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Optical Engineer (Starshield)

SpaceX· Starshield Satellite Engineering
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Hawthorne, CA$105k - $140kfull-timePosted 2mo ago

About the role

Optical engineer focused on free-space optical systems for Starshield, contributing to laser communications terminals and imaging payloads for government use, with emphasis on design, validation, and operation in laser communication and star-tracking applications.

Responsibilities

  • Apply optics and photonics knowledge to optical system development, including design, analysis, and validation
  • Represent the optical system in program-level, cross-disciplinary trades and issue resolution
  • Define requirements for high-performant optical systems in challenging environmental conditions
  • Lead optical architecture definition through internal trade studies, concept of operations definition, and risk reduction testing
  • Participate in verification testing, including environmental qualification, performance characterization, reliability testing, and fault injection testing
  • Define and lead field testing of optical experiments and laser communication systems
  • Review test data and lead anomaly investigation and resolution
  • Maintain link budgets, design specifications, and system capabilities data
  • Interface with manufacturing and supply chain teams to ensure final designs can be manufactured in accordance with overall project goals
  • Collaborate with software and automation teams to develop tools and protocols for automated optical testing
  • Represent laser communications systems for reliability and risk discussions with internal reliability teams, management, customers, and vendors

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in optical engineering, physics, or other engineering/STEM discipline
  • 2+ years of hands-on laboratory or work experience in optics, photonics, laser technology, or electrical/mechanical design or testing
  • 1+ years of experience in a computer programming language (e.g. C++, MATLAB, and/or Python)

Skills

Required:Optical system design and validationTrade studies and requirements definitionEnvironmental testing and verificationLink budgets and system specificationManufacturing interfacing
Nice to have:Field testing and anomaly resolutionSoftware tooling for optical testingLaser communications knowledge

Benefits

  • comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage
  • 401(k) retirement plan
  • short and long-term disability insurance
  • life insurance
  • paid parental leave
  • vacation and holidays
  • employee stock purchase plan with potential stock opportunities
  • discretionary bonuses and potential long-term incentives
  • discounts and perks
  • 3 weeks paid vacation and 10+ paid holidays per year
  • paid sick leave policy
Last updated Aug 19, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

About SpaceX

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