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Role: Optomechanical Quality Engineer
Employment Type: Full Time
Educational Qualification: Bachelor’s in mechanical or optical engineering
Work Experience:

• 4+ years of experience in a quality role with the Aerospace/Defense/Space Quality department.

• Experience working on space optics and optomechanical hardware is a plus.
  
  

Role Description:
As an integral Quality Assurance team member at Pixxel, the Quality Engineer ensures that all processes, systems, and components meet rigorous quality standards throughout the satellite’s lifecycle. This role involves developing, implementing, and maintaining quality systems to embed reliability and compliance within the design, manufacturing, and testing phases.

The Payload Quality Engineer will actively address and resolve quality issues for the Payload/Camera subsystem, including quality control of processes (like AIT, and environmental testing), performing root-cause analysis and driving corrective actions to prevent reoccurrences. This position collaborates closely with cross-functional teams, including camera design, manufacturing, supply chain and production, to ensure the delivery of safe, reliable, and high-performance products aligned with Pixxel's objectives and industry standards.

Responsibilities & Duties:

• Oversee quality assurance and control for payload/camera subsystems (Optics, Optomechanical and Thermal) during development and production phases (including assembly, integration, and testing of satellites)

• Analyze Payload specific requirements and specifications for further monitoring at suppliers and internally during AIT in the missions’ lifecycle

• Review FMECAs to implement and monitor the defined mitigating actions

• Translate product requirements to define and conduct inspections of incoming materials, in-process assemblies, and finished products to meet specifications.

• Monitor alignment and integration of the payload to the bus including calibrations

• Define milestone-based checks and verification procedures for the payload AIT

• Collaborate with production teams, ensuring quality oversight, identifying and escalating issues, and promoting compliance with specifications and standards.

• Manage non-conformance dispositions, communicate with suppliers regarding issues, and escalate corrective actions as required.

• Document and assist in risk management, including quantitative assessments and mitigation strategies.

• Execute Measurement Systems Analysis and manage calibration and compliance.

• Support the development of an approved supply chain by identifying and evaluating suppliers with engineering and supply chain teams.

• Participate in Internal and External quality reviews and audits.

• Analyze internal and external quality data to identify and act on opportunities for improvement.

Desirable Skills & Certifications:

• Proficiency in aerospace quality standards (AS9100, ISO 9001) and regulatory compliance.

• Design or quality assurance experience in optics, sensors, electro-optics, opto-mechanics or cryocoolers, preferably in space domain

• Familiarity with thermal control systems and their implementations (Temperature sensors, Heaters, multi-layer insulations, etc.)

• Strong knowledge of GD&T and interpretation of engineering drawings

• Understanding of precision inspection methods using mechanical and optical instruments (CMMs, VMM) for incoming inspections

• Knowledge of space-qualified materials for opto-mechanics and adhesives.

• Knowledge on geometrical, optical and radiometric calibrations of space cameras

• Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams to address and resolve issues.

• Proven experience in supplier evaluation, auditing, development, and performance metrics management.

• Expertise in quality tools and methodologies: Root Cause Analysis, Corrective & Preventive Action Planning, Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), and Control Plans.

Candidate Acumen:
A strong desire to work in a high-growth, fast-paced startup environment, with a passion for space technology and a collaborative mindset.

Benefits:
Health insurance coverage
Unlimited leaves & flexible working hours
Role-based remote work and work-from-home benefit
Relocation assistance
Professional Mental Wellness services
Creche facility for primary caregivers (limited to India)
Employee Stock Options for all hires

About Pixxel

Pixxel is a space data company and spacecraft manufacturer redefining Earth observation with hyperspectral imaging. The company’s first three commercial hyperspectral satellites—Fireflies—deliver imagery at 5-meter resolution and 135+ spectral bands, providing 50x richer detail than traditional Earth observation systems and unlocking insights across agriculture, climate, energy, environment, and more.

Once fully deployed, Pixxel’s constellation of 18-24 satellites will capture imagery across up to 250 bands in VNIR and SWIR ranges, with a 40 km swath and daily global revisit capability. Pixxel’s most unique strength is its full-stack approach, integrating every layer of the value chain from satellite hardware and manufacturing to AI-powered analytics.

Pixxel’s satellite constellation is complemented by Aurora, its in-house Earth Observation Studio that simplifies satellite imagery analysis and democratises remote sensing for all. Designed to make hyperspectral data more accessible, Aurora by Pixxel combines high-frequency imagery with AI-powered tools to generate actionable insights, even for users without technical backgrounds. The third pillar of Pixxel’s ecosystem is its in-house satellite manufacturing capability. Beyond building its own spacecraft, Pixxel also provides satellite systems and subsystems to other organisations. This dual capacity sets it apart in a sector where most companies focus on either payload design or data operations, but not both.

Pixxel’s team is young but deeply mission-aligned, with a culture rooted in curiosity, speed, and long-term thinking. As the company grows its constellation and expands Aurora, the focus remains on making space-based insights practical, scalable, and genuinely helpful so that the health of the planet becomes measurable and action becomes possible.

Pixxel was the only Indian startup selected for the Techstars Starburst Space Accelerator in Los Angeles and has been recognised in TIME’s Best Inventions of 2023, Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies, and Via Satellite’s Top Innovators list.

For more information, see ourCareers pageor follow Pixxel on LinkedIn and X/Twitter.

Culture

Pixxel is an organization where we enable our employees to work on world-changing problems that they are passionate about, and a place where they can be their best selves day in and day out while ensuring they have fun every day.

Central to our employee-first ethos is a commitment to ensuring that every team member feels valued and heard. We nurture a healthy and supportive work environment where we prioritise well-being and growth in all aspects of life.

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