---
title: 'Principal Optical Engineer (Starfall) at SpaceX'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/principal-optical-engineer-starfall-spacex-hawthorne-mp8f16ncd13d'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-08'
---

# Principal Optical Engineer (Starfall) at SpaceX

- **Company:** SpaceX
- **Location:** Hawthorne, CA
- **Posted:** 2026-08-26
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-08
- **Apply:** https://boards.greenhouse.io/spacex/jobs/8748880002?gh_jid=8748880002

## Job description

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.

## PRINCIPAL OPTICAL ENGINEER (STARFALL)

SpaceX optical systems require a powerful blend of theoretical expertise, hands-on implementation skills, and a passion for solving complex problems in real-time, resource-constrained environments.

As a Principal Optical Engineer, you will own free-space optical system design, validation, and operation for a navigation sensor combining a visible camera and infrared (IR) sensing. You will set product vision at the system level, lead design of optics, detectors, circuit boards, precision mechanisms, and mechanical enclosures that must survive extreme loads and the harsh environment of space, and ensure the product can be manufactured at high rate.

You will dive into technical details, drive architecture and design trades, mentor engineers, and build the team’s technical bar. Beyond hardware design, you will analyze, validate, and troubleshoot electronic/optical assemblies; define processes; design circuits, fixtures, and tools; and identify opportunities to improve both products and processes. You will directly contribute to mission-critical navigation applications.

## RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Drive product vision and system-level architecture for a visible-camera and IR navigation sensor
- Apply optics and photonics knowledge to optical system development, including design, analysis, and validation
- Define requirements for high-performance optical/IR navigation sensors in challenging environmental conditions
- Lead optical architecture definition through internal trade studies, concept of operations definition, and risk-reduction testing
- Drive detailed trades across optical, IR, mechanical, electrical, and manufacturing constraints for high-volume production
- Design next-generation optical/IR sensor hardware for high-rate manufacturing
- Mentor optical, electrical, and systems engineers; review designs and raise the technical standard of the team
- Interface with manufacturing and supply chain teams to ensure final designs can be manufactured in accordance with overall project goals
- Perform and oversee verification testing, including environmental qualification, performance characterization, reliability testing, and fault-injection testing
- Define and lead field testing of optical experiments and navigation sensor systems
- Review test data and lead anomaly investigation and resolution
- Own performance budgets, design specifications, and system capabilities data
- Collaborate with software and automation teams to develop tools and protocols for automated optical/IR testing
- Communicate technical direction, risks, and recommendations to program leadership

## BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

- Bachelor’s degree in optical engineering, physics, or other engineering discipline
- 8+ years of hands-on laboratory or work experience in optics, photonics, imaging, infrared sensing, or electrical/mechanical design or testing
- 8+ years of experience in a computer programming language (e.g. C++, MATLAB, and/or Python)

## PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

- Master’s degree or PhD in physics or an engineering discipline
- Experience driving product vision and system-level trades for complex electro-optical products
- Demonstrated ability to mentor engineers and lead technical teams without relying solely on formal authority
- Proficiency with optical analysis tools such as Zemax
- Hands-on experience in optical design or system design, integration, and test of imaging or IR systems
- Experience designing mixed-signal circuits, processors, FPGAs, Ethernet, SERDES, DRAM interfaces (DDR4), I2C, SPI, operational amplifiers, analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters, and power supply components
- Opto-mechanical design and analysis experience with precision mounting and alignment
- Knowledge of and experience in cameras, IR detectors, optics testing/troubleshooting techniques, and signal integrity principles
- Knowledge of and experience in free-space optical principles, optical component testing/troubleshooting techniques, precision metrology techniques, manufacturing and integration processes
- Experience leading development of commercial or high-volume products
- Designing hardware for high-reliability applications
- Experience with imaging, navigation sensing, or multi-spectral (visible + IR) systems
- Knowledge of and experience in atmospheric optical effects
- Ability to assess risk and make design and development decisions without all available data
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, autonomously driven, and demanding atmosphere
- Competence with optical test equipment (power meters, interferometer, sources, cameras)
- Experience with infrared system alignment and characterization
- Competence with Python scripting and a Linux operating system environment
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills

## ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

- Working extended hours and weekends as needed
- Note that an active clearance may provide the opportunity for you to work on sensitive SpaceX missions. If so, you will be subject to pre-employment drug and random drug and alcohol testing

## COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay Range:

Level 3: $190,000.00 - $285,000.00

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.

## ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

- To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR [here](https://www.pmddtc.state.gov/?id=ddtc_kb_article_page&sys_id=24d528fddbfc930044f9ff621f961987).

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX 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.

Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to EEOCompliance@spacex.com.

