Principal Optical Engineer: Free-Space Navigation Sensor

SpaceX; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 190,000 - 285,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, vision and dental coverage

401(k) and stock options

Paid vacation and holidays

Job summary

SpaceX seeks a Principal Optical Engineer in Hawthorne to own free‑space optical system design for a visible camera and IR navigation sensor. You will set system‑level vision, lead optical, detectors, electronics, and precision hardware able to survive space environments.

You will mentor engineers, drive architecture trades, and partner with software and manufacturing to ensure robust, manufacturable designs and rigorous testing.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in optical engineering, physics, or other engineering discipline
• 8+ years of hands‑on laboratory or work experience in optics, photonics, imaging, infrared sensing, or electrical/mechanical design or testing
• 8+ years of experience in a computer programming language (e.g. C++, MATLAB, and/or Python)

Responsibilities

• Drive product vision and system‑level architecture for a visible‑camera and IR navigation sensor
• Apply optics and photonics knowledge to optical system development, including design, analysis, and validation
• 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
• Mentor optical, electrical, and systems engineers; review designs and raise the technical standard of the team
• Interface with manufacturing and supply chain teams to ensure final designs can be manufactured in accordance with overall project goals
• Perform and oversee 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
• Own performance budgets, design specifications, and system capabilities data
• Collaborate with software and automation teams to develop tools and protocols for automated optical/IR testing
• Communicate technical direction, risks, and recommendations to program leadership

Skills

Optics & photonics

System-level architecture

C++

Python

MATLAB

Mentoring engineers

Risk assessment

Education

Bachelor's degree in optical engineering, physics, or related field

Master's degree or PhD in physics or engineering

Tools

Zemax

Job description

SpaceX seeks a Principal Optical Engineer in Hawthorne to own free‑space optical system design for a visible camera and IR navigation sensor. You will set system‑level vision, lead optical, detectors, electronics, and precision hardware able to survive space environments.

You will mentor engineers, drive architecture trades, and partner with software and manufacturing to ensure robust, manufacturable designs and rigorous testing.