Optical Engineer, Lasers and Photonics

The Lasers & Optics team is looking for a Laser & Photonics Engineer to design and build the next generation communication backbone to our orbital datacenters. This role requires hands-on experience with fiber laser systems and a strong foundation in fiber-optic component integration and characterization. You will work closely with optical, electrical, and systems engineers to bring up and verify the end-to-end communications link.

- Design and develop high-power fiber laser and amplifier systems for space-based applications.

- Characterize laser sources including linewidth, phase noise, RIN, and spectral purity.

- Select, integrate, and qualify fiber-optic components and subsystems for integration into a space-based platform.

- Perform and supervise fiber splicing and assembly of fiber-optic subassemblies.

- Model and measure fiber nonlinearity effects including SBS and SPM.

- Develop and execute test plans for optical performance verification including BER, eye diagrams, and spectral measurements.

- Generate design specifications, assembly procedures, and test reports.

- Bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or related field.

- 3+ years of hands-on experience with fiber-optic systems including splicing, component integration, and characterization.

- Familiarity with fiber-optic communications modulation formats.

- Experience operating OSAs, power meters, polarimeters, and high-speed oscilloscopes.

- Master's or PhD in Optical Engineering, Physics, or related discipline.

- Hands-on experience building and characterizing MOPA fiber amplifier chains.

- Familiarity with SBS, SPM, and other nonlinearity effects in high-power fiber systems.

- Experience with interferometric optical receivers or coherent detection front-ends.

- 5+ years of experience in a laser communications, defense, or aerospace photonics role.

- Experience with free-space optical communications or LEO inter-satellite links.

- Experience with environmental validation of space-based laser systems (thermal-vacuum, vibration, radiation).

The salary range for this position is $120,000 - $200,000 annually. The actual base salary offered will depend on factors such as job-related skills, experience, qualifications, and internal equity.