Lead Optical Analysis Engineer
Denver, CO
Payload /
Full-Time /
On-site
Be one of the Bedo 100
Albedo is revolutionizing the space industry by building technology to commercialize Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO). Our first satellite, Clarity-1, is built upon our Precision bus, our VLEO-optimized platform designed specifically to thrive where other satellites cannot. With the successful launch of Clarity-1, we've proven our ability to deliver the highest resolution visible (10cm) and thermal (2m) imagery available commercially from space—a resolution previously possible only with aircraft and drones, but now available globally and on-demand.
Through the next couple of years, our focuses will be scaling production of our Precision bus to support the growing Clarity constellation and serving our customers the highest-resolution data. As part of the first 100 employees at Albedo, you will have a direct impact on on the above goals, whether that’s working directly on hardware to enhance our performance in VLEO, optimizing the pointing algorithms of our agile satellite, or delivering imagery to reduce wildfire risk, monitor carbon emissions from industrial power plants, or inform decision-makers on national security matters.
How We Operate: Albedo has developed a novel approach to Very Low Earth Orbit, both in space and with our business model. We are intentionally doing things differently by taking (calculated) risks, trying new things, and moving with speed. In age where AI presents extraordinary potential, we’ve adopted an AI-first mentality to create leverage for ourselves and customers. Like our satellites, we intentionally operate in a space that most avoid because its hard — but the excitement and things we have and will achieve make it worth it.
Who We're Looking For: As we scale our VLEO platform and expand our constellation, we need innovative thinkers who thrive in fast-paced environments and are passionate about pushing technological boundaries. You'll be joining a team that's already proven it can achieve the impossible with the successful deployment of Clarity-1. If you're excited to tackle top-tier technical challenges, apply cutting-edge AI developments, and advance the state-of-the-art in VLEO technology, you'll find yourself part of a mission that's transforming how humanity sees and understands our planet—and eventually, other worlds.
If you can feel the excitement running through your veins, apply to be one of the Bedo 100.
What You’ll Do:
- Responsible for interpretation and analysis of STOP results to and sensitivity analysis to determine next steps in design iteration
- Work with team to understand details of design causing results and iterate to optimize the design
- Obscuration analysis for Verity opto-mechanical design
- Line of Sight analysis for Verity opto-mechanical design
- Field Angle Map analysis for Verity opto-mechanical design
- Emissivity analysis of payload for LWIR imaging
- Converting all low-level WFE contributions of opto-mechanical design into simplified WFE budget. Working with the opto-mech designers to map the non-perfect aspects of their designs into rms WFE space from mechanical space including thermal-structural dynamics. Identify terms we cannot quantify at various levels of assembly and determine impact/path forward to ensure design closes with integration.
- Develop and perform Monte Carlo WFE prediction from current RSS WFE prediction
- Manage WFE budget as design progresses to re-allocate terms which can and cannot meet original allocation
- Allocate WFE margin as design matures
- Create merit function for existing system design
- WFE accounting for the 1g mission and associated uncertainty, each of the different major alignment step missions, and the post-environmental test mission, in addition to the normal 0g mission
- Produce overall predicted system WFE maps, including step-by-step expectations per alignment plan – Including 1g to 0g analytical prediction
- Analyze AIT environmental impacts to alignment measurement error
Your Ideal Skills and Experience:
- 5-10+ years of experience working optical system analysis and optimization
- Familiarity with various optical design and analysis software tools
- Deep understanding of optical sensitivities, aberrations and what effects them in mechanical design/implementation
- Experience with WFE budgets, allocation and budget management
- Experience with STOP modeling and the iterative, multi-disciplinary process
- Hands on experience optimizing optical systems to reduce aberrations and WFE
- Regularly uses AI tools as essential leverage to accelerate work, improve clarity, and multiply output
Compensation and Benefits:
- Employee friendly equity compensation
- 4% direct matching 401k
- Health Insurance: 100% employee coverage & 75% dependent coverage
- Parental leave and childcare coverage
- Relocation package if not based in Denver
- Flexible vacation from day one
- 12 company holidays and flexible sick time
- $100 monthly wellness benefit
$194,634 - $213,171 a year
Salary range aligns with the company's compensation structure, which compensates at market rates of 50th percentile salary and 75th percentile equity. The company uses market data provided by Pave to determine percentiles. The final compensation package is subject to change if the candidate's experience and company need drive a different job level than originally slated for the position.
Full-Time On-Site Work Environment: This position requires regular in-person engagement by working on-site full-time. Travel to other possible non-Albedo locations may be required.
Working Conditions:
Work is performed in an office environment, laboratory, cleanroom, or production floor.
Albedo does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to Albedo employees. Albedo is not responsible for any fees or overhead related to unsolicited resumes.
Additional Requirements: In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. All persons hired will be required to be a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled: Albedo is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Relocation: Relocation for this position is available
US CITIZENSHIP IS REQUIRED
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