Staff Electro-Optical Payload Engineer

About the role

BlackSky is a real-time intelligence company that owns and operates the world's most advanced space-based intelligence platform. We provide satellite imagery, automated analytics, and high-frequency monitoring of strategic locations, economic assets, and events globally. Trusted by allied military and intelligence organizations and commercial companies, BlackSky's data gives governments and businesses foresight into critical matters affecting national security and the economy.

Responsibilities

• Develop comprehensive integration, requirements verification, and test strategies for EO payloads.
• Develop and maintain optical and sensor test facilities.
• Test payloads and support the production team as they integrate your payloads onto satellites.
• Partner with engineering, program management, and production to ensure comprehensive and efficient end-to-end validation of payload test from plan through design and execution.
• Define requirements for and oversee the design and build of test Ground Support Equipment (GSE) and other test infrastructure for the payload.
• Support the development of new EO payload architectures and concepts.
• Simulate and analyze new sensors, designs, and/or phenomena to support R&D and technical strategy development.
• Develop optical system requirements associated with new designs.
• Provide technical assistance and oversight with design procurement and integration.
• Support the characterization and commissioning activities of orbital imaging systems.
• Evaluate on-orbit imaging systems performance, compare with ground predictions, and evolve your test & performance prediction capabilities.

Required Qualifications

• At least 10 years of experience in technical engineering roles involving the specification, modeling, design, integration, and/or test of imaging or non-imaging optical systems and associated components/subsystems, particularly the testing of space-based optical systems.
• Bachelor's degree in optical engineering, physics, or other area of appropriate technical focus (or equivalent experience of four additional years).
• Hands-on laboratory experience and familiarity with typical optical test and meteorology instrumentation and practices, e.g., interferometers, theodolite/laser tracker, optical alignment.
• Proficiency in at least one computer language with an emphasis on numerical or technical computing.
• A strong technical grasp of the physics of optical image formation and associated detector phenomenology, especially in the visible and infrared spectra.
• Proficiency with radiometry, optical imaging and detection figures of merit, and optical system performance modeling/estimation/simulation.
• Adept with developing concise specifications for optical systems within a well-defined, systematic requirements framework.
• Familiarity with satellite/payload interface and CONOPs constraints and associated systems engineering.
• Holding US citizenship due to program requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Postgraduate degree in a relevant technical field.
• Direct experience in spaceborne optical remote sensing systems.
• Direct experience in focal plane array design and engineering.
• Direct experience in satellite radiometric, spatial, and spectral calibration.
• Proficiency with numerical and technical programming in Python.
• Familiarity and experience with a technical discipline complementary to optics, e.g., mechanical, thermal, electrical engineering.

Life at BlackSky

Life at BlackSky for full-time US benefits eligible employees includes:

• Medical, dental, vision, disability, group term life and AD&D, voluntary life and AD&D insurance
• BlackSky pays 100% of employee-only premiums for medical, dental and vision and contributes $100/month for out-of-pocket expenses!
• 15 days of PTO, 11 Company holidays, four Floating Holidays (pro-rated based on hire date), one day of paid volunteerism leave per year, parental leave and more
• 401(k) pre-tax and Roth deferral options with employer match
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Employee Stock Purchase Program
• Employee Assistance and Travel Assistance Programs
• Employer matching donations
• Professional development
• Mac or PC? Your choice!
• Awesome swag

Compensation

The anticipated salary range for candidates in Seattle, WA is $155,000-180,000 per year. The final compensation package offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on specific background and education. BlackSky is a multi-state employer and this pay scale may not reflect salary ranges in other states or locations outside of Seattle, WA.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Job Alert

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. #LI-Hybrid

EEO/AAP/ Pay Transparency Statements

EEO/AAP

Pay Transparency

To apply for this job, please click the button below.