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SpaceX · 14 hours ago

Sr. Space Lasers Engineer, Electro-Optical (Starshield)

Hawthorne, CA

Full-time

Onsite

Senior Level

$130K/yr - $180K/yr

5+ years exp

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. The Sr. Space Lasers Engineer will own the design, testing, and on-orbit operations for the Starshield space laser, working with a team to develop technologies for national security efforts.

Advanced MaterialsAerospaceManufacturingNational SecuritySpace Travel

Growth Opportunities

No H1B

Security Clearance Required

U.S. Citizen Only

Responsibilities

Apply expertise to laser communication system development, including design, analysis, and validation

Participate in verification testing, including environmental qualification, performance characterization, reliability testing, and fault injection testing

Represent the laser communications system in program-level, cross-disciplinary trades and issue resolution

Define requirements for high-data-rate laser communication systems in challenging environmental conditions

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 produced in accordance with overall project goals

Collaborate with software and automation teams to develop test and production scripts and tools

Represent laser communications systems for reliability and risk discussions with internal reliability teams, management, customers, and vendors

Design, develop, and implement avionics hardware for space laser systems including high-speed digital communications, analog circuits, optical sensors, and photonic chip drivers

Qualification

Laser communication systemsOpticsPhotonicsCircuit board designSignal processing algorithmsDigital communication systemsMixed-signal circuitsOptical design experienceInfrared system alignmentPython programmingRisk assessmentWork autonomouslyCommunication skills

Required

Bachelor's degree in physics, electrical engineering, or other engineering/STEM discipline

5+ years of hands-on laboratory or professional work experience in optics, photonics, laser technology, or testing

3+ years of experience in a computer programming language (e.g. C++, LabVIEW, and/or Python)

3+ years of experience designing and implementing circuit boards

3+ years of experience developing algorithms or implementing signal processing for complex systems, e.g., controls, digital filters, large dataset analysis

Preferred

Master's degree or PhD in physics or an engineering or STEM discipline

Knowledge of digital communication systems including spread spectrum, forward error correction, and modulation types such as QPSK, QAM, PCM/FM, and PAM

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

Hands-on experience in optical design or system design, integration, and test of laser communication systems

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

Experience with hardware development for high-reliability applications

Ability to assess risk and make design and development decisions without all available data

Ability to work in a fast paced, autonomously driven, and demanding atmosphere

Experience with infrared system alignment and characterization

Competence with Python scripting and a Linux operating system environment

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Active Top Secret, Top Secret SCI, or DOE Level Q clearance or the ability to obtain and maintain one