Senior Photonic Systems Engineer (Aerospace)

TL;DR

Senior Photonic Systems Engineer (Aerospace): Designing and deploying high-power optical payloads and photonic circuits for next-generation satellites with an accent on system architecture, SNR budgeting, and space-qualification of COTS transceivers. Focus on solving radiation-induced packet loss and transitioning photonic technologies to volume manufacturing for deep space missions.

Location: Must be based in Los Angeles, CA and be a "U.S. Person" (ITAR compliant)

Salary: $110,000 - $280,000 + equity

Company

hirify.global is a Series C startup building the largest and highest-power satellite platforms for missions from LEO to deep space.

What you will do

• Architect, develop, and deploy photonic circuits and optical payloads for MEO, GEO, and deep space missions.
• Space-qualify COTS transceivers and design network-level CONOPs/FDIR to prevent packet loss during radiation events.
• Deliver system architecture, SNR budgets, detailed optical design, and environmental qualification testing.
• Lead technical relationships with vendors and external partners to transition components to volume manufacturing.
• Collaborate with satellite bus and optical teams to define feasibility and system requirements.
• Mentor junior engineers and forecast staffing needs for the optical payloads team.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Person as defined by ITAR (Citizen, Green Card holder, etc.)
• Bachelor’s degree in physics, optics, computer science, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in the design, manufacture, and test of optical systems.
• Full product life cycle experience from requirements generation through deployment and operation.

Nice to have

• Knowledge of high-volume manufacturing techniques and supply chain management.
• Experience in experimental research, data analysis, and visualizing esoteric datasets.
• Understanding of failure modes for electrical, mechanical, and optical systems in space environments.

Culture & Benefits

• Competitive base salary with equity ownership in the company.
• Comprehensive health package including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Paid time off and paid parental leave.
• Opportunity to work in a fast-paced environment on groundbreaking space infrastructure.