Adaptive Optics Engineer II – JPL Careers

Job Description:

New ideas are all around us, but only a few will change the world. That’s our focus at JPL. We ask the biggest questions, then search the universe for answers—literally. We build upon ideas that have guided generations, then share our discoveries to inspire generations to come. Your mission—your opportunity—is to seek out the answers that bring us one step closer. If you’re driven to discover, create, and insp

Job Responsibilities:

• Support the integration, test and requirements verification of NASA’s primary Optical Ground Station for the Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD). This includes test planning and procedure development, test execution, and post-test data analysis and reporting.
• Take responsibility for operating, tuning and optimizing our Adaptive Optics system for coupling laser communications signals from space-borne assets into a fiber-fed modem.
• Contribute to new ideas for improved system architecture, performance, and implementation.
• Propose and conduct experiments for exploring the operating limits of the Adaptive Optics system, improving the signal coupling efficiency and general performance and stability of the system.
• Continuous building upon experience gained in fielding ground optical systems for space optical links, to advance future development of robust operational systems for use with existing, as well as, planned large aperture ground assets is expected.
• Support free space optical communications demonstrations of bi-directional space-to-ground links that are in a implementation phase to be advanced to operational readiness over the next two years.

Job Requirements:

• Familiarity with the use of optical and electronic test equipment, for automated data collection and report generation.
• Extensive laboratory skills and ability to participate in a team.
• Able to design, set up and align opto-mechanical systems and sensor assemblies needed for implementing robust control of laser beam pointing.
• Strong understanding of adaptive optics algorithms and optical hardware along with underlying principles, theories, concepts and techniques in adaptive optics.
• Ability to develop data-acquisition, instrument control and data analysis software for efficiently generating reports.

Qualification & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or related technical discipline with typically a minimum of 3 years of “hands-on” experimental experience; Master’s degree in similar disciplines with a minimum of 1 year of related experience; or PhD in area related to optical engineering and/or physics with 0 years of experience.
• Experience with Optical Design software, especially Zemax and/or Code V.
• Experience with advanced optical testing, including automated data-logging and analysis.
• Good understanding of lasers, photon-counting detectors and signal processing for supporting robust ground receivers for optical communications to and from space.
• Experience coupling signals into single-mode fiber systems.

Job Details:

Company: Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Vacancy Type:  Full Time

Job Location: Pasadena, CA, US

Application Deadline: N/A

Apply Here

careersvite.online