Sr. Optical Engineer (Starshield)

Hawthorne · USD 140,000-230,000 · 3+ years experience · Posted Oct 13, 2026

At a glance

As a Starshield optical engineer, you will be responsible for free-space optical system design, validation, and operation.
Shape the future of laser communication systems and directly contribute to mission-critical applications such as next-generation star tracking systems for precise navigation in space environments.

Apply optics and photonics knowledge to optical system development, including design, analysis, and validation
Represent the optical system in program-level, cross-disciplinary trades and issue resolution
Define requirements for high-performant optical systems in challenging environmental conditions
Lead optical architecture definition through internal trade studies, concept of operations definition, and risk reduction testing
Participate in verification testing, including environmental qualification, performance characterization, reliability testing, and fault injection testing
Define and lead field testing of optical experiments and laser communication systems
Review test data and lead anomaly investigation and resolution
Maintain link budgets, design specifications, and system capabilities data
Interface with manufacturing and supply chain teams to ensure final designs can be manufactured in accordance with overall project goals
Collaborate with software and automation teams to develop tools and protocols for automated optical testing

Bachelor’s degree in optical engineering, physics, or other engineering/STEM discipline
5+ years of hands-on laboratory or work experience in optics, photonics, laser technology, or electrical/mechanical design or testing
3+ years of experience in a computer programming language (e.g. C++, MATLAB, and/or Python)

Master's degree or PhD in physics or an engineering discipline
Proficiency with optical analysis tools such as Zemax
Hands-on experience in optical design or system design, integration, and test of laser communication systems
Experience with mixed-signal circuits, processors, FPGAs, Ethernet, SERDES, DRAM interfaces (DDR4), I2C, SPI, operational amplifiers, analog to digital and digital to analog converters, and power supply components
Opto-mechanical design and analysis experience with precision mounting and steering mechanisms
Knowledge of and experience in lasers, photodiodes, fiber optics, optics testing/troubleshooting techniques, and signal integrity principles
Knowledge of and experience in free-space optical principles, optical component testing/troubleshooting techniques, precision metrology techniques, manufacturing and integration processes
Experience leading development of commercial communications products