Senior Optical Engineer

Planet Labs; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 144,000 - 181,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the aerospace sector is seeking a Senior Optical Engineer to join their Electro-Optical Systems team in San Francisco. This role involves hands-on work with advanced imaging payloads, requiring collaboration across teams to develop and test optical instruments for Earth observation missions.

Benefits

Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision plans

Generous Paid Time Off

16 Weeks of Paid Parental Leave

Tuition Reimbursement

Equity

Qualifications

• 6-8 years of experience in imaging payloads, cameras, or telescopes.
• 3+ years in assembly, integration, alignment, and testing of optical instruments.
• Hands-on experience with external vendors and suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate optical manufacturing activities and performance testing.
• Write test plans and analyze data for imaging systems.
• Lead design, manufacturing, testing, and operation of imaging payloads.

Skills

Optical Engineering

Assembly and Integration

Troubleshooting

Collaboration

Data Analysis

Education

Educational background in Optical Engineering

Tools

Zemax

MATLAB

Python

C/C++

Job description

Welcome to Planet. We believe in using space to help life on Earth.

Planet designs, builds, and operates the largest constellation of imaging satellites in history. This constellation delivers an unprecedented dataset of empirical information via a revolutionary cloud-based platform to authoritative figures in commercial, environmental, and humanitarian sectors. We are both a space company and data company all rolled into one.

Customers and users across the globe use Planet's data to develop new technologies, drive revenue, power research, and solve our world’s toughest obstacles.

As we control every component of hardware design, manufacturing, data processing, and software engineering, our office is a truly inspiring mix of experts from a variety of domains.

We have a people-centric approach toward culture and community and we strive to iterate in a way that puts our team members first and prepares our company for growth. Join Planet and be a part of our mission to change the way people see the world.

Planet is a global company with employees working remotely world wide and joining us from offices in San Francisco, Washington DC, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, and The Netherlands.

About the Role:

The Electro-Optical Systems team is seeking a dynamic and detail-orientedSenior Optical Engineer to support the design, manufacturing, integration, testing, and operation of advanced imaging payloads. This role involves collaborating across teams to develop, troubleshoot, and refine optical instruments, including telescopes and cameras, for Earth observation missions. The ideal candidate thrives at the intersection of hardware, software, and product engineering and enjoys hands-on work with cutting-edge imaging and optical systems.

The team is responsible for electro-optical (EO) design and development while assembling, integrating and testing (AI&T) all EO payload hardware. The role will appeal to candidates that enjoy getting hands-on with camera, sensor, and telescope AI&T while interfacing with cross-functional engineering, and operations.

This position is required to be on-site in our San Francisco HQ full time 5 days a week.

Impact You'll Own:

• Coordinating and executing key optical manufacturing activities, such as optical metrology and alignment activities for telescope and sensor integration and troubleshooting
• Understanding and executing warm and cold alignment and performance testing of imaging spectrometers, telescopes, and end-to-end instruments
• Writing test plans and performing analysis of measured data for alignment and calibration of imaging systems
• Developing and expanding upon test software and electrical ground support equipment (GSE) for the characterization and automation of alignment and performance testing
• Coordinating and performing optomechanical manufacturing activities, such as bonding and fixturing
• Organize and participate in integration & test activities in cleanroom environments
• Leading the continued design, manufacturing, testing, and operation of advanced imaging payloads
• Collaborating with external partners to transfer advanced imaging expertise into Planet to establish a vibrant and financially sustainable platform
• Providing technical oversight of external vendors

What You Bring:

• 6-8 years of total relevant experience, such as airborne or space-based imaging payloads, cameras, or telescopes.
• 3+ years relevant experience in assembly, integration, alignment, and test of optical instruments, telescopes, and/or optics in fields such as defense, aerospace, automotive, biomedical, or related
• Experience leveraging scientific tools based in Zemax, MATLAB, Python and/or C/C++ to advance design maturity and analyze system performance
• Hands-on, can-do attitude, great interpersonal skills, and ability to collaborate effectively
• First hand experience working with external vendors, suppliers, and integrators
• Experience in recording detailed and accurate test descriptions and data summaries
• Experience in driving the definition and execution of Ground Support Equipment (GSE)
• Experience in manufacturing and production environments, including New Product Implementation (NPI)
• Practical experience troubleshooting and debugging complex systems
• Educational background in Optical Engineering or equivalent experience

What Makes You Stand Out:

• Experience with visible, multispectral or hyperspectral imaging systems
• Experience with space flight program lifecycle stages including design, assembly, integration and test, or flight operations of imaging or camera hardware
• Experience with collecting large amounts of data, data storage and data manipulation
• Experience collaborating in a technical manner across organizational and functional boundaries to deliver capability to users
• MS/PhD in EE, CS, AA or relevant scientific/engineering field

Application Deadline:

May 3, 2025 by 11:59 PM PDT

EAR/ITAR Requirements:

This position requires access to export-controlled information, and as such, employment (or hiring of a contractor) is contingent upon the candidate’s ability to access all applicable export-controlled information without additional export licensing being required by the Bureau of Industry and Security and/or the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls.

Benefits While Working at Planet:

These offerings are dependent on employment type and geographical location, based upon applicable law or company policy.

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision plans
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with a company contribution
• Generous Paid Time Off in addition to holidays and company-wide days off
• 16 Weeks of Paid Parental Leave
• Wellness Program and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Home Office Reimbursement
• Monthly Phone and Internet Reimbursement
• Tuition Reimbursement and access to LinkedIn Learning
• Equity
• Commuter Benefits (if local to an office)
• Volunteering Paid Time Off

Compensation:

The US base salary range for this full-time position at the commencement of employment is listed below. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary short-term and long-term incentives (bonus and equity). The final salary range is determined by job related experience, skills and location. The range displays our typical hiring range for new hire salaries in US locations only. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.

San Francisco Salary Range $144,500 — $180,600 USD

Why we care so much about Belonging.
We’re dedicated to helping the whole Planet, and to do that we must strive to represent all of it within each of our offices and on all of our teams. That’s why Planet is guided by an ultimate north star of Belonging—dreaming big as we approach our ongoing work. If this job intrigues you, but you’re thinking you might not have all the qualifications, please... do apply! At Planet, we are looking for well-rounded people from around the world who can contribute to more ways than just what is listed in this job description. We don’t just fill positions, we aspire to fulfill people’s careers, most excited about folks who are motivated by our underlying humanitarian efforts. We are a few orbits around the sun before we get to where we want to be, so we hope you’re excited to come along for the ride.

EEO statement:
Planet is committed to building a community where everyone belongs and we invite people from all backgrounds to apply. Planet is an equal opportunity employer, and committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other protected classification, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Know Your Rights.

Accommodations:
Planet is an inclusive community and we know that everyone has their own needs. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation during the hiring process, please reach out to [e-mail] or contact your recruiter with your request. Your message will be confidential and we will be happy to assist you.

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