Optical Engineer
US$140,000 – US$200,000 / yr base salary
Posted 5 Oct 2026
Advertised as “Sr. Optical Engineer ”
BranchFactor Summary
The original posting with the fluff stripped out
- Expected experience
- 5+ yrs
- Management level
- People management
- Employment
- Hybrid
- Contract
- Full-time
| Base salary | US$140,000 – US$200,000 / yr |
|---|
Field of studyMechanical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Physics (or related)
Study levelBachelor's or higher
About Observable Space
At Observable Space, we're redefining how humanity observes and connects with the universe. We're a vertically integrated, high-growth, space technology company building industry-leading precision optics platforms for Earth and in space. Our systems are trusted by thousands of customers, including NASA, JPL, SpaceX, Boeing, RTX, the US Space Force and the U.S. Department of War, leading research institutions and international partners.
We combine precision opto-mechanical hardware, embedded compute, cloud orchestration, and developer-friendly APIs into world class products at scale with in-house manufacturing. From advanced ground stations, on-orbit sensor suites, free space optical lasercom, to distributed compute platforms, we deliver the foundational systems enabling continuous, real-time navigation, observation, and communication in space.
Observable Space is backed by top-tier institutional investors including Lux Capital, Upfront Ventures, RTX Ventures, Detroit Venture Partners and Embedded Ventures. To learn more, visit observable.space.
Role Summary
We are seeking a Senior Optical Engineer with deep experience in precision optical manufacturing to lead the development, fabrication, metrology, and process control of large-format optical components for advanced telescope systems.
This role will have a particular focus on world-class large refractive optics, including elements greater than 400 mm in diameter, and the development of custom metrology and manufacturing processes required to produce them. The ideal candidate has worked directly in a high-precision optical manufacturing environment and understands how to take challenging optical components from specification through fabrication, measurement, process optimization, and final acceptance.
This is a hands-on manufacturing engineering role requiring deep knowledge of optical fabrication, metrology, process control, and the practical challenges associated with producing high-performance optics consistently and repeatably.
Responsibilities
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Lead the development and manufacturing of large-format precision optical components, with a particular focus on refractive elements greater than 400 mm in diameter.
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Develop and mature optical manufacturing processes spanning grinding, polishing, figuring, coating, cleaning, handling, and final acceptance.
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Design and develop custom metrology systems, tooling, fixtures, and test methods for large and complex optical components.
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Define metrology strategies for measuring surface figure, transmitted wavefront error, surface quality, thickness, wedge, centration, and other critical optical characteristics.