Payload Product Owner - Optical Expert

Payload Product Owner - Optical Expert

Absolut Sensing

Toulouse, France

As part of the software team, you will participate in the development of the mission center and processing center for our satellite constellation.

Your responsibilities

As part of a low Earth orbit Earth observation programme, you will be responsible for defining, modelling and validating the optical architecture of a payload comprising an IR optical chain integrated into a constrained LEO environment (thermal, vibrations, contamination, radiation).

This position requires advanced expertise in physical optics, spectroscopy and space instrument architecture. Significant experience in mission environments would be an advantage.

Main tasks

Optical Architecture & Design

• Take charge of the overall optical architecture of the IR spectrometric payload currently undergoing industrialisation. Liaise with suppliers for the instrument part, including IR detector (MCT, InGaAs), focal planes, grating, telescope (make or buy strategy already advanced), and integrate it into a complex optical path.
• Model optical performance (MTF, optical range, diffraction lobes, network efficiencies).

Performance & budget analysis

• Build and manage budgets: radiometric, spectral (resolution, FWHM, dispersion), geometric, SNR, QE, distortions.
• Contribute to straylight analysis and the establishment of an E2E simulator, used to establish mission/system requirements and Conops.
• Identify performance drivers and margins.

Definition of instrumental specifications

• Establish optical and functional specifications, in conjunction with the systems team for PDR and CDR payload reviews.
• Define requirements for the mechanical, electronic and software teams.
• Contribute to industrial specifications and bid analysis.

Modelling and validation

• Create optical models using Zemax OpticStudio, Code V or equivalent.
• Simulate optical system vs. spectrometer couplings (distortion, stability, smear).
• Prepare system performance models up to the detected image or spectrum.
• Regularly liaise with the image processing team (Ground Segment).

Industrial monitoring & testing

• Participate in the industrial development of the flight model in conjunction with the PM and the system team.
• Analyse tests : optical alignment, spectral/radiometric calibration benches, thermal & vibration tests, end-to-end functional tests.

Flight test campaign – Operations

• Lead the satellite Cal/Val campaign.
• Provide operational support for the flight demonstrator pilot activities (launched in January 2025).

Technology watch & innovation

• Lead a Phase A R&D programme
• Propose improvements or innovative building blocks (advanced networks, diffractive optics, miniaturisation solutions).
• Perform trade-off analyses between several optical concepts.

PROFILE

• PhD or engineering degree in optics, physics, photonics, space instrumentation or equivalent.
• 8+ years of experience in optical design of space instruments or IR spectrometers.
• Proven experience in defining instrumental architecture for a space mission.
• Experience with LEO missions or scanning payloads is a major asset.

Required qualities

• Ability to take charge of end-to-end architecture.
• Fluid communication with multidisciplinary teams.
• Analytical mind and scientific rigour.