Camera and Optical System Engineer

Infinite Orbits

Toulouse, France

About the Role

We are seeking a highly skilled Camera and Optical System Engineer to join our dynamic team.

The ideal candidate will specialize in designing, developing, and qualifying advanced optical payloads for space applications, with a strong focus on opto-mechanics, electro-optics, electronics, and qualification testing in space environments. You will also play a key role to oversee quality control and ensure successful delivery.

Job Description

Technical Responsibilities

Design and Development:
- Collaborate in the development of navigation and sensor hardware requirements from system level specifications with flow downs to subsystem and component levels;
- Assist in the design of camera hardware architecture for space optical payloads;
- Lead or perform opto-mechanical analysis, including thermal and structural impact on optical system performance.
Performance Qualification and Testing:
- Contribute or lead procurement, vendor coordination, delivery, acceptance testing, installation, verification, validation, qualification, and certification of component hardware (optomechanics, electronics, optics);
- Define the optical payload’s alignment procedure and performance qualification plan, leveraging optical calibration testbeds to validate resolution and alignment;
- Guide and perform electro-optical characterization of CMOS image sensor;
- Guide and perform environmental testing including laboratory and flight testing of the full system (shock/vibration, thermal vacuum, radiation etc.) to validate top-level system performance and ensure compliance with ECSS norms and mission requirements.
Integration with Electronics and Systems:
- Work closely with electronics engineers to integrate optical payloads with imaging sensors and electronic board;
- Validate and optimize optical system interfaces with spacecraft systems to ensure seamless integration and functionality.

Project Management and Quality Assurance Responsibilities

Project Oversight:
- Manage timelines, budgets, and resources to ensure the quality-controlled delivery of optical payloads on schedule and within scope;
- Serve as a liaison between multidisciplinary teams, external suppliers, and stakeholders, ensuring clear communication and effective problem resolution.
Quality Control and Acceptance Testing:
- Define and implement acceptance test procedures to validate end-to-end system performance before delivery;
- Oversee documentation and reporting of results from optical qualification and acceptance tests, ensuring adherence to ECSS norms and quality standards.

Requirements

Technical Skills

Strong system design, development and testing skills;
Strong understanding of opto-mechanical materials, space-grade hardware;
Proficiency in environmental testing standards and procedures (ECSS, NASA, MIL Standards), including radiation hardening;
Expertise in optical tolerance analysis (ZEMAX, CODE V, FRED, or LightTools, etc.) or opto-mechanical simulation for imaging systems (Soliworks, Catia, etc.);
Experience with optical calibration testbeds for optical performance and image quality characterization;
Familiarity with imaging sensors (CCD/CMOS), electronics, and their integration into optical systems.

Soft Skills

Good technical project management skills, with experience managing resources, schedules, and deliverables in a fast-paced startup environment;
Excellent communication and organizational skills, with the ability to coordinate multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders;
Proactive, detail-oriented, and adaptable to the challenges of a startup environment.

Educational Background and Experience

5+ years of system engineering experience designing, integrating, testing, and qualifying space optical payloads;
Master’s, or Ph.D. in Optical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics or a related technical discipline, or equivalent experience.

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