Principal Optical Engineer (Starfall)

SpaceX
California
Full timeUSD 190,000 - 285,000 annuallyFunction: Communications, PR & CommunityExperience: 8+ yearsEducation: bachelorsSkills: ["Technical leadership","Mentoring","Written and verbal communication","Risk assessment","Autonomous execution"]

Own the free-space optical system design, validation, and operation for a visible-camera and infrared navigation sensor. Set system-level product vision and lead optics, detectors, circuit boards, precision mechanisms, and mechanical enclosures built for extreme space loads. Drive architecture trades, define requirements, execute verification and field testing, troubleshoot assemblies, and partner with manufacturing, supply chain, software, and automation teams to deliver high-rate production.

Loading

Loading job details...

Preparing the role view and application actions.

FursaFursa
SpaceX
SpaceX
2 days ago

Principal Optical Engineer (Starfall)

✓ Verified Job

Canonical indexed version, validated from employer's careers page.

Source: Company careers pageValidated by: Fursa AI
Last checked: 7 hours agoStatus: Live

Job Summary

Own the free-space optical system design, validation, and operation for a visible-camera and infrared navigation sensor. Set system-level product vision and lead optics, detectors, circuit boards, precision mechanisms, and mechanical enclosures built for extreme space loads. Drive architecture trades, define requirements, execute verification and field testing, troubleshoot assemblies, and partner with manufacturing, supply chain, software, and automation teams to deliver high-rate production.
Location: California
Employment Type: Full time
Job Function: Communications, PR & Community
Seniority: Mid level

Key Responsibilities

  • •Drive product vision and system-level architecture for a visible-camera and IR navigation sensor.
  • •Apply optics and photonics knowledge to design, analysis, and validation of the optical system.
  • •Lead detailed trades across optical, IR, mechanical, electrical, and manufacturing constraints for high-volume production.
  • •Perform and oversee verification testing, including environmental qualification, performance characterization, reliability testing, and fault-injection testing.
  • •Mentor engineers and coordinate with manufacturing, supply chain, software, and automation teams to enable scalable, manufacturable optical/IR testing and deployment.

Pay and Benefits

Salary: USD 190,000 - 285,000 annually
Equity and Bonus:Equity
Perks:Health InsuranceVisionDental401kPaid Leave

Key Requirements

  • •Bachelor’s degree in optical engineering, physics, or another engineering discipline.
  • •8+ years of hands-on laboratory or work experience in optics, photonics, imaging, infrared sensing, or electrical/mechanical design or testing.
  • •8+ years of experience in a computer programming language (e.g., C++, MATLAB, and/or Python).
  • •Ability to lead optical architecture definition through internal trade studies, risk-reduction testing, and requirements definition for optical/IR navigation sensors.
  • •Proficiency with optical analysis and test (e.g., Zemax; optical test equipment and optical design/system integration and troubleshooting).
Experience:8+ yearsOpticsPhotonicsImagingInfrared sensingElectrical/mechanical designHigh-volume products
Education:Bachelor's
Skills:Technical leadershipMentoringWritten and verbal communicationRisk assessmentAutonomous execution
Languages:English
Tech Stack:C++MATLABPythonZemaxPython scriptingLinuxFPGAsEthernetSERDESDDR4I2CSPIOperational amplifiersAnalog-to-digital converters (ADCs)Digital-to-analog converters (DACs)Power supply componentsInterferometerPower metersPrecision metrologyAtmospheric optical effects

Eligibility

Nationality:US National
Work Authorization:Authorization required. Sponsorship not provided.

Company Brief

SpaceX
Designs, manufactures, and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft for commercial and government customers, aiming to reduce space transportation costs and enable human life on Mars through reusable launch vehicles and integrated space systems.
Industry: Aerospace Manufacturing
Company Size: Enterprise (1,001+ employees)
Growth: Established Company
Valuation: Hectocorn (USD 100B+)
Funding: Series E+
Headquarters: Hawthorne, United States
Founded: 2002
Glassdoor
Glassdoor: 4.2
WebsiteLinkedIn