Photonics engineer in space domain sensor development (Espoo, Finland)

Why this role exists

Space underpins everyday services from navigation and communications to weather forecasting and national security. But Earth orbit is becoming increasingly congested. Debris drives avoidable satellite risk, forces costly maneuvers, and threatens long-term usability of key orbits.

There are over 1 million potentially hazardous debris objects larger than 1 cm, and tens of millions larger than 1 mm, yet only a fraction are routinely tracked. You can’t avoid what you can’t see.

About Aavuus

Aavuus is building a global network of ground-based sensors to detect and track orbital objects with high precision, improving space situational awareness (SSA) and enabling better collision avoidance for space operators worldwide.

We’re a small, highly technical team (currently 5–10 people). We value ownership, practical problem-solving, and respectful collaboration. You’ll have real autonomy and you’ll be able to ship real hardware.

What you’ll do

As our Photonics Engineer, you’ll design and deliver an advanced optical system combining single-photon detectors, cameras, and laser sources. You’ll work hands-on across the full lifecycle from concept to operations.

Responsibilities include:

• System-level design and performance optimizing

• Component selection and procurement

• Lab build, integration, alignment, and calibration

• Characterization and troubleshooting: quantum efficiency, dark counts/current, read noise, timing jitter, signal delays, stray light/ghosting, polarization effects, narrow-band filtering, laser stability

• Test planning and execution (including occasional night-time field tests)

• Documentation and configuration control

Depending on experience, you may also take on:

• Technical leadership and mentoring

• Project planning and supplier coordination

• Supporting grants and customer/partner technical discussions

What we are looking for:

Must-have

• MSc (or equivalent) in photonics, physics, electrical engineering, or a closely related field

• Demonstrated hands-on experience with lasers, optical design, and detectors

• Comfortable working in a fast-moving R&D environment: building, testing, iterating

• Fluent spoken and written English

• EU nationality or existing work permission in Finland

• Ability to pass security-related background checks

Nice-to-have

• PhD or published work in relevant areas

• Experience with space, remote sensing, telescopes, lidar, or SSA

• Software skills for lab automation and analysis (e.g., Python, MATLAB, C/C++)

• Leadership / team management experience

• Additional language skills, international work experience

• Driving license

Location, travel, and hours

• Location: Espoo, Finland

• Working hours: flexible hours, but meaningful on-site presence is expected for lab work.

• Travel: occasional travel for field tests and partner/supplier work

• Schedule: field tests may require limited night shifts

Compensation

• Salary: €3,000–€5,000 / month (depending on experience)

• Equity: optional equity program

• Start date: negotiable; we’ll move quickly for the right candidate

Practicalities

• APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED. HOWEVER, YOU CAN STILL SEND YOUR RESUME WHILE WE ARE INTERVIEWING CANDIDATES.

• We would like you to add at least 2 referee contacts

• We review applications on a rolling basis and will fill the role as soon as we find the right candidate.

• The process involves at minimum two interviews:

  • With the first interview we assess your cultural fit into our team (online)

  • With the second interview we assess your technical capabilities (on-site)

• If you have any questions relating to the role or the process, you can send an email to info (a) aavuus .com