Текст заказа
Want your optics to be the eyes of a spacecraft? An innovative space company is looking for a Senior Optical Design Engineer to design the telescopes, instruments and optical payloads that will fly on its next missions. You'll take designs from first concept to flight hardware, and see your work deliver real data from orbit.
* Location: Toulouse (relocation support available)
* Contract: Permanent, full time, hybrid
* Reporting to: Head of Optics / Payload Lead
Why this role?
Our client builds Earth observation payloads for commercial, institutional and defence customers. With ESA contracts and a growing order book behind them, they're expanding their optics team to deliver the next generation of instruments.
You won't be one name in a large department. You'll own optical designs end to end, work closely with mechanical, thermal and electronics engineers, and have a direct say in how the hardware gets built.
What you'll be doing
* Designing and optimising optical systems for space instruments, from first-order layouts to detailed designs
* Running performance analysis: image quality, MTF, stray light, polarisation and tolerancing
* Working with mechanical and thermal teams on STOP (structural-thermal-optical performance) analysis
* Writing optical specifications and drawings, and working with suppliers on lenses, mirrors and coatings
* Supporting assembly, alignment, integration and test (AIT), including interferometry and optical metrology
* Taking part in design reviews and producing documentation to ECSS standards
* Contributing to proposals and trade-off studies for new missions
What you'll bring
* A degree (MSc or PhD preferred) in optics, photonics, physics or a related field
* \[3+\] years of optical design experience, ideally in space, aerospace, defence or high-end instrumentation
* Strong skills in Zemax OpticStudio and/or CODE V
* Solid understanding of aberration theory, tolerancing and optical performance analysis
* Hands-on lab experience with alignment, interferometry or optical testing
* A practical, collaborative approach and clear technical writing
* Fluent English, and the right to work in Toulouse or willingness to relocate
Bonus points for: flight hardware heritage · stray light tools such as FRED, ASAP or LightTools · STOP analysis experience · reflective telescopes (Cassegrain, TMA) or free-form optics · laser communication or hyperspectral systems · Python or MATLAB scripting · security clearance
What's in it for you
* A competitive salary
* Relocation support to help you settle in
* Hybrid working, flexible hours and generous holiday
* Health insurance and pension
* A dedicated budget for training, conferences and professional development
* Optics you designed, flying in space
Ready to design the next eye in orbit?
Apply now with your CV, or get in touch for a confidential chat.