Optical Payload Systems Engineer

Maxar Intelligence is a provider of secure, precise, geospatial intelligence. We deliver disruptive value to government and commercial customers to help them monitor, understand, and navigate our changing planet. Our unique approach combines decades of deep mission understanding and a proven commercial and defense foundation to deploy solutions and deliver insights with unrivaled speed, scale, and cost effectiveness.  

Join Maxar's Space System Engineering team to shape the future of commercial Earth imaging. Build the next big thing in commercial remote sensing with an industry-leading team that exemplifies technical depth, breadth, precision, and innovation. Our team is defining--and delivering on--a vision for the next-generation of on-orbit technologies that will extend the capabilities of our industry-leading Earth imaging constellation.  

At Maxar, you'll find an environment where technical excellence is the foundation and where projects are owned start to finish. You'll have the chance to shape your own future, with the freedom to push the limits of your role with support from leaders who have your back.   

We're seeking engineers who thrive on complex problems and solutions. Ideal candidates are naturally curious self-starters with experience and knowledge pushing them to get hands on. We use data to drive our decisions and navigate uncertainty and ambiguity with an informed, balanced risk approach. If you're passionate about building the space system technologies for the future and delivering impacts that change our world, join us. 

Day In The Life: 

Each day as a system engineer on our team brings new challenges and breakthroughs. You might start by tackling a unique technical hurdle, or collaborating closely with mission and payload experts to find solutions that push the boundaries of space engineering. After solving intricate problems, you’ll jump into a brainstorming session, surrounded by passionate engineers who share your drive for innovation. Later, you might guide a cross-disciplinary team, leading efforts to refine a complex system that will soon orbit Earth. The pace is fast, but our culture is supportive, valuing both autonomy and team wins. Here, you have the authority to make a real impact, the flexibility to explore new ideas, and the chance to build something meaningful in space that transforms how we see our world. 

Responsibilities: 

• Providing expert technical support during the development of electro-optical instruments for Maxar Intelligence’s imaging satellites. 

• Working with other engineers and departments, translating business requirements into EO/IR instrument requirements. 

• Directing/performing analyses to support internal system and mission trades (e.g. aperture, altitude, spectral bandpass, mass, volume, power). 

• Independently verifying contractor performance predictions through analysis (e.g. radiometric performance, SNR, MTF, spectral response, data analysis, band radiometric and geometric specs). 

• Reviewing contractor design implementation and verification ensuring systems meet Maxar Intelligence specifications. 

• Preparing and presenting briefings at major internal/customer design reviews. 

• Providing support to the Satellite Operations group for commissioning activities (e.g. On-orbit data analysis and image quality assessment, calibration). 

• Interacting directly with the customers, sales, and Senior Leadership. 

Required 

• BS or higher degree in Electrical Engineering, Optical Science, Physics, or a related field. 

• 10+ years in systems engineering, optics and/or opto-mechanical design and analysis. 

• Skilled in image quality metrics and radiometry, including MTF, SNR and other quantitative assessments of image quality. 

• Strong understanding of focal plane technology  

• Capability to use modeling and simulation tools and techniques to predict and evaluate system performance. 

• Skilled in electro-optical testing approaches and the analysis of the results. 

• Basic competency in data handling and processing, including awareness of algorithms commonly used in remote sensing applications. 

• Skilled in engineering tools applicable to remote sensing applications. 

• Demonstrates genuine interest in exploring new technologies and improving existing designs. 

• Adaptability, with demonstrated willingness to evolve technical or mission needs, embracing changes in requirements, technology, or direction. 

• Ability to effectively communicate with multidisciplinary teams, translating technical details to other engineering and business stakeholders. 

• Willingness to mentor junior engineers, sharing expertise and supporting team growth, advancement, and succession. 

• Comfortable working independently but proactive in engaging collaboratively when systems-level integration or troubleshooting is required. 

• Must be a US Citizen and willing and able to obtain a U.S. security clearance at TS/SCI level. 

Desired 

• MS or higher degree in Electrical Engineering, Optical Science, Physics, or a related field 

• Experience with Electro-Optical sensors, covering spectral sensitivity, resolution optimization, and calibration. 

• Familiarity with Zemax or other optical design and analysis software. 

• Proficiency with MATLAB, IDL, ENVI or other high-level interactive processing environment. 

• Knowledge of optics and coating design and specification, optical sensitivity analyses, and development of alignment plans. 

• Knowledge of advanced image processing including compression, and filtering. 

• Experience in bidding and proposals. 

• Comfortable interacting with customers. 

• Active TS/SCI clearance. 

Life with Us:  

There is a reason we boast awards like Best Employer, Best Place to work, Top employer, candidate experience winner. Our strength is in our people. Each team member makes a unique contribution to our collective mission. So, we recognize that with best-in-class benefits like: 

• 401K matching and immediate vesting schedule. 

• Career growth opportunities. 

• Family friendly benefits like maternity and paternity leave, adoption reimbursement, flexible hours, hybrid work options. 

• Programs to help you grow like tuition reimbursement, hackathons, and career development. 

• Student loan repayment. 

• Generous time off. 

• Comprehensive medical, dental and vision at affordable monthly rates.