Signal Chain Processing Engineer

Space Kinetic•El Segundo, CA

1d•$135,000 - $192,000•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 is for an engineer experienced in optical processing systems across early architecture, design, testing, and on-orbit operations. The position is onsite at the company’s headquarters in El Segundo, California, and domestic travel may be required up to approximately 20% of the year. Space Kinetic is a dual-use space technology startup developing a new architecture for space operations. Its goal is to move beyond one-to-one satellite architectures toward systems where each satellite can carry multiple payloads that deploy from their host spacecraft at high velocities without firing a thruster. The company describes the role as requiring urgency, ownership, and a high level of commitment; it is not a traditional 40-hour work-week role. Applicants must meet U.S. Government export-control eligibility requirements: be a U.S. citizen or national, a lawful permanent resident, a refugee or asylee under the cited statutes, or otherwise eligible to obtain the required U.S. Department of State authorizations. Space Kinetic provides equal employment opportunities without regard to legally protected status. The annual base salary range is $135,000–$192,000. Individual pay is determined case by case based on factors including interviews, job-related skills, education and experience, certifications, candidate abilities, and internal equity.

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, including their impact on 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.
Familiarity with laboratory characterization of imaging or optical systems and working with optical hardware and test equipment.

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.
An 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 Intelligence 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 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.