Optical Systems Engineer (Earth Observation)

Location: Hybrid in Harwell, UK; Athens, Greece; Barcelona, Spain; Porto or Coimbra, Portugal; Buenos Aires, Argentina; or Tenerife/Mallorca, Spain. Candidates must have the legal right to work in their chosen location.

Company

hirify.global provides end-to-end satellite mission services, including design, manufacturing, launch, operations, Earth observation, IoT connectivity, and secure communications.

What you will do

• Own optical payload development from requirements and concept definition through design, testing, launch, and in-orbit commissioning.
• Act as the technical authority for optical payload work packages and ensure mission performance and delivery.
• Perform mission analysis and systems design, defining requirements, CONOPS, and system budgets.
• Drive image quality performance across MTF, SNR, resolution, and detector behaviour.
• Lead trade-offs across performance, cost, risk, and schedule, and coordinate integrated solutions across satellite subsystems and suppliers.
• Plan and support AIT/AIV activities, including optical alignment, calibration, characterisation, and testing.

Requirements

• Strong experience with optical space systems, Earth observation, and remote sensing.
• Ability to develop optical payloads from concept through commissioning.
• Deep understanding of image quality metrics and budgets, including MTF, SNR, resolution, and detector behaviour.
• Knowledge of optical system manufacturing, alignment, calibration, and testing.
• Strong systems engineering capability covering requirements, CONOPS, system budgets, FMECA, and FDIR.
• Understanding of satellite subsystems and multidisciplinary engineering environments; application materials must be submitted in English.

Culture & Benefits

• Work on space technology and Earth observation missions for customers around the globe.
• Contribute to a mission-driven company focused on making space more accessible.
• Join a diverse, ambitious, supportive, and inclusive workplace.
• Equal opportunity employment with a focus on respect, dignity, belonging, and reducing bias.