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# Space Systems Optical Engineer

- **Company:** AZORA INC.
- **Location:** United States
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Systems Engineering, Systems Development Life Cycle, Verification and Validation (Software), Systems Architecture
- **Published:** August 10, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=ae4e50b7b068c936

## About the Role

* 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., * 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.

## Description

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., * 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., This is an onsite/hybrid role based in Tempe, AZ or the Bay Area, CA - hardware work that's hard to do remotely. Some travel expected for test campaigns and vendor/manufacturing visits.


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