Senior Optical Communications Engineer
$160,000–$214,000 year
On-site · Long Beach, California, United States
Job Summary
Own the end-to-end architecture, design, development, and delivery of a deep-space optical communications terminal. Translate mission needs into system performance requirements, develop architectures, and drive implementation through in-house design or external partnerships. Lead hands-on development campaigns to evaluate key technologies, derisk interfaces, and validate performance before full system integration. Collaborate across internal and external teams to turn concepts into hardware, balancing agility and rigor from analysis to prototypes to flight-ready systems. Deliver a robust, high-performance optical communications capability enabling breakthrough science across the solar system.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field
- 5+ years of experience in laser communications, optical systems engineering, or spacecraft communications system development
- Hands-on proficiency in electromechanical prototyping, including integration of optics, electronics, and mechanical subsystems such as gimbals, pointing mechanisms, and precision mounts
- Deep understanding of optical communications subsystems, including pointing, acquisition, and tracking (PAT); modems; and photonic hardware
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to synthesize technical details and drive decision-making across engineering and program teams
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