Senior Optics Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

A New Paradigm For Space Operations.  

Who We Are:  

Space Kinetic is a dual use space technology startup building a completely new architecture for space operations – one that brings the advantages of proliferated drone technology (low-cost, operationally flexible, attritable, distributed) to space missions while reducing the ecosystem's reliance on consumable fuel. In a world where many companies are focused on incrementally improving the status quo, we are focused on creating something entirely different – an architecture underpinned by new first principles to meet the opportunities and challenges of the third space age head-on. Our goal is to move away from one-to-one space architectures – where each satellite in a constellation has one (or a small number of) primary payloads attached to the bus – and unlock a "one-to-many" system, where each satellite has a large number of payloads which can be deployed from their host spacecraft at high velocities without firing a thruster. 

This is not a role for someone looking for a traditional 40-hour work week. Space Kinetic is building ambitious, first-of-its-kind technology, and that requires urgency, ownership, and a high level of commitment to changing the foundational assumptions for everything we do in space. 

What You'll Do:  

We are seeking a Senior Optics Engineer to own the design, integration, and qualification of optical and optomechanical systems for our spacecraft and payload technologies. This is a hands-on role for an engineer who has taken complex optical hardware from early architecture through alignment, environmental testing, and flight-ready production. 

Job Responsibilities:   

• Own optical and optomechanical systems from requirements and architecture through detailed design, integration, qualification, and production.
• Design and analyze imaging, sensing, laser, infrared, or free-space optical systems using first-principles optical engineering.
• Develop optical prescriptions, performance models, error budgets, tolerance analyses, stray-light assessments, and system-level trade studies.
• Design and integrate lenses, detectors, mounts, baffles, windows, thermal interfaces, alignment features, and other precision optical hardware.
• Develop alignment, calibration, metrology, and automated test methods to characterize optical performance.
• Plan and execute environmental qualification, including vibration, shock, thermal-vacuum, and other mission-specific testing.
• Analyze test data, diagnose optical performance issues, lead anomaly investigations, and implement corrective design actions.
• Partner with mechanical, electrical, software, systems, manufacturing, and supplier teams to deliver manufacturable, flight-ready hardware. 

What It Takes:  

• Bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 7+ years of experience designing, integrating, and testing optical, imaging, photonic, infrared, or laser-based hardware.
• Demonstrated experience taking an optical or optomechanical assembly from concept through environmental qualification.
• Strong understanding of geometric and wave optics, optical aberrations, radiometry, tolerance analysis, and optical performance budgeting.
• Proficiency with Zemax, CODE V, or equivalent optical design and modeling software.
• Hands-on experience with optical alignment, calibration, and metrology, including methods such as interferometry, MTF, boresight, transmission, or stray-light testing.
• Experience with optomechanical packaging, precision mounting, athermalization, detector integration, and manufacturing tolerance flow-down.
• Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, C++, or a similar language for optical modeling, test automation, and data analysis. 

What We'd Love:  

• Experience developing optical systems for spacecraft, satellites, defense platforms, airborne systems, or other high-reliability applications.
• Experience with infrared systems, free-space optics, laser communications, imaging payloads, star trackers, or pointing, acquisition, and tracking systems.
• Experience with optical coatings, windows, detectors, focal-plane arrays, thermal interfaces, or stray-light analysis.
• Familiarity with SolidWorks, NX, Creo, GD&T, and the design of precision optomechanical assemblies.
• Experience qualifying optical suppliers and transitioning optical hardware from prototype development into repeatable production.
• Experience developing hardware for high-vibration, shock, thermal-vacuum, radiation, or other demanding aerospace environments.
• Experience integrating optical systems into modeling and simulation environments in support of Hardware-in-the-Loop (HITL) testing 

Where You'll Be:  

The position is onsite at our headquarters in El Segundo, CA. Domestic travel may be required (up to ~20% of the year). 

What We Offer:  

• Equity-Based Compensation
• 401(k) retirement plan with a 3.5% company match
• Highly Competitive PTO
• Paid company holidays + winter break 
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Unique Performance-based bonus opportunities

ITAR Requirements:  

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicants must be (i) a U.S. citizen or national, (ii) a U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), (iii) a refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, (iv) an asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or otherwise eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. 

Equal Employment Opportunity:  

Space Kinetic provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. 

The annual base salary for this role is below. Pay Grades are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data.  Individual pay will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: interviews and an assessment of several factors that are unique to each candidate, job-related skills, relevant education/experience, certifications, abilities of the candidate and internal equity.  

Pay Range

$150,000—$190,000 USD