Senior Space Imaging EO 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

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