Senior Optical Engineer

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.

We are seeking an Optical Engineer to support the design, analysis, production and validation of Albedo’s advanced telescope systems. This role will focus on making our designs production ready.

• Collaborate closely with opto-mechanical, thermal, structural, production, optical and systems engineers to a producible design that meets performance requirements 
• Work collaboratively with Albedo’s optical and mechanical hardware teams to develop, modify and refine optical system models 
• Oversee optical modeling and analysis results and adapt as required to production and build techniques 
• Support alignment sensitivity studies 
• Perform optical modeling to quickly determine solutions to issues that arise during build and test 
• Support design for producibility and development of optical infrastructure for low-rate production 
• Support detailed engineering design unit (EDU) preparation and build: 
• includes optical test design, alignment pass/fail metrics, EDU and test equipment material BOMs, hardware builds, test to validate alignment tolerances, sensitivities, and overall reduce risk for our first article build 
• Create PL work instructions to guide the team on the first and subsequent builds 
• Hands on optical alignment and validation 
• Use advanced optical alignment and performance measurement equipment and software tools 
• Iteration of alignment results and design as needed with analysis models 
• create PL work instructions to guide the team on the first and subsequent builds 
• Hire, train and manage optical technicians 

• Regularly uses AI tools as essential leverage to accelerate work, improve clarity, and multiply output
• Bachelor’s or Master’s in Optical Engineering, Physics, or similar
• 5+ years experience in space-based optical system development/production
• Proficient in optical design software (Zemax OpticStudio preferred)
• Familiarity with optical analysis tools and methods
• Understanding of environmental impacts on optical performance (thermal gradients, vibration, contamination)
• Knowledge of optical fabrication, metrology, and alignment techniques

• 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

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.

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Relocation: Relocation for this position is available

US CITIZENSHIP IS REQUIRED

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