Role highlights:

• Role: Senior Optical Systems Engineer

• Department: Optical Systems

• Location: Warsaw, Poland

• Reports to: Engineering Manager, Optical Systems

• Working type: Hybrid

• Employment is subject to applicable security screening (incl. SUPO, where required)

The Mission of the Senior Optical Systems Engineer

As Senior Optical Systems Engineer, you will be a core member of the tiger team designing and building ICEYE's next-generation spaceborne optical imaging system — from the earliest design and simulation stages all the way through to in-orbit commissioning and calibration. You will apply deep expertise in imaging optics to architect, simulate, build, and test high-resolution multi-mirror and multi-lens optical systems, owning critical engineering budgets such as MTF and SNR and ensuring the instrument meets its performance requirements at every phase. Working hands-on in the lab and collaborating closely with mechanical, electrical, and systems engineering colleagues, you will help turn a cutting-edge optical payload concept into a fully qualified, flight-ready reality.

Who are we?

ICEYE delivers space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities to governments and allied nations. This includes sovereign and turnkey ISR missions leveraging ICEYE's world-leading synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite technology, as well as access to data from the world's largest SAR satellite constellation. These capabilities enable partners to detect and respond to critical changes anywhere on Earth with unprecedented speed and accuracy – day or night and in any weather, supported by ultra high-resolution imagery and high-frequency revisits.

As a trusted partner for defense, intelligence, security, and maritime domain awareness, ICEYE's near real-time data creates a tactical advantage for mission-critical operations. ICEYE operates internationally with offices in Finland, Poland, Spain, Japan, the UAE, Greece, Germany, and the US. The company has more than 900 employees, inspired by the shared vision of improving life on Earth by becoming the global source of truth in Earth Observation.

Day to day responsibilities:

• You will be a member of a "tiger team" responsible for the research, architecture, design, simulation, testing and build of the new generation of satellites. The team will bring the design into reality, including commissioning and operations of the imaging instrument, and all phases along the way: testing, qualification, verification and iterating on necessary steps.

Requirements:

Must have skills

• Expert knowledge of imaging optics and physics related to optical systems design and operations.

• Familiarity with the key quality metrics for imaging optical systems. Understanding of engineering budgets (e.g. MTF, SNR), their contributors' impact and methods of verification. Familiarity with instrument calibration methods (geometric and radiometric).

• Proficiency with Zemax for optical systems design, analysis and simulation.

• Extensive experience in design, simulation, building and testing of the multi-mirror, multi-lens optical systems for imaging applications.

• Experience in optical systems bring-up, alignment, stabilization and verification methods.

• Experience in working with the optical laboratory setups: from components selection, through experiment design to results analysis, drawing conclusions and flowing it back to design-test process.

• Proactive attitude, willingness to work with the team, knowledge sharing, and active participation in creating solutions.

• Mindset of owning problems and solving them; capability of taking risks and leaning forward when needed. R&D style of learning by doing and iterating on the parts that require improvement.

• Previous experience with design of optical imaging systems for EO/ISR applications for satellites.

Nice to have skills

• Knowledge of the satellite systems and integration of the optical payload with satellite platforms.

Application process

• Talent Acquisition Interview

• Hiring Manager Interview

• Technical Interview (onsite or virtual), including a Technical Challenge

• Hiring Team Interview

• Offer Decision

Working at ICEYE

At ICEYE, you’ll join a diverse and highly engaged team united by the ambition to make the impossible possible. As a global scale-up, we combine speed and ambition with the opportunity to take real ownership from day one. Your growth, wellbeing, and success are a priority, with continuous professional development, training opportunities, and a culture where collaboration is how we win.

How We Work (Our Values)

Make the impossible possible: We set ambitious goals and stay calm under pressure. We bring grit, optimism, and ownership when things get hard, and we keep moving until we find a way.

• Be curious: Go deep, ask questions, listen carefully, and think critically. Understand the “why” behind decisions.

• See the big picture: Stay close to what’s happening across the company so you can make better decisions. Consider how your work affects others.

• Drive effective teamwork: Create psychological safety, invite different perspectives, and build inclusive teams. There are no bad questions.

• Act as one team: We win together. We match tasks to the right owner and stay agile as priorities shift.

• Have fun: What we do matters—and it should be enjoyable. Celebrate progress, take pride in results, and share the wins.

Benefits

Our benefits are designed to support your health and wellbeing—at work and beyond. We keep improving them based on employee feedback, and offerings vary by location. Talent Acquisition will confirm what applies for this role and location during the process.

Our commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

We want ICEYE to be a place where people can be themselves and do great work. Different backgrounds and perspectives make us stronger, which is why we work to create an environment where people feel included, respected, and able to speak up. Whatever your background, we want you to bring your authentic self to the table.

We’re committed to fair, inclusive hiring and equal opportunity. Everyone is welcome to apply. If you need any adjustments or support during the recruitment process, tell us—we’ll do our best to help.

Apply now to start your ICEYE journey, and help us continue to make the impossible possible together. Read more about ICEYE and working with us at iceye.com