Space Optics Engineer for Satellite Laser Communications

InvestedintheMission; Redmond (WA); On-site; USD 105,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, vision, and dental coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Life and disability insurance

Paid vacation and holidays

Company shuttles

Job summary

SpaceX seeks a Space Lasers Engineer for satellites to design, validate, and deploy free-space optical communication systems for Starlink. You will lead risk-driven optical architecture, write test plans, and collaborate across hardware, software, and manufacturing to deliver robust laser communication solutions for space.

The role requires a strong optics background, programming skills, and hands-on lab experience with high-reliability hardware in demanding environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in physics, CS, electrical engineering, or other engineering/STEM discipline.
• 2+ years of hands-on lab experience in optics, photonics, laser technology, or precision mechanical design/testing.
• 1+ years of experience in a programming language (C++, MATLAB, and/or Python).

Responsibilities

• Apply optics and photonics knowledge to optical system development, including design, analysis, and validation.
• Represent the optical system in program-wide trades and issue resolution.
• Define requirements for high-performing optical systems in challenging environmental conditions.
• Lead optical architecture definition through internal trade studies and risk reduction testing.
• Participate in verification testing, including environmental qualification and performance characterization.
• Define and lead field testing of optical experiments and laser communication systems.
• Review test data and lead anomaly investigation and resolution.
• Maintain link budgets, design specifications, and system capabilities data.
• Interface with manufacturing and supply chain to ensure designs can be manufactured as planned.
• Collaborate with software and automation teams to develop tools and protocols for automated optical testing.
• Represent laser communications systems in reliability discussions with internal teams, management, customers, and vendors.

Skills

Optics & photonics experience

Programming (C++, MATLAB, Python)

Lab/testing experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in physics/engineering

Tools

Zemax

Job description

SpaceX seeks a Space Lasers Engineer for satellites to design, validate, and deploy free-space optical communication systems for Starlink. You will lead risk-driven optical architecture, write test plans, and collaborate across hardware, software, and manufacturing to deliver robust laser communication solutions for space.

The role requires a strong optics background, programming skills, and hands-on lab experience with high-reliability hardware in demanding environments.