Sander Zandbergen
Senior Staff Optical and Payload System Engineer @Schmidt Sciences
Signup · Get unlimited contacts
WORK HISTORY
Senior Staff Optical and Payload System Engineer @Schmidt Sciences
TX, US
Technical lead for payload optical performance on the Lazuli Space Observatory, a 3-meter space telescope developed under the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Observatory System. Serve as the primary bridge between the science team, engineering team, and various suppliers- Own payload-level requirements and specifications, ensuring traceability to science objectives and feasibility across all payload elements/subsystems - Establish and maintain end-to-end performance budgets including throughput, image quality, stray light, and contamination control - Lead technical reviews and serve as Contract Technical Manager - Drive system trade studies, using tools such as Zemax (with Python API), FRED, and custom simulation code - Coordinate cross-functional review teams, manage action item tracking, and facilitate science-engineering technical exchanges - Initiated and established a mission-critical stray light analysis partnership
EDUCATION
Case Western Reserve University
Bachelor’s Degree, Physics
University of Arizona
Master’s Degree, Optical Sciences
University of Arizona
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Optical Sciences
SKILLS
ABOUT SANDER ZANDBERGEN
I\'m an experienced optical engineer and payload systems engineer working on the Lazuli Space Observatory, a 3-meter astronomical space telescope being developed as part of the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Observatory System. In this role, I lead payload optical performance across the full instrument suite — bridging science requirements and engineering execution, coordinating international suppliers, and ensuring the observatory delivers on its scientific promise.My background is in optical engineering, with a Ph.D. in Optical Sciences, a foundation in physics, and graduate work in quantum and semiconductor optics. I bring a research-driven but execution-focused mindset to the design, analysis, and delivery of complex space optical systems.Before joining Schmidt Sciences, I spent 8+ years at NASA JPL, where I led the Optics subsystem for Carbon Plume Mapper — a cutting-edge imaging spectrometer designed to detect and quantify greenhouse gas emissions. That design is now on orbit as Tanager-1, contributing to real-world emissions mitigation on a global scale. I also contributed to the EMIT and MISE flight instruments, performed stray light analyses in FRED for HyspIRI (which influenced the EMIT spectrometer design now operating on the ISS), and delivered flight hardware for both EMIT and MISE — the latter currently en route to Jupiter\'s moon Europa.Beyond hardware, I enjoy building robust optical analyses to drive decisions and ensure performance. I\'ve developed custom Python tools to support tolerancing, error budgeting, and performance simulation across flight systems. I also provided key input to commercial software vendors — several of my suggestions have been adopted in upcoming releases.Earth observation remains a thread I care deeply about — from detecting methane plumes with CPM to the broader potential of space-based systems to address global challenges. It\'s a lens I carry into everything I work on.When I\'m not working, I enjoy spending time and traveling with my wife, underwater photography while scuba diving around the world, reading, hiking with a cat backpack, and watching scary movies.
This profile is compiled from publicly available professional sources. Unifers is not affiliated with or endorsed by LinkedIn. Request removal of this profile.