Optical Instruments Performance Engineer (d/f/m)

About the role

The Airbus Optical Instruments division seeks a Performance Engineer to shape the next generation of space‑borne optical payloads. You will work in a multinational environment, collaborating with engineering, suppliers and scientific users to ensure instrument performance throughout development and in‑orbit commissioning.

Key responsibilities

• Performance engineering of space optical instruments, including analysis, budgeting and mathematical modelling.
• Maintain instrument performance budgets based on as‑built parameters and coordinate with project teams and subcontractors.
• Develop data‑processing algorithms and tools for performance simulation and test‑data evaluation.
• Specify, prepare and execute instrument characterisation and calibration test campaigns.
• Interact with suppliers, space agencies (ESA, DLR) and scientific users.
• Systems engineering tasks such as requirements breakdown, concept trade studies and baseline design consolidation.
• Identify and develop innovative instrument concepts and enabling technologies.

Required profile

• Academic degree in Physics or Engineering; Ph.D. is a plus.
• Strong understanding of optical instruments, technical optics, opto‑mechanics, photonics and detection.
• Hands‑on experience in development, setup and operation of optical and photonic systems.
• Experience with the full optical instrument data‑processing chain from raw measurements to final products.
• Advanced scientific computing skills, particularly Python, and familiarity with AI‑assisted workflows.

Required skills

• Python programming
• Scientific computing
• AI‑assisted data processing
• Optical instrument modelling and performance simulation
• Opto‑mechanics
• Photonics
• Detection technologies