Optical Engineer

SpaceX

Confirmed live today Trusted

Quick summary

Work type: On-site
Location: Hawthorne, CA
Salary: $105,000–$140,000 / yr
Posted: 71 days ago
Freshness: Confirmed live today
Nearby: 99+ roles within 25 mi

Market check

Salary context

Below market

How this pay compares to similar roles

Similar $176k

This role $122k

$92k $227k

below market most similar roles pay here above market

This role pays less than 90% of similar roles. Most pay $138,250–$214,000 — the blue band above. At the midpoint, this role pays about $122k versus about $176k for comparable roles.

Based on 240 similar postings.

Employer

About SpaceX

SpaceX designs, manufactures, and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft with the mission of enabling humans to become a multi-planetary species. It operates the Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, and Starship launch vehicles, as well as the Starlink satellite internet constellation.

SpaceX currently has 851 open roles on FindRole.

Listed pay typically runs $130,000–$165,000 across 590 roles with salary data.

Most-posted roles

View all roles at SpaceX

At a glance

TL;DR · Optical Engineer

Role Posting Log in to save

Optical Engineer (Starshield) The Optical Engineer (Starshield) joins the satellite engineering team to develop, produce, and deploy cutting-edge free-space optical communication systems and observation payloads for the Starshield constellation. This role focuses on earth observation, communications, and hosted payloads for government use. You will perform free-space optical system design, validation, and operation, including defining requirements for high-performance systems in challenging environments. Key responsibilities involve leading optical architecture definition, conducting risk reduction testing, and managing link budgets. You will utilize optics and photonics knowledge alongside programming languages like C++, MATLAB, and Python. Preferred technical skills include proficiency with Zemax, experience with FPGAs, SERDES, and fiber optics, and competence with optical test equipment such as power meters and interferometers to solve complex problems in resource-constrained systems.

Skills

Optics Photonics Laser Communication Systems Zemax Python C++ MATLAB Linux FPGAs Mixed-Signal Circuits Ethernet SERDES DDR4 I2C SPI Fiber Optics Signal Integrity Precision Metrology Optical Test Equipment

What you'll do

Design, analyze, and validate free-space optical systems and laser communication terminals.
Define requirements for high-performance optical systems operating in challenging environmental conditions.
Lead optical architecture definition through internal trade studies and risk reduction testing.
Execute verification testing including environmental qualification, performance characterization, and fault injection.
Lead field testing of optical experiments and laser communication systems.
Review test data to lead anomaly investigation and resolution.
Maintain link budgets, design specifications, and system capabilities data.
Interface with manufacturing and supply chain teams to ensure designs are manufacturable.

What we're looking for

Bachelor’s degree in optical engineering, physics, or another 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 such as C++, MATLAB, and/or Python.
Master's degree or PhD in physics or an engineering discipline (preferred).
Proficiency with optical analysis tools such as Zemax (preferred).
Hands-on experience in optical design or system design, integration, and test of laser communication systems (preferred).
Experience with mixed-signal circuits, processors, FPGAs, Ethernet, SERDES, DRAM interfaces, I2C, SPI, and power supply components (preferred).
Must be a U.S. citizen, national, lawful permanent resident, refugee, asylee, or eligible for required U.S. Department of State authorizations.