Sr. Optical Communications Engineer

NSS; Herndon (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Telecommuting options

Health insurance

Job summary

Fibertek, Inc. in Herndon, VA seeks an optical communications engineer to design and build optical space terminals, including flight hardware and verification testing. You will guide multidisciplinary teams and contribute to NASA and DOD missions while advancing laser communication technologies.

Requirements include a Master’s degree and 7+ years of hands-on optical design experience. The role emphasizes leadership in hardware builds and robust documentation across projects in a collaborative

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related field.
• 7+ years direct hands-on designing, building, and characterizing optical systems.
• US citizenship required.
• Experience leading space flight hardware builds.

Responsibilities

• Design and build optical space terminals.
• Lead performance and environmental verification testing for space.
• Coordinate a multidisciplinary team of engineers to deliver next generation laser communication terminals and optical modems.
• Support concurrent programs with short-duration flight projects and long-duration maturation programs.

Skills

Optical system design

Experimentation & testing

Systems engineering

Multidisciplinary coordination

Education

Master's Degree

Tools

MATLAB

MATHCAD

ZEMAX

Job description

Would you enjoy working with a collaborative team of engineers to design and build satellite based optical communications laser terminals including optical inter-satellite links (OISL) and direct to earth links? Fibertek is looking for an optical communication engineer to join our Herndon, VA team to help pave the way for tomorrow’s advancement in space exploration. You will embrace a team atmosphere while being empowered to make decisions in your area of expertise.

Your Job

As an optical communications engineer, you will be responsible for designing and building optical space terminals. Work includes optical space lasercom systems design, leading hand-on building of space flight optical flight terminals, and leading the performance and environmental verification testing for space. Design and work with some of the smartest minds in engineering actively involved in current high-profile NASA and DOD missions. You will use your direct hands-on experience to support the design, fabrication, and qualification of laser communication terminals, optical modems, and optical pointing and tracking systems. Activities include coordinating a multidisciplinary team of engineers to the successful completion of next generation laser communication terminals and optical modems while supporting multiple concurrent projects with a mix of short-duration flight programs and long-duration technology maturation programs.

Required Skills and Experience

• MS or PhD. in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or other related engineering specialties with a minimum of 7 years direct hands-on designing, building, and characterizing optical systems.
• Knowledge of telecommunications standards and industry best practices associated
• Ability to design and execute experiments validating communications system performance and correlate the results with the expected performance.
• Ability to lead space flight hardware builds.
• Experience with modeling and simulation of optical systems using industry standard tools such as MATLAB, MATHCAD, ZEMAX or equivalent software tools
• Developing and setting requirements and design tolerances
• Experience with high-speed electrical circuits and radio frequency systems.
• Strong communication and documentation skills for efficient multidisciplinary coordination
• Ability to develop innovative solutions to complex challenges demonstrating ingenuity and creativity

Desired Qualifications:

• Expertise in free space optical communications systems, link budgets, waveforms, standards.
• Understanding of opto-mechanical, thermo-optic tolerance and stability.
• Experience in position navigation and tracking technologies.
• Pointing and tracking expertise.
• Strong background in signal processing
• Strong background in sensors and electronics designs
• Aerospace industry experience.

APPLICANTS MUST HOLD US CITIZENSHIP.

Job Summary

Company

Fibertek, Inc.

Employment Term

Regular

Employment Type

Full Time

Salary and Benefits

• Paid time off such as PTO, Health insurance, Life insurance, Dental insurance, Vision insurance, Retirement benefits or accounts, Healthcare spending or reimbursement accounts, such as FSAs, Long term disability insurance, Short term disability insurance, Tuition assistance, Wellness programs, Employee recognition programs, Relocation assistance, Commuting/travel assistance, Telecommuting options, Workplace perks such as recreation activities, food and coffee, and flexible work schedules!

Required Education

Master's Degree

Required Experience

7 to 20+ years

Why Fibertek, Inc?

At FIBERTEK, Inc. we pride ourselves in our innovation and customer success focused culture enabled by a creative and relaxed work environment with minimal bureaucracy. Fibertek fosters a progressive learning environment that values inspiration, promotes professional challenge and encourages personal growth. We offer a competitive and incentivized compensation package with excellent benefits. Fibertek, Inc. is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Applicants are considered regardless of race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age or any other protected characteristic in accordance with applicable law.