- Robot type
- Drone · Defense
- Location
- Costa MesaCaliforniaUSA
- Job type
- Hardware
- Posted
- Feb 3, 2026
- Salary
- $146,000–$194,000 a year
Full-time
Systems Engineer, Electro Optical, Space
Job description
As an Electro Optical System Engineer for our Space team, you will facilitate the integration of EO Payloads on our spacecraft platforms from initial concept development through on-orbit execution. A successful candidate will have experience during all phases of payload system engineering including architecture and requirement derivation, performance modeling, design reviews, laboratory testing, spacecraft assembly integration and test, on-orbit initialization, and mission operations. A proven history of interfacing with all disciplines of the engineering, specialty, and program management team to shepherd a payload design to maturity is required.
You’ll be expected to clearly communicate…
Job responsibilities
- Perform concept designs of active and passive EO payloads
- Derive system and unit level requirements
- Analyze performance with an in-depth understanding of payload technology and related physics
- Identify payload key performance parameters and create test plans and procedures to measure these parameters in a laboratory environment
- Perform hands-on characterization and calibration of the radiometric and geometric performance of flight hardware using collimators, integrating spheres, theodolites, laser trackers, interferometers, and other optical…
- Train and educate other AI&T professionals to conduct successful payload testing
- Work with the external and internal engineering team to author Interface Control Documents (ICD) covering all aspects of payload integration including electrical, data, algorithmic, mechanical, thermal, and optical…
- Facilitate communication between mechanical, thermal, electrical, and software teams to resolve complex integration trades and manage technical risk
Job requirements
- Strong engineering background from industry and school, ideally in areas/fields such as Systems Engineering, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, or Electrical Engineering
- Experience conducting assembly, integration and test of space payload flight hardware with a focus on performance characterization and requirement verification
- Deep understanding of professional optical test equipment, tools and methodologies with a tie back to the underlying physics
- Experience with advanced payload analyses and laboratory measurements including photon transfer, dark current, radiometry, responsivity, distortion mapping, boresight alignments, non-uniformity corrections, point…
- Ability to quickly understand and navigate complex systems and detailed requirements
- Capable of solving complex technical problems with little oversight
- Clear communication and organizational skills including documentation and training material
- Experience writing technical documentation, procedures, and reports