Photonics Engineer - Fiber Amplifiers, Satellites (Starlink)

The role

This person will own the development of fiber amplifier systems for laser communications. They will conduct validation and verification testing and lead optical architecture definition.

What you will do

• Own the development of fiber amplifier systems for laser communications
• Conduct validation and verification testing
• Work closely with manufacturing and supply chain teams
• Represent the photonic system in program-level, cross-disciplinary trades and issue resolution
• Lead optical architecture definition through internal trade studies, concept of operations definition, and risk reduction testing
• Lead anomaly investigations through to resolution
• Maintain link budgets, design specifications, and system capabilities data
• Collaborate with software and automation teams to develop tools and protocols for automated tested of fiber amplifier systems
• Represent laser communications systems for reliability and risk discussions

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in physics, optics, electrical engineering, or other engineering/STEM discipline
• 2+ years of hands-on laboratory or work experience in fiber-based optical systems/networks, integrated photonics chips, or fiber laser technology
• 1+ years of experience in a computer programming language (e.g. C++, MATLAB, and/or Python)
• Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed

Nice to have

• Master's degree or PhD in physics or an engineering discipline
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in engineering capacity in the field of fiber amplifiers, laser systems, or opto-electronics
• Hands-on experience in fiber amplifier design, integration, and test
• Experience with high-power fiber system design, mitigation of non-linearities, and thermal management
• Hands-on experience with optical pump lasers, fiber combiners, filters, and large-mode-area (LMA) fiber, electro-optic modulators
• Competence with fiber optics processing and handling (cleaving, stripping, splicing, recoating, glass processing, etc.)
• Experience with characterizing fiber laser systems using optical test equipment
• Knowledge of and experience in precision metrology techniques, manufacturing and integration processes
• Experience leading the development of commercial photonics products
• Experience with hardware development for high-reliability applications

Benefits

• Company stock or long-term cash awards
• Potential discretionary bonuses
• Ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage
• Access to a 401(k) retirement plan
• Short and long-term disability insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Various other discounts and perks
• 3 weeks of paid vacation
• 10 or more paid holidays per year
• Company shuttles from select Seattle locations to the SpaceX Redmond office Monday to Friday

Before you apply

• To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, o

About the company

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.