2027 Optical Payload Engineer Intern

ABOUT THE JOB

As an Optical Payload Engineer intern for our Space team, you will facilitate the integration of EO Payloads on our spacecraft platforms from initial concept development through on-orbit execution. A successful candidate will have exposure to all phases of payload system engineering including architecture and requirement derivation, performance modeling, design reviews, laboratory testing, spacecraft assembly integration and test, on-orbit initialization, and mission operations. Exposure to interfacing with all disciplines of engineering, specialty, and program management teams to shepherd a payload design to maturity is required.

You’ll be expected to clearly communicate risk, issues, and progress with customer representatives and external vendors in a collaborative environment. You will be expected to know how to configure and operate test equipment such as collimators, integrating spheres, interferometers, and other tools. Payloads you will be interacting with include photon detecting imagers from visible through long wave infrared wavebands including CMOS and CCD focal planes, thermal sensors including microbolometers, as well as LiDAR and laser range finders. Exposure to state-of-the-art sensing technology such as event-based cameras, quantum detectors, and metamaterials is also highly desired.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Perform concept designs of active and passive EO payloads
• Derive system and unit level requirements
• Analyze performance with an understanding of payload technology and related physics
• Identify payload key performance parameters and create test plans and procedures to measure these parameters in a laboratory environment
• Perform hands-on characterization and calibration of the radiometric and geometric performance of flight hardware using collimators, integrating spheres, theodolites, laser trackers, interferometers, and other optical test equipment
• Work with the external and internal engineering team to author Interface Control Documents (ICD) covering all aspects of payload integration including electrical, data, algorithmic, mechanical, thermal, and optical interfaces
• Facilitate communication between mechanical, thermal, electrical, and software teams to resolve complex integration trades and manage technical risk
• Define and develop payload data calibration algorithms and data products and work with computer vision and flight software engineers to integrate these algorithms into the processing pipeline
• Define on-orbit calibration sequences, initialization procedures, and provide real-time engineering support during nominal operations
• Clearly communicate with customers at design reviews and during the entire payload development lifecycle
• Assist assembly and integration campaigns for space systems flight hardware
• Integrate across numerous teams to collaboratively identify testing requirements to include verification and validation plans
• Develop test plans and procedures for prototype, qualification, and acceptance of space systems flight hardware

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS  

• Must be pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Systems Engineering, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field. 
• Must be returning to school at the end of the internship to continue academic studies for at least one quarter or semester.
• Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities; U.S. clearance eligibility may be required depending on program.
• Ability to complete an in-person 12-week internship in one of our offices in summer 2027.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS  

• Experience conducting assembly, integration and test of space payload flight hardware with a focus on performance characterization and requirement verification
• Understanding of professional optical test equipment, tools and methodologies with a tie back to the underlying physics
• Experience with advanced payload analyses and laboratory measurements including photon transfer, dark current, radiometry, responsivity, distortion mapping, boresight alignments, non-uniformity corrections, point spread function, modulation transfer function, and more
• Ability to quickly understand and navigate complex systems and detailed requirements
• Capable of solving complex technical problems with little oversight
• Clear communication and organizational skills including documentation and training material
• Exposure to writing technical documentation, procedures, and reports
• Experience with ImageJ, Python, MATLAB
• Experience with optical test equipment from Labsphere, 4D Technologies, Leica, SORL, and other industry leaders
• Experience with stray light, depth of focus, and supplementary payload analyses
• Experience with optical modeling in tools such as Zemax or Code V
• Experience with RF payload design and testing