Optical Payload Architect Verified today

About AMOS

AMOS (Advanced Mechanical & Optical Systems) is based in Liège and specializes in ultra-high opto-mechanical systems for space and professional astronomy. Part of the Aerospacelab group, a Belgian satellite manufacturer, AMOS develops Very High Resolution optical payloads for Earth observation satellites. Since 1983, AMOS has been a recognized player with prestigious international clients and more than 100 employees.

Main responsibilities

As Optical Payload Architect, you define the architecture of Very High Resolution optical payloads and serve as technical authority on their design.

• Define payload architecture: telescope configuration, mirror substrates and lightweighting, mounts, metering structure, thermal design, focal plane
• Define opto-mechanical design principles: isostatic mounts and flexures, athermalization, dimensional stability under launch and thermal loads, alignment philosophy
• Explore the design space in phase 0/A/B, formalize trade-offs, justify selected concepts
• Translate mission needs (ground sampling distance, swath, spectral bands, revisit) into payload requirements and first-order budgets
• Establish preliminary budgets for MTF, wavefront error, line-of-sight stability, radiometry, straylight using first-order STOP analyses
• Check concept against platform constraints: mass, power, volume, thermal, pointing, data rate
• Act as design authority during development, arbitrate architectural changes, support payload engineering team
• Lead technical content of proposals, defend architecture against customer needs
• Capture design rules and lessons learned, mentor payload team engineers

Requirements

• Master or PhD in Physics, Aerospace, Optical or Electromechanical Engineering
• At least 10 years in space optical instruments, including definition phases of at least one instrument
• Strong opto-mechanical design background: mirror substrates (SiC, Zerodur, ULE), lightweighting, isostatic mounts and flexures, bonding, CFRP or Invar structures
• Understanding of how mounts, materials and thermal gradients affect wavefront error and line-of-sight drift
• Ability to identify design drivers before analyses confirm them
• Experience with Very High Resolution Earth observation instruments is a strong asset
• Comfortable with incomplete data: orders of magnitude, sensitivity, margins
• Familiar with system engineering practices and ECSS standards
• Good knowledge of Matlab/Python and Zemax/OpticStudio
• Design practical solutions that can be built, aligned and tested
• Ability to explain and defend technical choices to customers and management
• Rigorous, reliable, strong writing skills
• Curious, team player, natural technical reference
• Fluent in English; French is an asset

Soft skills: Autonomous, Rigorous, Proactive, Flexible, Result-oriented