Sr. Space Lasers Engineer, Satellites
Job description
About the role
This position focuses on the creation and deployment of optical communication systems for the Starlink satellite constellation. You will manage the full lifecycle of laser terminals and imaging hardware, balancing theoretical design with practical execution in resource-constrained environments.
Key facts
What you'll do
- Design, validate, and operate free-space optical systems for space missions.
- Lead architectural definitions through trade studies, concept of operations, and risk reduction testing.
- Define performance requirements for hardware operating in harsh environments.
- Manage link budgets, system specifications, and capability documentation.
- Conduct verification testing, including environmental, reliability, and fault injection procedures.
- Coordinate with manufacturing and supply chain teams to ensure design feasibility.
- Lead anomaly investigations and field testing for communication systems.
- Collaborate with software teams to automate optical testing protocols.
- Represent technical risk and reliability status to management and stakeholders.
This senior role is at the center of Starlink's space laser program, which uses optical inter-satellite links to move data across the constellation at high speed. You will design, validate, and operate free-space optical systems for space missions, and you will lead architectural definitions through trade studies, concept of operations, and risk reduction testing. The work is about turning optical theory into hardware that survives the harsh environment of space.
Much of the role is about rigor and documentation. You will define performance requirements for hardware operating in harsh environments, manage link budgets, system specifications, and capability documentation, and conduct verification testing that includes environmental, reliability, and fault injection procedures. You will coordinate with manufacturing and supply chain teams to ensure design feasibility, lead anomaly investigations and field testing for communication systems, and collaborate with software teams to automate optical testing protocols. Representing technical risk and reliability status to management and stakeholders is a regular part of the role.
Space-based optical communications push components to their limits, and the margin for error is small, so the ability to balance theoretical understanding with practical execution is essential. You will work across the full lifecycle of laser terminals and imaging hardware, from early concept and trade studies through to verification testing, anomaly investigation, and field deployment, all within resource-constrained environments where every decision affects cost and schedule.
Requirements
- Bachelor degree in physics, computer science, electrical engineering, or a related STEM field.
- Minimum 2 years of laboratory or professional experience in optics, photonics, laser technology, or precision mechanical design.
- Minimum 1 year of experience using C++, MATLAB, or Python.
- Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee to meet ITAR requirements.
Nice to have
- Master degree or PhD in physics or an engineering discipline.
- Proficiency in Zemax for optical analysis.
- Experience with pointing, acquisition, and tracking systems.
- Knowledge of atmospheric optical effects and infrared system alignment.
- Background in high-reliability hardware development or commercial communications products.
- Competence with optical test equipment such as power meters, interferometers, and laser sources.
- Experience working in a Linux environment.
Skills & tools
Optics and photonics principles, laser technology and fiber optics, precision metrology and optical troubleshooting, Python, C++, MATLAB, Linux.
Practical notes
Expect to work extended hours and weekends as needed. Compensation includes potential stock options, cash awards, and discretionary bonuses. Benefits package includes medical, dental, vision, 401(k), disability insurance, life insurance, and paid parental leave. Includes 3 weeks of paid vacation, 10+ paid holidays, and state-compliant sick leave. Company shuttles provide transit from select Seattle locations to the Redmond office.
About the company
Based in Starbase, Texas, a company pursues work in spaceflight, telecom, and artificial intelligence. A unit handles rocket launches, leading yearly orbital counts beyond other national and commercial teams. Another unit runs Starlink, a satellite communications firm. A third area, through SpaceXAI, advances Grok and AI integration with X, while managing data center operations. Roles often cross these paths. Candidates with engineering, software, or operations backgrounds may find chances to join projects that span launch, connectivity, and machine learning efforts in this Texas-based enterprise.