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Photonics Engineer - Fiber Amplifiers, Satellites (Starlink)

SpaceX· Satellite Bus Engineering
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Redmond, WA$105k - $145kfull-timePosted 2w ago

About the role

Photonics engineer focused on fiber amplifier systems for Starlink laser communications, responsible for design, validation, validation testing, and coordination with manufacturing and reliability teams to enable space-grade fiber amplifier solutions.

Responsibilities

  • Own the development of fiber amplifier systems for laser communications, including requirements definition, system design and analysis, and design validation.
  • Conduct validation and verification testing, including environmental qualification (thermal, TVAC, and radiation considerations), performance characterization, reliability testing, and fault injection testing
  • Work closely with manufacturing and supply chain teams to ensure final designs can be manufactured in accordance with overall project goals
  • Represent the photonic system in program-level, cross-disciplinary trades and issue resolution
  • Lead optical architecture definition through internal trade studies, concept of operations definition, and risk reduction testing
  • Lead anomaly investigations through to resolution.
  • Maintain link budgets, design specifications, and system capabilities data.
  • Collaborate with software and automation teams to develop tools and protocols for automated tested of fiber amplifier systems.
  • Represent laser communications systems for reliability and risk discussions with internal reliability teams, management, customers, and vendors.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in physics, optics, electrical engineering, or other engineering/STEM discipline
  • 2+ years of hands-on laboratory or work experience in fiber-based optical systems/networks, integrated photonics chips, or fiber laser technology (university lab, student project, or internship experience qualifies)
  • 1+ years of experience in a computer programming language (e.g. C++, MATLAB, and/or Python)

Skills

Required:Fiber amplifier design and integrationEnvironmental qualification testingOptical test equipmentC++ / MATLAB
Nice to have:Python scriptingReliability and risk assessment

Benefits

  • comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage
  • 401(k) retirement plan
  • short and long-term disability insurance
  • life insurance
  • paid parental leave
  • paid vacation (3 weeks)
  • 10+ paid holidays per year
  • employee discounts and additional perks
  • spaceX company stock or long-term cash awards potential (stock purchase plan)
  • shuttle service from select Seattle locations to Redmond office (Mon-Fri)
Last updated Oct 7, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

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