Senior Optical Engineer

SpaceX

Confirmed live yesterday Trusted

Quick summary

Work type: On-site
Location: Hawthorne, CA
Salary: $165,000–$230,000 / yr
Posted: 17 days ago
Freshness: Confirmed live yesterday
Nearby: 99+ roles within 25 mi

Market check

Salary context

Above market

How this pay compares to similar roles

Similar $176k

This role $198k

$128k most similar roles pay here $241k

This role pays more than 70% of similar roles. Most pay $138,650–$212,500 — the shaded band above. At the midpoint, this role pays about $198k 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 680 open roles on FindRole.

Listed pay typically runs $130,000–$165,000 across 442 roles with salary data.

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At a glance

TL;DR · Senior Optical Engineer

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As a Sr. Optical Engineer (Starfall), you will join the team to own the design, validation, and operation of free-space optical systems for navigation sensors combining visible cameras and infrared sensing. You will drive product vision, lead system-level architecture, and manage trade studies across optical, mechanical, electrical, and manufacturing constraints to ensure high-volume production capability in harsh environments. Your daily work involves designing hardware, performing verification testing, and mentoring engineers while managing performance budgets and technical requirements. The role requires expertise in optics, photonics, and infrared sensing, alongside proficiency in programming languages like C++, MATLAB, or Python. You will utilize tools such as Zemax for optical analysis and manage complex components including FPGAs, mixed-signal circuits, and precision mechanisms to solve critical navigation problems within a demanding, high-reliability technical framework.

Skills

Optics Photonics Infrared (IR) Sensing Zemax Python C++ MATLAB Linux FPGA Mixed-Signal Circuits Ethernet SERDES DDR4 I2C SPI Optical Design Signal Integrity Metrology

What you'll do

Drive product vision and system-level architecture for visible-camera and IR navigation sensors.
Lead optical architecture definition through internal trade studies, concept of operations, and risk-reduction testing.
Design next-generation optical and infrared hardware optimized for high-volume manufacturing.
Perform and oversee verification testing including environmental qualification, performance characterization, and fault-injection.
Manage performance budgets, design specifications, and system capabilities data.
Mentor engineers and review designs to maintain and raise the team's technical standards.
Resolve anomalies by reviewing test data and leading investigation efforts.
Collaborate with software teams to develop automated tools and protocols for optical testing.

What we're looking for

Bachelor's degree in optical engineering, physics, or another engineering discipline.
5+ years of experience in optics, photonics, imaging, infrared sensing, or electrical/mechanical design and testing.
5+ years of experience with a computer programming language such as C++, MATLAB, or Python.
Master's degree or PhD in physics or an engineering discipline (preferred).
Experience driving product vision and system-level trades for complex electro-optical products (preferred).
Proficiency with optical analysis tools like Zemax (preferred).
Experience designing mixed-signal circuits, processors, FPGAs, and other electronic components (preferred).
Must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or eligible for required export control authorizations.