Optical Engineer, Test & Metrology (Lasers & Optical Communications)

Location: On-site in San Carlos, California, United States. Domestic and international travel up to 10%.

Salary: $145,000–$175,000 annually.

Company

Develops modular satellite infrastructure for space-based solar energy, optical communications, on-orbit computing, and secure data transport.

What you will do

• Build, align, and operate optical test setups for free-space, fiber-optic, and interferometric components and assemblies.
• Measure power, spectrum, beam quality, wavefront, polarization, and alignment, then convert measurements into actionable engineering results.
• Develop and execute test plans and procedures across components, subassemblies, optical payloads, and full satellites.
• Operate optical test equipment including OSAs, power meters, oscilloscopes, BER testers, beam profilers, wavefront sensors, and interferometers.
• Write scripts for measurement automation and data analysis, investigate anomalies, and provide design feedback.
• Support ground-station setup, fiber-optic checkout, pointing, acquisition, and tracking validation, while maintaining laser safety and test records.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Optics, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• 3+ years of hands-on experience in an optics or photonics laboratory.
• Experience with precision optical alignment and standard optical test equipment.
• Working knowledge of Gaussian beams, fiber coupling, polarization, and interferometry.
• Experience analyzing measurement data with Python or a similar language.
• Familiarity with Class 3B and Class 4 laser safety practices. Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual, or eligible to obtain the required U.S. authorizations under ITAR.

Nice to have

• Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Optics, Photonics, or a related field.
• Experience with high-power fiber lasers, free-space optical communications, coherent detection, or BER testing.
• Experience with precision opto-mechanical assemblies, wavefront or interferometric metrology, and test automation using PyVISA, LabVIEW, or similar tools.
• Exposure to thermal-vacuum or vibration testing of optical hardware.

Culture & Benefits

• Equity in hirify.global Corp.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and eligible dependents.
• 401(k) retirement savings plan, paid time off, unlimited paid time off, and paid parental leave.
• Relocation assistance if applicable.
• Daily office lunch and a stocked kitchen with beverages and snacks.