Optical Systems Engineer

northwoodspace • Los Angeles, CA

2d

About The Position

Northwood is looking for an Optical Systems Engineer to lead analysis, testing, and integration of optical ground station systems for space communications. In this role, you’ll work closely with the CTO and engineering team to evaluate and validate free-space optical communication systems deployed at Northwood ground sites. You’ll contribute across the full lifecycle of optical system development - from architecture and link analysis through experimental validation and field testing. This is a highly hands-on role at the intersection of optics, communications, and aerospace infrastructure, ideal for someone who has experience bringing complex systems into real-world deployment.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience in optical engineering, physics, or a related engineering discipline
• 3+ years of experience in optical system design, photonics, or laser-based systems (research or industry)
• Experience working with optical modeling, analysis, or simulation tools
• Hands-on experience with optical laboratory equipment and experimental validation

Nice To Haves

• Master’s or PhD in optics, photonics, physics, or a related field
• Experience with free-space optical communication systems or laser communications
• Familiarity with optical modeling tools such as Zemax, Code V, or similar
• Experience with optical alignment, metrology, and characterization techniques
• Knowledge of atmospheric propagation effects relevant to optical links
• Experience integrating optical hardware with mechanical and electronic systems
• Programming experience in Python, MATLAB, or similar tools for analysis and automation
• Strong experimental intuition and ability to rapidly prototype and test new concepts

Responsibilities

• Apply optics and photonics expertise to the definition and refinement of free-space optical system requirements and architectures
• Evaluate optical communication systems to understand performance, tradeoffs, and operational constraints
• Develop and execute test campaigns to characterize system performance and readiness
• Analyze test data and troubleshoot issues in optical hardware, alignment, and signal performance
• Work across mechanical, electrical, and software teams to integrate optical subsystems into production systems
• Contribute to opto-mechanical design considerations including alignment, stability, and environmental robustness
• Support system bring-up, integration, and field deployment of optical communication systems
• Lead integration of optical terminals into ground station environments, including site constraints, power, thermal, and environmental considerations
• Contribute to operational readiness of optical links, including monitoring, reliability, and uptime considerations
• Work with network and mission operations teams to support end-to-end optical link performance
• Analyze performance across different site locations to inform network-wide optimization

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level