Signal Chain Processing Engineer

Space Kinetic•El Segundo, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Space Kinetic is seeking a Signal Chain Processing Engineer to own the design, integration, and qualification of optical processing systems for spacecraft and payload technologies. This hands-on role involves developing optical processing systems through early architecture, design, testing, and on-orbit operations. The company is building a new space-operations architecture intended to enable satellites to carry and deploy numerous payloads without firing a thruster. The position is based onsite at the company’s headquarters in El Segundo, California, and domestic travel may be required, up to approximately 20% of the year. The role calls for an engineer who can develop and assess signal and image processing approaches, characterize optical performance, analyze test data, investigate anomalies, and collaborate across technical and supplier teams to deliver manufacturable, flight-ready hardware and software. Applicants must meet applicable U.S. Government export-control eligibility requirements. The annual base salary range is $135,000–$192,000, with individual pay determined by candidate-specific and role-related factors.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, Imaging Science, Mathematics, Electrical and Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.
At least 4 years of relevant experience in EO/IR imaging, image or signal processing, computer vision, object detection and tracking, remote sensing, or optical sensor systems.
Experience developing detection, localization, computer vision, and tracking algorithms and applying them to real or simulated imagery data.
Strong understanding of image formation, optics, detectors, calibration, noise, sensitivity, and resolution, and how these affect downstream algorithm performance.
Ability to conduct modeling and simulation, generate test data, perform algorithm performance trade studies, and report findings to stakeholders.
Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, C++, or a similar language for optical modeling, test automation, and data analysis.
Experience with visible and/or infrared imaging systems, and familiarity with laboratory characterization of imaging or optical systems and optical test equipment.
Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. lawful permanent resident, refugee, asylee, or otherwise eligible to obtain required U.S. Department of State authorizations, to meet export regulations.

Nice To Haves

Experience developing optical imaging systems for spacecraft, satellites, defense platforms, long-range tracking and detection, airborne systems, or other high-reliability applications.
Experience with infrared systems, free-space optics, laser communications, imaging payloads, star trackers, or pointing, acquisition, and tracking systems.
Experience with state estimation, sensor fusion, multi-target tracking, data association, Kalman filtering, visual navigation, or spacecraft attitude and line-of-sight determination.
Experience with LWIR imaging, radiometric calibration, detector characterization, optical alignment, metrology, star-field processing, or other image-based spacecraft localization techniques.
Advanced degree in a related STEM field, particularly Remote Sensing, Imaging Science, Astronomy, Physics, Mathematics, Atmospheric Science, Computer Science, Optical Engineering, or Electrical Engineering.
Published work in scientific journals or technical conferences on remote sensing or algorithm development and analysis.
Experience with relevant Space Domain Awareness, Missile Defense, and/or Intel Community data types and tradecraft.
Experience applying artificial intelligence or computer-vision methods to object detection, feature extraction, and tracking applications.

Responsibilities

Select, develop, and evaluate processing techniques, optimizing calibration, background suppression, signal augmentation, target detection, geolocation, and multi-target and multi-sensor tracking.
Use end-to-end data exploitation and analytics knowledge to validate novel image and signal processing algorithms.
Develop verification and validation approaches for new image and signal processing algorithms, and inform trade studies to optimize space-payload performance.
Create multi-phenomenon solutions, specialized visualizations, and analytical reports for company leadership.
Develop alignment, calibration, metrology, and automated test methods to characterize optical performance.
Analyze test data, diagnose optical performance issues, lead anomaly investigations, and implement corrective design actions.
Partner with mechanical, electrical, software, systems, manufacturing, and supplier teams to deliver manufacturable, flight-ready hardware and software.