Payload Alignment Lead

What You’ll Do:

• Requirements and Budgeting:
• Define and establish alignment requirements for the entire optical system  
• Develop and manage alignment budgets, including tolerance analysis, loss calculations and 1G effects 
• Create comprehensive alignment procedures and performance qualification plans 
• Implement alignment techniques to achieve sub-micron precision 
• Develop automation strategies for alignment processes to reduce cycle times and improve repeatability 
• Technical Leadership:
• Select appropriate alignment equipment and methodologies  
• Lead the design and implementation of optical alignment instrumentation and systems
• Oversee the alignment process for all optical components, including primary mirror, secondary mirror, other optics and sensor systems  
• Design and implement alignment solutions for complex aspheric surfaces and off-axis optical systems 
• Create automated alignment workflows to accelerate integration timelines by 30-50% 
• Collaboration and Integration: 
• Work closely with multidisciplinary teams, including system architect, opto-mechanical, electrical, and systems engineers  
• Coordinate with external suppliers and stakeholders to ensure alignment goals are met 
• Integrate alignment processes with overall spacecraft systems and mission requirements 
• Develop transition plans from alignment lab to production environment to maintain precision while meeting schedule demands 
• Testing and Validation: 
• Develop and execute acceptance test procedures for end-to-end system performance 
• Perform or guide electro-optical characterization of imaging sensors 
• Conduct environmental testing to validate alignment stability under space conditions 
• Implement automated data collection and analysis systems for real-time alignment verification 
• Develop production-friendly validation protocols that maintain precision while reducing testing time 

Your Ideal Skills and Experience:

• Advanced degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, or related field 
• Minimum 10+ years of experience in optical payload design and alignment for space applications 
• Extensive knowledge of interferometry, wavefront sensing, and other optical alignment techniques  
• Familiarity with space-grade optical systems, including mirrors, lenses, and sensors  
• Experience with optical modeling software and analysis tools 
• Strong project management and leadership skills  
• Excellent communication abilities to interface with diverse teams and stakeholders

Compensation and Benefits:

• Employee friendly equity compensation
• Asynchronous culture with flexible working hours
• 4% direct matching 401k
• Insurance: Medical, Vision, Dental, Mental Health
• Parental leave and childcare coverage
• Relocation bonus for moving to our Denver, CO HQ
• Flexible vacation from day one
• 12 company holidays and flexible sick time
• $100 monthly wellness benefit
• Team retreats to build relationships in-person