Sr. Electrical Engineer, Photonics Verified today

About Observable Space

Observable Space is a vertically integrated space technology company building precision optics platforms for Earth observation and in-space applications. The company serves NASA, JPL, SpaceX, Boeing, RTX, the US Space Force, and leading research institutions, combining opto-mechanical hardware, embedded compute, cloud orchestration, and APIs into world-class products at scale with in-house manufacturing.

The Role

As Senior Electrical Engineer, Photonics, you will design, integrate, and validate photonic and electro-optical systems enabling high-performance sensing, imaging, and data acquisition in terrestrial and space environments. You will own electrical design and integration of optical sensors, detectors, laser-based systems, and high-speed signal chains, ensuring performance through thermal extremes, vacuum, radiation, and long-duration autonomous operation. You will work closely with optical, mechanical, and software teams to deliver tightly integrated systems.

What You'll Do

• Design and develop electrical systems for photonic and electro-optical subsystems, including detectors, sensors, laser interfaces, and high-speed data acquisition chains.
• Own schematic capture, PCB design, and bring-up for low-noise analog and mixed-signal circuits supporting optical instrumentation.
• Develop and optimize signal chains for photodetectors (e.g., CMOS, CCD, APD, SPAD), including amplification, filtering, digitization, and noise mitigation.
• Design for signal integrity and low-noise performance in high-sensitivity optical systems, including grounding, shielding, and layout strategies.
• Bring up and validate high-speed interfaces such as MIPI, LVDS, JESD, or similar data links used in imaging and sensor systems.
• Collaborate with optical engineers to define electrical interfaces, alignment sensitivities, and performance requirements across optomechanical assemblies.
• Support integration and test of electro-optical systems, including lab characterization, calibration, and debugging of edge-case behaviors.
• Develop and execute validation and qualification plans for hardware operating in harsh environments, including thermal-vacuum and vibration conditions.
• Select components and materials compatible with space and high-reliability applications, including consideration of radiation effects, thermal drift, and long-term stability.
• Contribute to system architecture decisions that balance performance, power, bandwidth, and reliability across the full product stack.
• Participate in design reviews to ensure manufacturability, testability, and long-term serviceability of photonic systems.

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• 5+ years of experience in electrical engineering with a focus on photonics, electro-optical systems, or high-performance sensor design.
• Strong proficiency in analog and mixed-signal circuit design, particularly for low-noise and high-speed applications.
• Experience designing and debugging PCBs, including schematic capture, layout collaboration, and board bring-up.
• Hands-on experience with photodetectors, imaging sensors, or optical instrumentation and their associated signal chains.
• Familiarity with high-speed interfaces and data acquisition systems used in imaging or sensing applications.
• Strong understanding of signal integrity, noise analysis, grounding, shielding, and power distribution in sensitive systems.
• Experience using lab instrumentation such as oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, and signal generators to debug complex systems.
• Ability to read and interpret schematics, debug at the electrical level, and work closely with cross-functional teams.
• Comfortable working in fast-paced, iterative hardware environments with rapid design-build-test cycles.
• Strong product mindset with an emphasis on reliability, robustness, and performance in real-world conditions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with space-based or aerospace electro-optical systems, including radiation-aware design considerations.
• Familiarity with laser systems, optical communications, or lidar-related technologies.
• Experience with FPGA-based data acquisition or high-throughput signal processing pipelines.
• Experience with camera systems, image sensors, and end-to-end imaging pipelines.
• Exposure to optomechanical integration and alignment-sensitive system design.
• Experience with hardware-in-the-loop testing or automated lab infrastructure.
• Background in astronomy, astrophysics, or scientific instrumentation.

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation aligned with industry standards and your experience.
• Equity opportunities with stock options.
• Hybrid work environment with minimum 3 days per week in office (LA office only).
• Unlimited PTO (exempt only) plus paid holidays.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with 100% employer paid.
• Access to cutting-edge hardware and software tools.
• Mission-driven culture focused on meaningful work with real-world impact.