical system development, including design, analysis, and validation of visible‑camera and IR sensor architectures
• Define requirements for high‑performance optical/IR navigation sensors in challenging environmental conditions
• Lead optical architecture definition through internal trade studies, concept of operations definition, and risk‑reduction testing
• Drive detailed trades across optical, IR, mechanical, electrical, and manufacturing constraints for high‑volume production
• Design next‑generation optical/IR sensor hardware for high‑rate manufacturing
• Interface with manufacturing and supply chain teams to ensure final designs can be manufactured in accordance with overall project goals
• Perform verification testing, including environmental qualification, performance characterization, reliability testing, and fault‑injection testing
• Define and lead field testing of optical experiments and navigation sensor systems
• Review test data and lead anomaly investigation and resolution
• Maintain performance budgets, design specifications, and system capabilities data
• Collaborate with software and automation teams to develop tools and protocols for automated optical/IR testing

Skills

Optical engineering

Python scripting

Problem solving

Communication skills

Fast-paced environment

Education

Bachelor’s degree in optical engineering, physics, or related

Master’s degree or PhD preferred

Tools

Zemax

Power meters

Interferometer

C++

MATLAB

Job description

SpaceX is seeking an Optical Engineer (Starfall) to own free-space optical system design for a high-rate navigation sensor combining visible and IR sensing. You will lead optics, detectors, circuits, and mechanical enclosures able to survive space environments and be manufactured at scale.

You will analyze, validate, and troubleshoot assemblies, drive architecture trades, and collaborate with software and automation teams to develop testing protocols for automated optical/IR validation in