Optical Systems Engineer Seen this week
About K2 Space
K2 is building the largest and highest-power satellites ever flown. Backed by $450M in funding and $500M in signed contracts, K2 is mass-producing satellite platforms for missions from LEO to deep space, with multiple launches planned through 2026 and 2027.
The Role
As an Optical Systems Engineer, you will define how K2 designs, manufactures, tests, and deploys optics benches across its optical payload suite. You will be involved in every phase of your optical system's life cycle, from initial feasibility and architectural trade studies through manufacturing, ground testing, and on-orbit commissioning.
Responsibilities
You will be responsible for delivering:
- System architecture, SNR budget, and system-specific modeling (stray light, fiber coupling)
- Detailed optical design and tolerancing
- Development plan including risk reduction timeline, division of labor, and test strategy
- Environmental qualification and reliability testing
- Technical leadership of vendors and external partners, including component qualification, supply-chain development, and transition to volume manufacturing
- Laboratory characterization, system-level validation, mission readiness, and on-orbit commissioning plan
- Design reviews to communicate expectations to hardware, software, test, and manufacturing teams
- Staffing forecasts, role definition, and candidate interviews for the optical payloads team
- Mentoring of supporting engineers to build capability in optical system development
- Evaluation and selection of manufacturing equipment, factory layout, work instructions, in-process checkouts, and end-of-line tests for in-house fabrication and assembly
Optical benches will include spectral and spatial filters, beam-shaping optics, image scanning and stabilization mechanisms, electro-optical sensors, and fiber-to-free space interfaces, coupled to large aperture diffraction-limited telescopes operating in the UV, VIS, NIR, SWIR, MWIR, and LWIR.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in physics, optics, computer science, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or a related technical field
- 8+ years of experience in the design, manufacture, and test of optical systems
- Experience designing and deploying optical systems at every phase of the product life cycle: requirements generation, design, analysis, tolerance, procure, build, align, test, deploy, operate
Nice to Have
- Familiarity with high-volume manufacturing, design for manufacturability, supply chain management, and productionization of assembly and test processes
- Experience with optical mechanisms, specifying requirements, feedback and actuation methods, basic controls analysis, quantifying mechanism error, and system-level testing
- Deep knowledge of electro-optical sensing technologies including focal plane arrays and photodiodes, their non-idealities, noise mechanisms, mitigations, testing and characterization, and practical implementation details
- Experience conducting experimental research, data analysis, and visualizing esoteric datasets
- Understanding of failure modes of electrical, mechanical, and optical systems in space environment
Compensation and Benefits
- Base salary range: $110,000 to $280,000 plus equity
- Salary based on knowledge, skills, education, and experience level
- Comprehensive benefits including paid time off, medical/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, and paid parental leave
Export Control
This role requires access to information and items controlled by U.S. export control regulations (ITAR). You must be a U.S. Person as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.15 (U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, or certain protected individuals) or otherwise eligible for a federally issued export control license.