Staff Optical Engineer

ICEYE; United States; Hybrid; USD 68,585 - 110,791; Full time

Job summary

ICEYE in Warsaw seeks a Staff Optical Engineer to shape the next generation of spaceborne imaging systems. You will lead architecture decisions from concept through production, aligning detector and optical designs to meet performance goals.

As a senior engineer, you will mentor a team of engineers, drive trade-offs, and push the envelope on large optics for future instruments. A deep hands-on background in imaging optics and systems architecture is essential.

Qualifications

• Extensive imaging optics experience across product lifecycle.
• Knowledge of optical design with detector side of the system.
• Experience as imaging systems architect, aware of trade-offs.
• Ability to assess designs and own system trade-offs.
• Strong mentoring skills.

Responsibilities

• Steer architecture and technical direction from concept through manufacturing and qualification.
• Connect optical design decisions with detector-side elements and focal plane assemblies.
• Mentor engineers to enable larger, more demanding designs.

Skills

Imaging optics

Space telescopes

Imaging systems architecture

Mentoring

Education

Degree in optical engineering

Job description

Role highlights:

Staff Optical Engineer

• Location: Warsaw, Poland

• Department: Engineering / Optical Systems

• Reports to: Engineering Manager, Optical Systems

• Employment type: Permanent

• Workplace model: Hybrid

• Employment is subject to applicable security screening (incl. SUPO, where required)

Why this role matters:

As Staff Optical Engineer, you will be a senior member of the tiger team shaping ICEYE's next generation of spaceborne imaging systems. Drawing on deep, hands‑on experience across imaging optics, from telescopes to full camera systems, you will define how these instruments are architected, resolving the trade‑offs between detector performance and optical design that determine what the system can ultimately achieve. Beyond the design work itself, you will act as a technical anchor for the wider engineering group, mentoring engineers and raising the ceiling of what the team is able to build as it takes on more ambitious optical systems.

Your day-to-day responsibilities

• Steer the architecture and technical direction of the team's imaging systems as a senior member of the team, staying involved from initial concept through manufacturing, assembly, alignment, and qualification.
• Shape how imaging systems come together end to end, connecting optical design decisions with detector-side elements such as focal plane assembly, and applying your experience with large optics to current and future instrument generations.
• Mentor engineers across the team day to day, passing on the optical judgement and system‑level thinking that will let the group take on larger, more demanding designs.

What we’re looking for

Must haves:

• Extensive experience in imaging optics, ideally including cameras, space telescopes, and other imaging systems, gained across the full product lifecycle from concept and design through manufacturing, quality control, assembly, alignment, and qualification.
• Knowledge of optical system design together with the detector side of the system, including focal plane and detector assemblies.
• Experience working as an imaging systems architect, familiar with the trade‑offs and typical architectures for imaging systems.
• Ability to assess designs and requirements and own the technical trade‑offs for the system, with a focus on current and future designs.
• Strong mentoring skills, comfortable working with a group of engineers on a daily basis.
• Degree in optical engineering, applied physics, or a related field, with 10+ years of relevant experience.

Nice to haves:

• Knowledge of the satellite systems and integration of the optical payload with satellite platforms.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

We want ICEYE to be a place where people can be themselves and do great work. Different backgrounds and perspectives make us stronger, which is why we work to create an environment where people feel included, respected, and able to speak up. Whatever your background, we want you to bring your authentic self to the table.

We’re committed to fair, inclusive hiring and equal opportunity. Everyone is welcome to apply. If you need any adjustments or support during the recruitment process, tell us—we’ll do our best to help.