Staff Electro-Optical Payload Engineer

Blacksky Holdings LLC; Tukwila (WA); Hybrid; USD 155,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

15+ PTO and holidays

401(k) matching

Flexible Spending Accounts

Employee Stock Purchase Program

Professional development

Mac or PC choice

Awesome swag

Job summary

BlackSky, a real-time intelligence company, seeks a Staff Electro-Optical Payload Engineer to architect, test and integrate imaging payloads for spaceborne platforms. You will shape test strategies, build facilities, and work with cross-functional teams to ensure payload performance and flight readiness.

The role emphasizes testing and integration near Tukwila, WA with hybrid work; candidates will relocate locally by 2026.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in design, integration or test of optical imaging systems for space.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in optical engineering, physics, or related field.
• Hands-on lab experience with interferometers and alignment tooling.
• Proficiency in at least one numerical/technical programming language.
• Strong grasp of optical image formation physics and detector phenomenology.
• Experience with radiometry and system performance modeling.
• Familiarity with satellite/payload interface constraints and CONOPs.

Responsibilities

• Develop integration, verification and test strategies for EO payloads.
• Build and maintain optical test facilities and GSE.
• Test payloads and support satellite integration with production teams.
• Collaborate with engineering, PM and production for end-to-end validation.
• Define requirements and oversee design/build of payload test infra.
• Support design of new EO payload architectures and concepts.
• Analyze sensor designs to inform R&D and strategic direction.
• Develop optical system requirements for new designs.
• Provide technical oversight for procurement and integration.
• Support on-orbit commissioning and end-of-life characterization.

Skills

Optical engineering

Imaging systems testing

Programming (numerical)

Satellite/payload interface

US citizenship

Optical test facilities

Education

Bachelors in Optical Engineering or Physics

Postgraduate degree (preferred)

Job description

Staff Electro-Optical Payload Engineer

About Us:

BlackSky is a real-time intelligence company. We own and operate the world's most advanced space-based intelligence platform and provide customers satellite imagery, automated analytics and high-frequency monitoring of strategic locations, economic assets and events from around the globe. BlackSky is trusted by the most demanding allied military and intelligence organizations and commercial companies to deliver foresight into critical matters that affect national security and the economy. BlackSky's data enables governments and businesses to see, understand and anticipate change as it happens, giving them the ultimate strategic advantage so they can act quickly. Our global team works with cutting-edge technology to make a difference around the world and prides itself on being people-first, customer-focused and fun.

BlackSky is looking for a strong Staff EO Payload Engineer to work with BlackSky's Payload and Constellation Engineering teams to architect, design, and test new EO payload concepts to broaden our growing portfolio of imaging payloads. You'll have the opportunity to influence the design and development of new payloads, develop the associated integration and test strategies, and support instruments through on-orbit commissioning and longer-term characterization and calibration. You'll work closely with and support our Image Processing and Satellite Operations organizations to help design the processing and operations frameworks to characterize, optimize, and improve payload performance for satellites throughout their operational lifetimes on orbit. Your particular emphasis will be on the testing and satellite integration of a new payload and its sensors across its entire lifecycle. You will have the exciting opportunity to not only develop a new payload but also a new optical test facility for it.

Because of the emphasis on testing and integration, this role needs to be proximal to our satellite production facility in Tukwila, WA once hardware starts arriving. This means that while a candidate can start remote but must be local by the end of 2026 and comfortable in a hybrid capacity.

Responsibilities

• Develop comprehensive integration, requirements verification, and test strategies for EO payloads.
• Develop and maintain optical and sensor test facilities.
• Test payloads and support the production team as they integrate your payloads onto satellites.
• Partner with engineering, program management, and production to ensure comprehensive and efficient end-to-end validation of payload test from plan through design and execution.
• Define requirements for and oversee the design and build of test Ground Support Equipment (GSE) and other test infrastructure for the payload.
• Support the development of new EO payload architectures and concepts.
• Simulate and analyses new sensors, designs, and/or phenomonologies to support R&D and technical strategy development.
• Develop optical system requirements associated with new designs.
• Provide technical assistance and oversight with design procurement and integration.
• Support the characterization and commissioning activities of orbital imaging systems.
• Evaluate on-orbit imaging systems performance, compare with your ground predictions, and evolve your test & performance prediction capabilities.
• Other job-related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• At least 10 years of experience in technical engineering roles involving the specification, modeling, design, integration, and/or test of imaging or non-imaging optical systems and associated components/subsystems, particularly the testing of space-based optical systems.
• Bachelor's degree in optical engineering, physics, or other area of appropriate technical focus (or equivalent experience of four additional years).
• Hands‑on laboratory experience and familiarity with typical optical test and meteorology instrumentation and practices, e.g., interferometers, theodolite/laser tracker, optical alignment.
• Proficiency in at least one computer language with an emphasis on numerical or technical computing.
• Strong technical grasp of the physics of optical image formation and associated detector phenomenology, especially in the visible and infrared spectra.
• Proficiency with radiometry, optical imaging and detection figures of merit, and optical system performance modeling/estimation/simulation.
• Adept with developing concise specifications for optical systems within a well-defined, systematic requirements framework.
• Familiarity with satellite/payload interface and CONOPs constraints and associated systems engineering.
• Due to program requirements, this position requires holding US citizenship.

Preferred Qualifications

• Post graduate degree in a relevant technical field.
• Direct experience in spaceborne optical remote sensing systems.
• Direct experience in focal plane array design and engineering.
• Direct experience in satellite radiometric, spatial, and spectral calibration.
• Proficiency with numerical and technical programming in Python.
• Familiarity and experience with a technical discipline complementary to optics, e.g., mechanical, thermal, electrical engineering.

Life at BlackSky for full-time US benefits eligible employees includes

• Medical, dental, vision, disability, group term life and AD&D, voluntary life and AD&D insurance
  • BlackSky pays 100% of employee-only premiums for medical, dental and vision and contributes $100/month for out-of-pocket expenses!
• 15 days of PTO, 11 Company holidays, four Floating Holidays (pro‑rated based on hire date), one day of paid volunteerism leave per year, parental leave and more
• 401(k) pre‑tax and Roth deferral options with employer match
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Employee Stock Purchase Program
• Employee Assistance and Travel Assistance Programs
• Employer matching donations
• Professional development
• Mac or PC? Your choice!
• Awesome swag

The anticipated salary range for candidates in Seattle, WA is $155,000-180,000 per year. The final compensation package offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on specific background and education. BlackSky is a multi‑state employer and this pay scale may not reflect salary ranges in other states or locations outside of Seattle, WA.

BlackSky is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

EEO/AAP/ Pay Transparency Statements:

https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf

https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/OFCCP_EEO_Supplement_Final_JRF_QA_508c.pdf