Space Systems Optical Engineer

Azora•San Francisco, CA

18h•Hybrid

About The Position

Support the development of Azora's space segment: the flight terminals and supporting avionics that carry our optical communications technology to orbit. You'll work hands-on across system architecture, requirements, and verification as part of a small hardware team.

Requirements

BS/MS in Aerospace, Electrical, Optical Engineering, Physics, or related field.
Hands-on experience with real flight hardware or flight-like hardware—through research, or industry. We're looking for demonstrated contact with actual systems (built it, tested it, broke it, fixed it).
Working knowledge of systems engineering fundamentals: requirements, budgets (mass, power, link, pointing), V&V planning.
Some exposure to environmental qualification or AIT (vibration, shock, TVAC, EMC).
Demonstrated ability to work independently and take technical ownership of a problem.

Nice To Haves

Experience with optical payloads, laser communication terminals, or precision pointing systems in space.
Familiarity with smallsat / NewSpace development models and hosted payload integration.
Knowledge of radiation effects and mitigation for electronics and optics.
Prior startup or small-team experience scaling engineering processes.

Responsibilities

Own space segment architecture work across the optical terminal, avionics, structures, thermal, power, and interfaces to host spacecraft or bus.
Contribute to requirements development and flow-down from mission and link-budget level to subsystem and component specifications.
Own the design review cadence (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR) and the verification and validation program, including environmental qualification (vibration, shock, TVAC, EMC, radiation).
Assist with technical interfaces to launch providers, bus manufacturers, and hosted payload partners, including ICD development.
Support risk management and parts/materials assurance activities (EEE parts, radiation lot testing) for the flight program.
Own assembly, integration, and test (AIT) campaigns and launch site operations; support on-orbit commissioning and anomaly resolution.