Quality Control Engineer - Optics

Digantara is a leading Space Surveillance and Intelligence​ company focused on ensuring orbital safety and sustainability. With expertise in space-based detection, tracking, identification, and monitoring, Digantara provides comprehensive domain awareness across regimes, allowing end users to have actionable intelligence on a single platform. At the core of its infrastructure lies a sophisticated integration of hardware and software capabilities aligned with the key principles of situational awareness: perception (data collection), comprehension (data processing), and prediction (analytics). This holistic approach empowers Digantara to monitor all Resident Space Objects (RSOs) in orbit, fostering comprehensive domain awareness. 

Digantara is seeking a Quality Control Engineer - Optics with specializing in the Quality assurance of fabrication of Lenses, Mirrors and Testing of Telescopes. You will leverage your expertise to enable state-of-the-art embedded hardware development with applications such as tracking objects from both space and the ground. The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience with a variety of manufacturing processes, a deep understanding of Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T), and a proven track record in maintaining and enforcing industrial standards. This position involves regular interaction with external manufacturing vendors, developing and implementing quality standards, and ensuring strict compliance throughout the supply chain. 

• Be part of a collaborative and innovative environment where your ideas and skills make a real difference to the entire space realm. 

• Competitive incentives, galvanizing workspace, blazing team, frequent outings—pretty much everything you have heard about a startup + you get to work on space technology. 

• Hustle in a well-funded startup allowing you to take charge of your responsibilities and create your moonshot. 

• Hands-on QA/QC experience in precision optical manufacturing, inspection of optical/opto-mechanical components, and testing of electro-optical payloads, with strong coordination with manufacturing vendors. 

• Strong expertise in optical inspection, GD&T, engineering drawings, interferometric and MTF testing, optical metrology instruments, and understanding of optical fabrication, coating, alignment, integration, and assembly processes. 

• Hand on experience with Zygo Interferometer, Collimator, Opticentric, Spectrophotometer etc. 

   

• Develop, implement, and continuously improve QC/QA processes for optical, opto-mechanical, and payload components used in space-based and ground-based systems. 

• Conduct detailed inspections, audits, and optical performance testing to verify compliance with optical drawings, GD&T, surface quality, alignment, and technical specifications. 

• Establish, document, and communicate optical manufacturing and inspection standards, ensuring vendors strictly follow quality and process requirements. 

• Maintain comprehensive records of quality assurance activities, inspection reports, test results, non-conformities, and vendor performance. 

• Regularly coordinate with outsourced optical manufacturing and coating vendors to monitor progress, resolve quality issues, and ensure timely delivery along with the supply chain team. 

• Support testing and validation activities, including interferometric testing, MTF evaluation, alignment verification, and environmental qualification of Telescopes 

• Train internal teams and external vendors on optical quality requirements, inspection methods, and best manufacturing practices. 

• Diploma / Bachelor’s degree in Optics, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Electronics, or any related field. 

• Education in any field with proven proficiency in QA/QC 

• Minimum 4 years of hands-on experience in QC/QA  

• Familiarity with Optics Manufacturing and Testing process 

• Strong analytical, documentation and communication skills 

• Familiarity with Quality management systems, Statistical process control, Failure mode and effect analysis 

• Understanding of optical components: Lenses, Filters, Mirrors, Apertures. 

• Ability to read optical and mechanical drawings. 

• Familiarity with metrology tools: Interferometer, Collimator, Profilometer. 

• Ability to conduct root cause analysis and implement corrective and preventive actions. 

• Ability to work in a mission-focused, operational environment 

• Ability to think critically and make independent decisions 

• Interpersonal skills to enable working in a diverse and dynamic team 

• Maintain a regular and predictable work schedule 

• Writing and delivering technical documents and briefings 

• Verbal and written communication skills, as well as organizational skills 

• Travel occasionally as necessary