p>PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE: • Master's degree or PhD in physics or an engineering discipline • Proficiency with optical analysis tools such as Zemax • Hands-on experience in optical design or system design, integration, and test of laser communication systems • Experience with mixed-signal circuits, processors, FPGAs, Ethernet, SERDES, DRAM interfaces (DDR4), I2C, SPI, operational amplifiers, analog to digital and digital to analog converters, and power supply components • Opto-mechanical design and analysis experience with precision mounting and steering mechanisms • Knowledge of and experience in lasers, photodiodes, fiber optics, optics testing/troubleshooting techniques, and signal integrity principles • Knowledge of and experience in free-space optical principles, optical component testing/troubleshooting techniques, precision metrology techniques, manufacturing, and integration processes • Experience leading development of commercial communications products • Experience with hardware development for high-reliability applications • Knowledge of and experience in atmospheric optical effects • Ability to assess risk and make design and development decisions without all available data • Ability to work in a fast-paced, autonomously driven, and demanding atmosphere • Competence with optical test equipment (power meters, interferometer, laser sources) • Experience with infrared system alignment and characterization • Competence with Python scripting and a Linux operating system environment • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Apply optics and photonics knowledge to optical system development, including design, analysis, and validation • Represent the optical system in program-level, cross-disciplinary trades and issue resolution • Define requirements for high-performant optical systems in challenging environmental conditions • Lead optical architecture definition through internal trade studies, concept of operations definition, and risk reduction testing • Participate in verification testing, including environmental qualification, performance characterization, reliability testing, and fault injection testing • Define and lead field testing of optical experiments and laser communication systems • Review test data and lead anomaly investigation and resolution • Maintain link budgets, design specifications, and system capabilities data • Interface with manufacturing and supply chain teams to ensure final designs can be manufactured in accordance with overall project goals • Collaborate with software and automation teams to develop tools and protocols for automated optical testing • Represent laser communications systems for reliability and risk discussions with internal reliability teams, management, customers, and vendors.