Space Telescope Imaging Engineer (Computational Optics)

Cosmic Frontier Labs; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Cosmic Frontier Labs in San Francisco is seeking a computational optics engineer to model, simulate, and improve the imaging performance of our space telescopes, translating models into buildable hardware for on‑orbit performance.

You will stand up a Python‑based simulation pipeline, define a performance budget, and help close the loop between design, build, and test in an early-stage spaceflight environment.

Qualifications

• Strong education in Optical Engineering, Physics, or related field with 4+ years building imaging performance models for real hardware.
• Hands-on experience with wavefront and image modeling, PSF/MTF/WFE budgets, tolerancing, stray light analysis.
• Ability to build Python simulation pipelines and translate models into actionable design decisions.
• Proven track record correlating models to lab data and closing the loop between design, build, and test.

Responsibilities

• Build and own wavefront and image performance models (PSF, MTF, WFE budgets) for design decisions.
• Work on stray light modeling, tolerancing, and reconstruction methods to boost performance.
• Correlate models to lab data, define acceptance tests, and connect design, build, and test.

Skills

Wavefront modeling

Image modeling

Python scripting

Lab data correlation

Tolerancing

Stray light analysis

Design decisions

Reconstruction methods

System performance analysis

Education

Optical Engineering / Physics degree

Tools

Python

Job description

Cosmic Frontier Labs in San Francisco is seeking a computational optics engineer to model, simulate, and improve the imaging performance of our space telescopes, translating models into buildable hardware for on‑orbit performance.

You will stand up a Python‑based simulation pipeline, define a performance budget, and help close the loop between design, build, and test in an early-stage spaceflight environment.