Photonics Engineer - Fiber Amplifiers, Satellites (Starlink)

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.

PHOTONICS ENGINEER - FIBER AMPLIFIERS, SATELLITES (STARLINK) 

Starlink is the world’s largest satellite constellation and the leading global satellite internet provider. The laser communications team develops the high-power optical links that interconnect Starlink satellites enabling a high-throughput, low-latency global network. This role focuses on the fiber amplifier systems that are central to those links: high-performance, high-reliability amplifiers that must operate in the extreme thermal, radiation, and vacuum environment of space.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Own the development of fiber amplifier systems for laser communications, including requirements definition, system design and analysis, and design validation.
• Conduct validation and verification testing, including environmental qualification (thermal, TVAC, and radiation considerations), performance characterization, reliability testing, and fault injection testing
• Work closely with manufacturing and supply chain teams to ensure final designs can be manufactured in accordance with overall project goals
• Represent the photonic system in program-level, cross-disciplinary trades and issue resolution
• Lead optical architecture definition through internal trade studies, concept of operations definition, and risk reduction testing
• Lead anomaly investigations through to resolution.
• Maintain link budgets, design specifications, and system capabilities data.
• Collaborate with software and automation teams to develop tools and protocols for automated tested of fiber amplifier systems.
• Represent laser communications systems for reliability and risk discussions with internal reliability teams, management, customers, and vendors.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Bachelor’s degree in physics, optics, electrical engineering, or other engineering/STEM discipline
• 2+ years of hands-on laboratory or work experience in fiber-based optical systems/networks, integrated photonics chips, or fiber laser technology (university lab, student project, or internship experience qualifies)
• 1+ years of experience in a computer programming language (e.g. C++, MATLAB, and/or Python)

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE: 

• Master's degree or PhD in physics or an engineering discipline
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in engineering capacity in the field of fiber amplifiers, laser systems, or opto-electronics.
• Hands-on experience in fiber amplifier design, integration, and test
• Experience with high-power fiber system design, mitigation of non-linearities, and thermal management
• Hands-on experience with optical pump lasers, fiber combiners, filters, and large-mode-area (LMA) fiber, electro-optic modulators.
• Competence with fiber optics processing and handling (cleaving, stripping, splicing, recoating, glass processing, etc.)
• Experience with characterizing fiber laser systems using optical test equipment (power meters, spectral analyzers, high-speed photodiodes, oscilloscopes, laser sources, beam profilers)
• Knowledge of and experience in precision metrology techniques, manufacturing and integration processes
• Experience leading the development of commercial photonics products
• Experience with hardware development for high-reliability applications
• Competence with Python scripting and a Linux operating system environment
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, autonomously driven, and demanding atmosphere
• Ability to assess risk and make design and development decisions without all available data
• Experience with laser safety best practices
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees in Washington State accrue paid sick time in compliance with state and federal law. Company shuttles are offered to employees for roundtrip travel from select Seattle locations to the SpaceX Redmond office Monday to Friday.

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

• To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.  

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to EEOCompliance@spacex.com.