Job Description

Optical Payload Systems Engineer

About Satellogic

Satellogic is a vertically integrated Earth Observation company that designs, manufactures, and operates satellite systems, delivering decision-grade insights at scale to government and commercial customers.

We build space systems end-to-end, from satellite design and manufacturing to launch and on-orbit operations, giving us the ability to deploy quickly, operate reliably, and support persistent monitoring across regions and priority areas. Our approach moves customers beyond one-off imagery toward continuous awareness and alert-driven decision-making, with flexible pathways that can evolve from managed monitoring to full satellite ownership and sovereign control.

Our technology supports a wide range of use cases across climate monitoring, agriculture, energy, infrastructure, defense and intelligence, helping organizations detect change, manage risk, and plan with confidence.

With a team distributed across five countries, Satellogic brings together expertise in satellite engineering, software development, data science, manufacturing, operations, and go-to-market. We’re a group of purpose-driven builders who value ownership, curiosity, and execution—and who work with humility, honesty, and empathy.

About the position

The Systems Engineering team within Satellite Engineering is in charge of the design of new spacecraft models, the negotiation of technical system requirements with stakeholders, the requirement verification plan and specification, and the management and definition of systems budgets and interfaces.

As an Optical Payload Systems Engineer you will manage optical payload requirements (mass, power, spectral resolution, space resolution, signal-to-noise ratio, etc), define the payload verification plan and specification, perform trade studies of different optoelectronics systems in order to design new payloads, and own technical budgets (signal-to-noise ratio, modulation transfer function, radiometry, etc).

Principal Responsibilities

• Technically lead the optical payload subsystem activities.
• Be the primary technical point of contact responsible for the optical payload subsystem on a project, interfacing with the Payload Subsystem Program Manager and other systems engineers (Optical, Mechanical, Thermal, electronics, etc)
• Interpret mission specific and spacecraft system level requirements and establish the baseline technical requirements for the payload subsystem.
• Provide technical support for operations.
• Prepare/update/present subsystem design analysis documentation for design reviews throughout the project life cycle milestones & reviews.
• Establish integration and test plans and requirements for the subsystem development
• Provide technical input to future payload developments and contribute to continuous improvement of products, systems and processes
• Oversee the payload module manufacture and AIT activities
• Manage any anomalies or non-conformances occurring throughout the project life cycle and present NCRs

Education & Experience

• BSc in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, or Physics.
• Background or coursework in Optoelectronics will be valued.
• 3+ years of experience in optics, photography, laser engineering, sensors, camera design, optoelectronics or similar.

Skills

• Communication: Ability to communicate verbally and in writing in excellent English at all hierarchical levels.

Diversity Commitment

Satellogic values diversity and inclusion and is an equal opportunity employer. We are convinced that hiring and developing top talent from around the world for any given discipline will drive innovation, generate new solutions, and deliver a superior product to our global customer base. We work to build an equitable and inclusive environment in which all people, regardless of gender, race, religion, or background, can come together to do their best work.

Please feel free to specify your pronouns following your name on the application.

Learn more about Satellogic

To learn more about us please visit satellogic.com and follow us on twitter (@Satellogic) and LinkedIn

Applicant Data Privacy Statement

As part of your application you will be required to confirm Satellogic's Applicant Data Privacy Policy which is available for your review here

By applying to this position you express, affirmative consent to our collection of your name, address, email address, phone number and relevant application information and the processing of that information. It is important to understand that Satellogic will store your data for the purpose of processing your application for the position, and possibly other compatible positions. You also understand that you have rights to access your Personal Data, as well as rights to request their rectification, completion, update or erasure. You may exercise your rights by sending an email to compliance@satellogic.com.

Consenting to our Applicant Data Privacy Policy is required in order for Satellogic to process your employment application.