Senior Space Optical Engineer

Ephemeris Net; El Segundo (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity package

401k program

Comprehensive health care coverage

Unlimited PTO

Hybrid work model

Up to 25% travel

Job summary

Ephemeris Net is seeking an Optical Engineer to own the design, build, test, and flight of the optical systems for space networking. You will handle coherent transceivers and free-space links, including ray tracing, tolerancing, and stray light analysis to close link budgets in orbit.

You will work with the electrical and mechanical teams to scale this hardware to mass manufacturing and will report to the CTO.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in optical engineering, applied physics, photonics, electrical engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• 4+ years hands-on experience designing or building robust electro-optical instruments in fiber or free-space.
• Knowledge of coherent detection architectures, ray tracing, stray light analysis, or laser and fiber systems.
• Proficiency with optical instrumentation and RF/microwave test equipment; ability to obtain security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Design and assemble coherent transceiver optics from components such as modulators and photodetectors.
• Develop the free-space optical assembly with ray tracing, tolerancing, ghost and stray light analysis to close on-orbit budgets.
• Design fiber optical layout, alignment fixtures and opto-mechanical packaging.
• Oversee RF-to-free-space signal chain performance from transmitter to receiver and back.

Skills

Coherent detection

Free-space optical design

Ray tracing

Laser & fiber systems

RF & microwave testing

Security clearance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in optical/photonic/electrical engineering

Tools

OSAs

Power meters

Interferometers

Wavefront sensors

Beam profilers

Network analyzers

spectrum analyzers

High-speed oscilloscopes

Job description

Ephemeris Net is seeking an Optical Engineer to own the design, build, test, and flight of the optical systems for space networking. You will handle coherent transceivers and free-space links, including ray tracing, tolerancing, and stray light analysis to close link budgets in orbit.

You will work with the electrical and mechanical teams to scale this hardware to mass manufacturing and will report to the CTO.