Optical Instrument Architect (m/f/d)

OHB System AG – We.Create.Space

OHB System AG is one of the leading space companies in Europe. The company is part of the listed high-tech group OHB SE, which has more than 3,200 employees working on pivotal European space programs. With two strong locations in Bremen and Oberpfaffenhofen near Munich and more than 40 years of experience, OHB System AG specialises in high-tech solutions for space. These include low-orbiting and geostationary satellites for Earth observation, navigation, telecommunications, science and space exploration as well as systems for human space flight and aerial reconnaissance. We owe our success to our employees' passion for innovation, as well as their commitment and initiative.

For permanent employment OHB System AG in Oberpfaffenhofen is looking for a

Optical Instrument Architect (m/f/d)

In this position you are a part of OHB’s optical architecture office that is responsible for the architecture/concept definition of optical systems for space applications. Members of the office are usually involved in several projects with their specific area of expertise with one being their main project. Level of responsibility (e.g. holistic architecture of a complete space system or focus on a part of such system) and is tailored to the personal work experience and heritage. For a Junior position, a Senior Architect is usually nominated as a development and sparring partner.

Your Tasks

• Elaboration and development of optical detection system concepts on the basis of interaction with various stakeholders (the customer, experts from technical disciplines, programmatic stakeholders and others), requirements and budgets (technical and programmatic)
• Technical coordination of the concept generation within a multidiscipline engineering team and driving contribution to: Architecture/Concept Definition and Justification
• Concepts trade-offs between involving disciplines such as thermal, structural, mechanical, optical, electrical, etc
• Interface Concepts and Definition
• Related performance analysis
• Flow down into the relevant technical design, requirement and performance documentation
• Perform requirements analysis and architecture/concepts-to-design mapping ensuring customer specifications
• Ensure proper flow-down and allocation of lower level subsystem requirements and technical budgets to support systems and subsystem specification derivation
• Close collaboration with technical management and other systems engineering disciplines (Performance Analysis, Verification & Validation Engineering, Subsystems)
• Support technical discussion with the customer

Your Qualifications

• PhD in Physics with a focus on Optical Systems and engineering as the position’s focus is on the inception of optical systems, a basic knowledge of optics and optics concepts is mandatory. A significant part of the role is putting the optical detection functions into the greater technical context creating a system in which other aspects - technical and non-technical - are also important and sometimes even driving stakeholders
• Demonstrated work history and experience of at least 3 years (instrumentation in industry or academia) in a systems engineer type role with a focus on a holistic design responsibility for scientific optical instruments or comparable systems with adequate technology and complexity (e.g. Interferometer, Spectrometer and/or Telescope Systems)
• Hands-on hardware experience (lab work, implementation and set up of optical systems) is considered a strong asset
• Organised and structured task approach, experience in technical coordination is an asset
• Strong Team work, conceptual, and analytical skills
• Strong communication skills. The role often involves bringing together conflicting stakeholders interests (e.g. technical vs programmatic)
• Fluency in spoken and written English. German skills are very helpful and are requested over the medium-term

We offer

• Work Life Balance: Flexible working hours, sabbatical, 30 days vacation & special leave days
• Mobile Work: Hybrid work & mobile work abroad
• Structured onboarding process (incl. Assignment of a buddy in the first months)
• Development: Extensive range of training courses, individual professional development, German language courses & annual employee dialogue
• Space projects
• Additional benefits: 13th monthly salary, accident insurance & company pension plan
• Catering: High standard company restaurant & generous meals subsidy
• Active health promotion: Health management, E-GYM Wellpass & In-company sports groups
• Family: Kindergarten subsidy / Kindergarten places, Childcare in the vacation period & paid child sickness days
• Mobility: Subsidized Deutschland ticket, Job bike & parking lots
• Company parties & events: Christmas party, Satellite launch events, NextGen Speakers Night
• Innovation: Company suggestion system & free research and development

A complete overview of our benefits and more details can be found here on our website.

Become part of our international team and take your professional and personal development to a new level. Don't fulfil all the requirements? No problem - we are happy to receive applications with partial matches! We are looking forward to your application in German or English via our online tool.

OHB System AG
Human Resources

Questions regarding this posting? Alfrida Paja is available under