Aquila is building the future of energy, and it's made of light.
Apply here: https://aquilaspace.notion.site/318f5d0515ca80418ad2e2f63b0d6e3a
We're a fast-growing deep tech company based in Sydney on a mission to democratise energy accessibility. How? By building the world's first wireless energy network powered by light. Think of the internet, but instead of data, we're transmitting power. Our first frontier: laser beams that keep drones flying indefinitely and factory robots charging without ever stopping.
We're backed by world-class investors who believe in what we're building, with over $7 million (AUD) in funding from Blackbird, Possible, Icehouse, Startmate and the Australian Government. 2026 is shaping up to be our biggest year yet as we commercialise our technology and raise our Series A. If you're reading this, your timing is impeccable.
We're a team of builders, engineers and dreamers solving problems no one has solved before.
The role
As a Senior Optical Design Engineer at Aquila, you will be at the heart of designing the optical systems that make wireless power beaming a reality. This is a hands‐on design role - you'll be doing real optical engineering work, not just oversight - translating physical requirements into optimised optical architectures for our free‐space power beaming products, including Lightway Sentry, a drone capable of continuous flight to support aerial awareness, search and rescue, and defence applications.
You'll bring deep expertise in optical design, from bulk optics layouts and lens design through to beam shaping and free‐space propagation. Experience with adaptive optics or telescope‐class systems is highly valued, given the atmospheric challenges inherent to long‐range power beaming.
You will
* Own the end-to-end optical design of bulk optics systems for high‐power, free‐space laser transmission
* Design and optimise optical assemblies including lenses, mirrors, beam shaping optics, and relay systems using industry‐standard simulation tools
* Develop and iterate on optical architectures to meet system‐level requirements for beam quality, efficiency, pointing, and environmental robustness
* Apply knowledge of atmospheric effects and adaptive/active optical techniques to improve long‐range beam delivery performance
* Work closely with mechanical and electrical engineers to integrate optical assemblies into field‐deployable hardware
* Produce thorough optical design documentation including design models, tolerancing analyses, and component specifications
* Support transition of optical designs from prototype to manufacturable, field‐ready product
* Stay current with advances in laser and optical technologies and contribute innovative ideas to improve system performance
* Roll up your sleeves and help with whatever is required in a dynamic startup environment
You will bring
* 5+ years background in Optical Engineering, Photonics, Applied Physics, or a related discipline in a commercial setting
* Demonstrated hands‐on experience designing bulk and/or free‐space optical systems, whether in an industrial or academic research setting
* Proficiency with optical design and simulation software (e.g. Zemax/OpticStudio, Code V, or similar)
* Strong grasp of geometrical and physical optics fundamentals: ray tracing, wavefront aberrations, Gaussian beam propagation, diffraction
* Experience designing and specifying optical components: lenses, mirrors, beam expanders, waveplates, filters
* Ability to work in a scrappy, fast‐paced environment and iterate quickly from design to prototype
* You'll have a Master's or PhD in Optical Engineering, Physics or Photonics
* Experience with adaptive optics systems (e.g. deformable mirrors, wavefront sensors) — particularly in the context of atmospheric correction or telescope systems is a huge plus
* Experience with high‐power laser systems and the thermal and damage considerations that come with them
* Familiarity with optical tolerancing and its implications for manufacturing and assembly
* Knowledge of atmospheric propagation effects on laser beams (scintillation, turbulence, absorption)
* Experience integrating optical systems into larger electromechanical platforms
Benefits
* Everyone is an owner. In addition to excellent base compensation, every 'eagle' owns equity in the company, so we all benefit from our hard work and future success.
* Generous paid parental leave. We offer eight weeks of parental leave above the government‐allocated amount.
* Relocation budget & support. Support for interstate or overseas team members and their families (including pets!)
* Flexible working hours and location. While we often enjoy shooting lasers around in our fully decked‐out laser facilities, if there are days when we can work from anywhere, then we feel free to work from anywhere!
* Generous Personal Leave. At Aquila, we recognise that sometimes you need time off to recuperate, look after your mental health, or deal with an emergency. We provide unlimited (within reason) personal leave to empower you to bring your best self to work every day, and you are always paid for days taken off as personal leave.
* We care about our people: At Aquila, we don't focus on what our people can do for us; we focus on what we can do for our people. As part of our commitment to our people, we provide an annual $1k budget for side projects, health, gizmos and gadgets you want to develop, skills you want to learn, and ways you want to grow outside work.
* Company‐wide social events: offsite hiking and/or skiing through beautiful Australian landscapes, annual end‐of‐year celebrations, and much more!
* Great, decked‐out office! An inclusive community and culture in a welcoming office with lasers, cutting‐edge hardware, snacks, and actual tech you can go tinker with (within the bounds of safety).
Aquila welcomes applicants from all backgrounds and has around 40% female representation on our team (which for deep tech is better than most!). Join our team and help us build an infinitely scalable energy network that powers a more abundant, limitless, and sustainable future.
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