Space Systems Optical Engineer

Azora; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous equity

Competitive healthcare includingVision

401(k)

Job summary

Azora is developing space-grade optical terminals and supporting avionics for high-bandwidth, near‑orbit networks. This onsite/hybrid role supports system architecture, requirements, and verification within a small hardware team.

You will own architecture across terminal, avionics, structures, thermal, and interfaces, drive requirements flow-down, and manage design reviews and V&V, including environmental tests. Travel for test campaigns may occur.

Qualifications

• BS/MS in Aerospace, Electrical, Optical Engineering, Physics, or related field.
• Hands-on experience with real flight hardware or flight-like hardware—demonstrated contact with actual systems.
• Working knowledge of systems engineering fundamentals: requirements, budgets (mass, power, link, pointing), V&V planning.
• Exposure to environmental qualification or AIT (vibration, shock, TVAC, EMC).
• Ability to work independently and take technical ownership of a problem.

Responsibilities

• Own space segment architecture work across optical terminal, avionics, structures, thermal, power, and interfaces to host spacecraft or bus.
• Contribute to requirements development and flow-down from mission and link-budget level to subsystem and component specifications.
• Own the design review cadence (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR) and the verification and validation program, including environmental qualification (vibration, shock, TVAC, EMC, radiation).
• Assist with technical interfaces to launch providers, bus manufacturers, and hosted payload partners, including ICD development.
• Support risk management and parts/materials assurance activities (EEE parts, radiation lot testing) for the flight program.
• Own assembly, integration, and test (AIT) campaigns and launch site operations; support on-orbit commissioning and anomaly resolution.

Skills

Systems engineering

Flight hardware experience

Technical ownership

Education

BS/MS in Aerospace/Electrical/Optical Eng or related

Job description

Support the development of Azora's space segment: the flight terminals and supporting avionics that carry our optical communications technology to orbit. You'll work hands-on across system architecture, requirements, and verification as part of a small hardware team.

Role

Support the development of Azora's space segment: the flight terminals and supporting avionics that carry our optical communications technology to orbit. You'll work hands-on across system architecture, requirements, and verification as part of a small hardware team.

Responsibilities

• Own space segment architecture work across the optical terminal, avionics, structures, thermal, power, and interfaces to host spacecraft or bus.

• Contribute to requirements development and flow-down from mission and link‑budget level to subsystem and component specifications.

• Own the design review cadence (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR) and the verification and validation program, including environmental qualification (vibration, shock, TVAC, EMC, radiation).

• Assist with technical interfaces to launch providers, bus manufacturers, and hosted payload partners, including ICD development.

• Support risk management and parts/materials assurance activities (EEE parts, radiation lot testing) for the flight program.

• Own assembly, integration, and test (AIT) campaigns and launch site operations; support on‑orbit commissioning and anomaly resolution.

Required Qualifications

• BS/MS in Aerospace, Electrical, Optical Engineering, Physics, or related field.

• Hands‑on experience with real flight hardware or flight‑like hardware—through research, or industry. We're looking for demonstrated contact with actual systems (built it, tested it, broke it, fixed it).

• Working knowledge of systems engineering fundamentals: requirements, budgets (mass, power, link, pointing), V&V planning.

• Some exposure to environmental qualification or AIT (vibration, shock, TVAC, EMC).

• Demonstrated ability to work independently and take technical ownership of a problem.

Preferred

• Experience with optical payloads, laser communication terminals, or precision pointing systems in space.

• Familiarity with smallsat / NewSpace development models and hosted payload integration.

• Knowledge of radiation effects and mitigation for electronics and optics.

• Prior startup or small‑team experience scaling engineering processes.

Location

This is an onsite/hybrid role based in Tempe, AZ or the Bay Area, CA – hardware work that’s hard to do remotely. Some travel expected for test campaigns and vendor/manufacturing visits.

Benefits:

• Generous equity

• Competitive healthcare (including options for vision and dental)

• 401(k)

EEO & Reasonable Accommodations

• Azora is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

• If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know by contacting [e-mail]

Export Control

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicants must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful permanent resident (iii) protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or (iv) be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Salary ranges are based on the following criteria:

• Final salary is based on geographic location, experience, skills, and qualifications.

About this Company

Azora is building high‑bandwidth communications infrastructure for environments where fiber can’t reach. This work spans LEO spacecraft constellations, lunar exploration missions, GEO satcom, deployable optical ground for defense, and data centers both on‑ and off‑world. To enable rapid global proliferation Azora is developing compact and modular optical terminals small enough to deploy from a backpack, and space terminals that support high speed optical links from LEO out to the Moon.