Senior Photonics Engineer

Impulse Space • Redondo Beach, CA

2d • $150,000 - $180,000 • Onsite

About The Position

As a Senior Photonics/Optical Communications Engineer, you will be responsible for the end-to-end optical signal chain of our laser communication system. You will design and integrate the laser transmitter and optical receiver that drive our high-data-rate link. This includes the seed lasers, modulators, fiber optics, optical amplifiers on the transmit side, as well as the fiber-coupled collection optics, detectors, and front-end electronics on the receive side. You’ll own the optical link budget and ensure that we meet the required optical signal-to-noise ratio and sensitivity. This role is very cross-disciplinary: you will work with the Optical Systems lead & Modem/DSP. As the Photonics lead, you will have the freedom to select technologies and shape the architecture and will guide the team in making the optical link a reality. This position is on-site and ideal for an engineer with deep experience in fiber optic sensors and amplifiers who can drive a design from lab prototype to a space-qualified product.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Photonics, Optical Engineering, Physics, or related field.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience developing optical communication hardware or fiber-optic/photonics systems.
• Strong knowledge of lasers and fiber optics. Experience with designing laser transmitter systems – e.g., working with semiconductor lasers or fiber lasers, modulators (EOMs/MZMs or acousto-optic modulators), and optical amplifiers (EDFAs or Raman amplifiers).
• Familiarity with managing optical power and nonlinearity (stimulated Brillouin/Raman scattering, etc.) in high-power fiber systems.
• Experience with optical receivers and detectors for high-speed communications. Knowledge of photodetector types (PIN, APD, or coherent receivers) and experience designing or testing high-speed photodiode + amplifier front-ends. Understanding of concepts like shot noise, thermal noise, and how to achieve sensitivity down to the quantum limit (e.g., using coherent detection or APDs).
• Ability to model and analyze optical system performance. This could include link budget analysis in MATLAB/Python or using specialized photonic simulation tools. Comfort with concepts like OSNR, Eb/N0, BER, and using those to drive design decisions. Experience interpreting optical spectra, eye diagrams, and constellation diagrams to evaluate system performance.
• Extensive hands-on lab experience with photonic equipment. Proficiency in using optical test instruments (optical spectrum analyzers, power meters, high-speed oscilloscopes, bit-error-rate testers, etc.).
• Skilled in fiber handling (splicing, connector termination, fiber alignment) and free-space optical alignment on an optical table. Demonstrated ability to set up complex optical experiments and troubleshoot issues (misalignments, reflections, noise sources).
• Basic familiarity with the electronics and software needed to drive photonic components. For example, comfortable reading laser driver and TIA datasheets, setting up power supplies or bias tees, and possibly programming microcontrollers or scripts (Python/LabVIEW) to control tunable lasers or data acquisition systems.

Nice To Haves

• Aerospace/space experience is highly valued – e.g., designing optical or communication hardware for satellites, high-altitude aircraft, or space instruments. Knowledge of radiation effects on photonic components (radiation-hardened fiber, radiation-induced attenuation, etc.) and mitigation strategies. Experience with space qualification of optics (vibration testing of fiber assemblies, thermal vacuum operation of lasers) is a major plus.
• Experience with coherent optical communication systems (homodyne or heterodyne). This includes an understanding of I/Q modulators, optical hybrids, and complex modulation formats (BPSK, QPSK, QAM), as well as familiarity with frequency/phase locking techniques for lasers.
• Familiarity with state-of-the-art photonic components and tools. For instance, experience with LiNbO₃ or silicon photonic modulators, integrated photonic circuits, wavelength division multiplexing components, and modern optical simulation software (VPI Photonics, OptiSystem, Lumerical, etc.). Ability to perform or interpret structural/thermal analysis on optical components.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop the high-performance optical transmitter for the FSO link. Design the amplifier chain and manage fiber link budget.
• Define the interface between the optical transceiver and the optical head (telescope). Work on the fiber-to-free-space relay optics, ensure polarization alignment and beam mode quality are maintained. Work closely with the team to manage the handover from fiber to telescope and to accommodate any pointing misalignments or focus adjustments.
• Own the optical link budget analysis, calculate and flow down requirements for launch power, receiver sensitivity, losses, and noise figure. Model the end-to-end Optical Signal-to-Noise Ratio (OSNR) and Bit Error Rate (BER) performance as a function of atmospheric loss, pointing jitter, etc.
• Identify and work with vendors for critical optical components. Ensure components meet space qualifications or develop a plan to ruggedize and test COTS components for space use (radiation testing, thermal vacuum testing of lasers, etc.).
• Provide technical input to the rest of the team from an optical communications perspective. Work with the Modem/DSP engineer to define the electrical-optical interface and pointing/control lead to coordinate fiber coupling. Ensure that the optical transceiver design aligns with overall system requirements and assist in system-level testing (e.g. end-to-end test of sending data over the laser link in a simulated environment).

Benefits

• In addition to base salary, for full-time hires, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of stock options, and access to medical, vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees