SpaceX
Optical Engineer (Starfall)
About this role
SpaceX is seeking an Optical Engineer to design and validate free-space optical navigation sensors combining visible and infrared imaging for space applications. You'll lead optical architecture development from concept through high-volume manufacturing, balancing performance with extreme environmental durability and production constraints.
What you'll do
- Design and validate visible-camera and IR sensor architectures for navigation applications in space environments
- Lead optical architecture trades, concept of operations, and risk-reduction testing across optical, mechanical, electrical, and manufacturing domains
- Design next-generation optical/IR sensor hardware optimized for high-rate manufacturing and spaceflight reliability
- Perform verification testing including environmental qualification, performance characterization, and anomaly investigation
- Interface with manufacturing and supply chain teams to ensure designs meet producibility and mission goals
- Collaborate with software and automation teams to develop testing tools and protocols
What they're looking for
- Optical system design and analysis (visible and infrared)
- Photonics and imaging sensor expertise
- Opto-mechanical design and precision alignment
- Mixed-signal circuit design (FPGAs, Ethernet, SERDES, analog/digital converters)
- Optical analysis tools (Zemax)
- Programming languages (C++, MATLAB, Python, Linux)
- Optical test equipment operation and troubleshooting
- High-reliability hardware design for space applications
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SpaceX
SpaceX develops advanced spacecraft and satellite systems, including the Starshield government satellite constellation and Starfall re-entry cargo capsule for global delivery. The company is hiring engineers in avionics integration, software test automation, mechanical design, and hardware reliability to validate flight-critical systems and ensure mission success.
- Website
- spacex.com
Likely interview questions
- Walk us through a complex optical system design you led from concept to testing—what were the key trade-offs between performance, manufacturability, and cost?
- Describe your experience with infrared sensor design and characterization. What challenges did you encounter in an extreme environment?