Senior Electro-Optical Payload Engineer

Actalent; Washington; Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Actalent seeks a Senior Electro-Optical Payload Engineer to architect, design, integrate, and test advanced electro-optical payloads for a space-based intelligence platform. You will help develop imaging payload concepts and define integration and test strategies across ground testing through on-orbit commissioning.

You will collaborate with payload, constellation, image processing, and satellite operations teams to optimize payload performance over the satellite lifecycle, and help establish a

Qualifications

• 10+ years in engineering roles involving imaging/optical systems, with space-based focus.
• Bachelor's degree in optical engineering, physics, or related field or equivalent experience.
• Hands-on lab experience with optical test and metrology instrumentation such as interferometers, theodolites, or laser trackers.
• Proficiency in at least one programming language for modeling, simulation, and data analysis.
• Strong understanding of optical image formation physics and detector phenomenology in visible/IR.
• Experience with radiometry and optical performance metrics.
• Ability to develop concise specifications for optical systems within a structured requirements framework.
• Familiarity with satellite payload interfaces and CONOPs.

Responsibilities

• Develop integration, requirements verification, and test strategies for electro-optical payloads.
• Design, develop, and maintain optical test facilities and benches.
• Support payload integration onto satellites and resolve technical issues.
• Collaborate with engineering, program management, and production for end-to-end validation.
• Define requirements and oversee design/build of GSE and test infrastructure.
• Contribute to system-level trade studies and technology strategy.

Skills

Imaging systems

Optical engineering

Payload engineering

System integration

Programming

Radiometry

Optical metrology

Hybrid collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in optics/physics

Tools

Interferometers

Theodolites

Laser trackers

Optical alignment tools

Job description

Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

The Senior Electro-Optical Payload Engineer will play a key role in architecting, designing, integrating, and testing advanced electro-optical payloads for a cutting-edge space-based intelligence platform. This position focuses on developing new imaging payload concepts, defining integration and test strategies, and supporting instruments from ground testing through on-orbit commissioning and long-term characterization and calibration. You will collaborate closely with payload, constellation, image processing, and satellite operations teams to optimize payload performance across the full satellite lifecycle, while also leading the development of a new optical test facility dedicated to these next-generation payloads.

Responsibilities

• Develop comprehensive integration, requirements verification, and test strategies for electro-optical payloads to ensure robust performance from ground testing through on-orbit operations.
• Design, develop, and maintain optical and sensor test facilities, including the setup and configuration of optical test benches and related infrastructure.
• Conduct detailed payload testing and work closely with production teams to support the integration of payloads onto satellites, resolving technical issues and ensuring smooth handoffs.
• Partner with engineering, program management, and production teams to drive comprehensive, efficient, end-to-end validation of payloads from test planning through design and execution.
• Define requirements for, and oversee the design and build of, Ground Support Equipment (GSE) and other test infrastructure needed to support payload integration and verification.
• Support the development of new electro-optical payload architectures and concepts, contributing to system-level trade studies and technology strategy.
• Simulate and analyze new sensors, optical designs, and phenomenologies to support research and development activities and inform long-term technical strategy.
• Develop detailed optical system requirements for new payload designs within a structured, systematic requirements framework.
• Provide technical assistance and oversight for the design, procurement, and integration of optical components and subsystems, ensuring alignment with performance and interface requirements.
• Support the characterization and commissioning of orbital imaging systems, including the development and execution of on-orbit test plans.
• Evaluate on-orbit imaging system performance, compare results with ground-based predictions, and refine test methodologies and performance prediction models based on observed data.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned to support payload engineering, testing, and integration objectives.

Essential Skills

• At least 10 years of experience in technical engineering roles involving the specification, modeling, design, integration, and/or testing of imaging or non-imaging optical systems and associated components or subsystems, with particular emphasis on testing space-based optical systems.
• Bachelor's degree in optical engineering, physics, or another relevant technical discipline, or equivalent experience through four additional years in a related engineering field.
• Hands-on laboratory experience with typical optical test and metrology instrumentation and practices, such as interferometers, theodolites or laser trackers, and optical alignment tools.
• Proficiency in at least one computer programming language with a focus on numerical or technical computing for modeling, simulation, and data analysis.
• Strong technical understanding of the physics of optical image formation and associated detector phenomenology, particularly in the visible and infrared spectral bands.
• Proficiency in radiometry and in defining and interpreting optical imaging and detection figures of merit, as well as in optical system performance modeling, estimation, and simulation.
• Demonstrated ability to develop concise, clear specifications for optical systems within a well-defined, systematic requirements framework.
• Familiarity with satellite and payload interfaces, concepts of operations (CONOPs), and related systems engineering practices.
• Experience with electro-optical payloads, imaging systems, and satellite payload engineering, including testing, calibration, and performance evaluation.
• Hands-on experience with optical test, metrology, and calibration activities in a laboratory environment.
• Proficiency or experience with numerical and technical programming tools commonly used in optical system analysis and simulation.
• Ability to work effectively in a hybrid environment and collaborate closely with cross-functional teams involved in payload