Camera And Optical System Engineer H/F - Infinite Orbits

About the Company

Established in 2017, Infinite Orbits is a NewSpace company, based in Toulouse, pushing the boundaries of in-orbit services with cutting-edge spacecraft driven by its own Rendez-Vous solution, an advanced Autonomous Vision-Based Navigation Solution. IO has two generations of missions

"Orbit Guard" provides Inspection and Space Situational Awareness services in GEO. Our first, OG-1 was launched on 1 May 2023, the second is launching in 2025 and the third third launching in 2026.

"Endurance" is a docking service capable of extending the life of GEO telecom satellites, by taking over AOCS takeover for 5 years.


We are seeking a highly skilled Camera and Optical System Engineer to join our dynamic team.

The ideal candidate will specialize in designing, developing, and qualifying advanced optical payloads for space applications, with a strong focus on opto-mechanics, electro-optics, electronics, and qualification testing in space environments. You will also play a key role to oversee quality control and ensure successful delivery.

This position offers the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge technologies in a fast-paced and innovative environment, driving solutions that push the boundaries of space exploration and imaging systems.

Job Description

Technical Responsibilities:

Design and Development:

- Collaborate in the development of navigation and sensor hardware requirements from system level specifications with flow downs to subsystem and component levels,
- Assist in the design of camera hardware architecture for space optical payloads,
- Lead or perform opto-mechanical analysis, including thermal and structural impact on optical system performance,

Performance Qualification and Testing:

- Contribute or lead procurement, vendor coordination, delivery, acceptance testing, installation, verification, validation, qualification, and certification of component hardware (optomechanics, electronics, optics),
- Define the optical payload's alignment procedure and performance qualification plan, leveraging optical calibration testbeds to validate resolution and alignment,
- Guide and perform electro-optical characterization of CMOS image sensor,
- Guide and perform environmental testing including laboratory and flight testing of the full system (shock/vibration, thermal vacuum, radiation etc) to validate top-level system performance and ensure compliance with ECSS norms and mission requirements.

Integration with Electronics and Systems:

- Work closely with electronics engineers to integrate optical payloads with imaging sensors and electronic board,
- Validate and optimize optical system interfaces with spacecraft systems to ensure seamless integration and functionality.

Project Management and Quality Assurance Responsibilities

Project Oversight:

- Manage timelines, budgets, and resources to ensure the quality-controlled delivery of optical payloads on schedule and within scope,
- Serve as a liaison between multidisciplinary teams, external suppliers, and stakeholders, ensuring clear communication and effective problem resolution.

Quality Control and Acceptance Testing:

- Define and implement acceptance test procedures to validate end-to-end system performance before delivery,
- Oversee documentation and reporting of results from optical qualification and acceptance tests, ensuring adherence to ECSS norms and quality standards.

Requirements

Technical Skills

- Strong system design, development and testing skills,
- Strong understanding of opto-mechanical materials, space-grade hardware,
- Proficiency in environmental testing standards and procedures (ECSS, NASA, MIL Standards), including radiation hardening,
- Expertise in optical tolerance analysis (ZEMAX, CODE V, FRED, or LightTools, etc) or opto-mechanical simulation for imaging systems (Soliworks, Catia, ect.)
- Experience with optical calibration testbeds for optical performance and image quality characterization,
- Familiarity with imaging sensors (CCD/CMOS), electronics, and their integration into optical systems.

Soft Skills

- Good technical project management skills, with experience managing resources, schedules, and deliverables in a fast-paced startup environment.
- Excellent communication and organizational skills, with the ability to coordinate multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders.
- Proactive, detail-oriented, and adaptable to the challenges of a startup environment.

Educational Background and Experience

- 5+ years of system engineering experience designing, integrating, testing, and qualifying space optical payloads,
- Master's, or Ph.D. in Optical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics or a related technical discipline, or equivalent experience.