## About SpaceX

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: SpaceX designs, manufactures, and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft while building a global satellite broadband network and AI infrastructure to enable interplanetary life.
- **Entity Type**: Public (Nasdaq: SPCX) – IPO priced at $135/share on June 12, 2026
- **Headquarters**: Starbase, Texas (primary); Hawthorne, California (historical headquarters)
- **Founded**: 2002
- **Founders**: Elon Musk

## Core Business
- **Industries**: Aerospace & Defense, Spaceflight, Satellite Telecommunications, Artificial Intelligence
- **Target Customers**: Government (NASA, U.S. Armed Forces, international agencies), Commercial satellite operators, Broadband consumers (Starlink), Defense/intelligence (Starshield)
- **Mission**: To make humanity multiplanetary by building the integrated hardware and software infrastructure of the future across space, connectivity, and AI.

## Products & Services
- **Falcon 9**: Reusable two-stage rocket – the world’s most launched orbital rocket, with over 630 successful first-stage reflights.
- **Falcon Heavy**: Heavy-lift launch vehicle composed of three Falcon 9 cores; capable of lifting nearly 64 metric tons to orbit.
- **Starship**: Fully reusable super-heavy launch vehicle and spacecraft (largest ever built) designed for missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
- **Dragon 2**: Crew and cargo spacecraft used for NASA Commercial Crew and private missions to the ISS and beyond.
- **Starlink**: Low-Earth-orbit satellite constellation providing high-speed, low-latency broadband internet to over 10.3 million people globally.
- **Starshield**: Military-grade satellite services for national security and defense customers.
- **SpaceXAI**: Division focused on AI compute infrastructure, frontier models, and real-time data processing (including AI compute satellites).

## Market Standing
- **Valuation**: Conflicting reports – Internal share offer in 2025 valued SpaceX at **$800 billion**; IPO pricing (June 2026) implied a market capitalization of approximately **$75 billion** for the shares offered.
- **Key Metric**: Annual revenue of **$15.0 billion** (2025); total funding raised **$15.2 billion** across 56 rounds.
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Google (led $1B Series G), Intesa Sanpaolo, NASA, U.S. Space Force, and numerous institutional investors.
- **Growth Signals**: Employee headcount of **11,387** (monthly growth +2.5%); **1,671 active job postings**; Falcon 9 launch cadence of 1–3 per week; Starlink subscriber base covering ~10.3 million people; recent acquisition of xAI (February 2026).

## Competitive Advantages
- **Full reusability**: Only company with a fleet of reusable orbital rockets (Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy), dramatically lowering per-launch cost.
- **Vertical integration**: Designs, manufactures, and operates its own rockets, spacecraft, satellite constellation, and AI platform – enabling rapid iteration and cost control.
- **Scale and reliability**: More orbital launches per year than any other provider (public or private); proven track record with NASA and DoD.
- **First-mover in commercial spaceflight**: Established crew transport, satellite internet, and now AI compute in orbit.

## Strategic Focus
- **Starship development**: Complete testing and operational deployment of the fully reusable Starship system for lunar (Artemis) and Mars missions.
- **Starlink expansion**: Grow subscriber base, launch V3 satellites, and extend mobile and direct-to-cell services.
- **AI integration**: Leverage SpaceXAI for on-orbit compute and real-time data analytics; build AI compute satellites.
- **Interplanetary infrastructure**: Develop technologies for sustained human presence on the Moon and Mars.

## Why Work Here
- **Mission-driven culture**: Employees directly contribute to making life multiplanetary – “hard work and innovative solutions result in big gains.”
- **Impactful projects**: Work on reusable rockets, crewed spacecraft, global broadband, and AI systems that are actively changing the space industry.
- **Compensation**: Competitive salaries, comprehensive health benefits, and equity packages.
- **Work locations**: Primary campuses in Hawthorne, CA and Starbase, TX (with additional sites in Cape Canaveral, FL and Vandenberg, CA). Roles span engineering, software, manufacturing, and support.
- **Engineering culture**: Merit-based, fast-paced, with high ownership; top talent sourced from Tesla, Boeing, NASA JPL, and other aerospace leaders.
- **Open roles**: Over 1,600 active positions across software, AI, avionics, propulsion, supply chain, and more – including internships.

## Sources
1. [SpaceX Careers Page](https://www.spacex.com/careers)
2. [LinkedIn – SpaceX Company Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/company/spacex)
3. [SpaceX IPO Factsheet (PDF)](https://content.spacex.com/cms-assets/FINAL_Documents%20and%20Updates/SpaceX%20IPO_Factsheet.pdf)
4. [SpaceX IPO Pricing Press Release](https://ir.spacex.com/updates/releases-details/2026/Space-Exploration-Technologies-Corp--Announces-Pricing-of-Initial-Public-Offering/default.aspx)
5. [SpaceX Jobs Board (Greenhouse)](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/spacex)

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