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Optical Communications Architect
Job Location:
Job Location:
Redondo Beach, CA - USA
Yearly Salary:
USD 190000 - 240000
Yearly Salary:
Posted:
7 June 2026 (30+ days ago)
Posted:
Application Deadline:
22 October 2026
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
1 Vacancy
Vacancies:
Job Summary
As the Architect of Optical Communications at Impulse you will be a senior technical contributor responsible for shaping the architecture of free-space optical communications systems. You will own the system-level models and trade studies that determine link margin achievable data rate terminal sizing pointing requirements optical throughput receiver sensitivity and end-to-end mission performance.
This role is intended for an engineer who can operate at an architecture level while staying close to the hardware. You will build and maintain practical Python MATLAB or similar modeling tools use those tools to make architecture recommendations and translate the results into requirements for optical electrical GNC software mechanical and test teams.
Relevant experience may come from space optical communications terrestrial fiber communications coherent optical systems high-data-rate telecom hardware or adjacent optical/electrical communications systems. Prior space hardware experience is valuable but not required.
Leveling will be commensurate with experience with emphasis on senior staff or principal-level technical contribution.
Responsibilities
- Own and maintain end-to-end optical communications link budget models for free-space optical communications systems.
- Develop architecture models for space-to-ground and space-to-space lasercom links across relevant mission regimes.
- Quantify link margin data rate acquisition margin and sensitivity to major terminal design choices.
- Model optical transmitter and receiver performance from electrical input through propagation to detected signal.
- Lead architecture trades across aperture size transmit power modulation coding pointing stability atmospheric loss and receiver sensitivity.
- Incorporate relevant assumptions from terrestrial fiber communications and high-data-rate optical hardware into space-based optical communications architecture trades.
- Support PAT architecture by modeling pointing and acquisition sensitivity as it affects link closure and terminal design.
Minimum Qualifications
- Degree or equivalent experience in optical engineering electrical engineering aerospace engineering physics applied math or a related technical field.
- 8 years of demonstrated experience building physics-based engineering models in Python MATLAB or a similar environment.
- Strong fundamentals in optics communications radiometry statistics signal processing or related disciplines.
- Ability to work across disciplines and clearly communicate assumptions sensitivities margins and technical risk.
- Experience with optical communications RF communications telecom systems high-speed electrical/optical hardware or related system-level communications architecture.
Preferred Skills and Experience
- 8 years of demonstrated experience with free-space optical communications lasercom optical link budgets or optical terminal architecture.
- 8 years of demonstrated experience with terrestrial fiber communications coherent optical communications high-data-rate ground hardware or telecom systems.
- Experience with coherent or direct-detection optical communications and receiver sensitivity analysis.
- Familiarity with optical transmitter or receiver hardware such as EDFAs modulators fiber optics photodetectors coherent receivers or telescope systems.
- Experience modeling atmospheric propagation turbulence cloud statistics weather data or optical site availability.
- Experience with PAT jitter beam steering fiber coupling pointing loss or terminal pointing requirements.
- Space hardware spacecraft or mission architecture experience is helpful but not required.
Additional Information:
Compensation bands are determined by role level location and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills education experience technical capabilities and internal addition to base salary for full-time hires you may also be eligible for long-term incentives in the form of stock options and access to medical vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan.
Impulse Spaces spacecraft manufacturing business is subject to U.S. export regulations including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR). This position requires applicants to be either U.S. Persons (i.e. U.S. citizen U.S. national lawful permanent U.S. resident (green card holder) an individual granted asylum in the U.S. or an individual admitted in U.S. refugee status) or persons eligible to obtain an export license from the U.S. Departments of State Commerce or other applicable U.S. government agencies. Learn more about the ITAR here.
Impulse Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Impulse Space is governed on the basis of merit competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race color religion gender national origin/ethnicity veteran status disability status age sexual orientation gender identity marital status mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
Required Experience:
Staff IC
