Chief Architect – Optical Communication Terminals

Location: Broomfield, Colorado preferred / Hybrid
Compensation: Approximately 200,000 USD base plus significant RSUs
US Person Required

Darwin Space are partnered with an exciting space communications company who are building next generation optical communication infrastructure for space. They are now hiring a Chief Architect for Optical Communication Terminals, a pivotal hire that sits directly under the VP of Engineering and is considered part of the long term succession plan for future technical leadership.

This is a high impact role for someone who has already delivered free space optical communication systems in space and wants to help define how the next generation of optical networks are built and scaled. The organisation has already proven the direction and is now focused on execution, scaling and delivering production grade systems into orbit.

They are looking for someone with deep expertise across the full spectrum of space based optical communications, including LEO to LEO, LEO to MEO, MEO to GEO and GEO to ground links.

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Role Overview

The Chief Architect will own system level architecture for optical communication terminals, leading programs from concept through design, validation and production readiness. This includes defining system requirements, leading modelling and simulation, owning link performance and guiding hardware development through major milestones such as PDR, CDR and manufacturing readiness.

You will work across optics, software, electrical, mechanical and integration teams, ensuring all subsystems align to mission requirements. This is a true end to end systems role with ownership across design, lab work, test and production.

This role requires someone comfortable equally in design reviews, on the production floor, and in the lab running experiments.

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Key Responsibilities

System Architecture and Leadership

• Define and own architecture for optical communication terminals
• Lead system level requirements, link budgets and performance modelling
• Drive development from concept to high TRL production systems

Optical Communication Performance

• Design and optimise high data rate optical links up to 100 to 400 Gbps over long distance links exceeding 10,000 km
• Solve challenges in coherent detection, fiber coupling and system efficiency
• Analyse wavefront error, SNR, BER and full system performance

Cross Functional Integration

• Work across optical, electrical, software, FPGA and mechanical teams
• Ensure full system alignment from mission requirements through to production
• Lead design reviews and act as technical authority across disciplines

Test, Validation and Experimentation

• Lead system validation, test campaigns and critical experiments
• Drive iterative design in a build fast, test fast, improve fast environment
• Support hardware integration and production scaling

Technical Leadership and Growth

• Mentor engineers and build senior technical capability across the team
• Act as a go to technical authority within the organisation
• Support long term roadmap development and scaling of optical products

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Ideal Candidate Profile

They are looking for someone who has:

• Strong experience in space based free space optical communication systems
• Delivered optical communication terminals through to completion and high TRL
• Worked on coherent laser communication links and high data rate systems
• Experience solving real world challenges around fiber coupling, atmospheric effects and long range link performance
• Deep system level understanding across optics, software, electronics and hardware integration
• Experience working in both lab environments and production environments
• A mindset focused on reducing cost, mass and complexity while maintaining performance

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Background and Experience

• 5 to 10 years of experience in optical communication systems for space
• Strong preference for candidates from satellite primes or leading optical communication companies
• Experience with laser communication, optical terminals or advanced sensing systems
• Familiarity with modelling tools such as Zemax, MATLAB or Python
• Strong understanding of adaptive optics, beam steering and propagation effects