CourseAerospace, UAM, Drones & Space Applications open

Optical payloads course

Online course of 300 hours in optical payloads, structured in 6 modules covering space optics fundamentals, detectors and proximity electronics, optomechanical design, calibration and image quality, performance and applications, and a final project, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration3 months
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute certificate

Optical payloads course — studying from Ireland

Ireland's aerospace sector is concentrated in Shannon, Limerick and the Dublin region, with a strong base of maintenance, repair and overhaul, avionics, aerostructures and engine component manufacturing. Multinational suppliers and specialist SMEs serve global airframe and engine programmes, while the Irish Aviation Authority and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency shape certification and airworthiness requirements. Growing interest in drones, urban air mobility and space-related research is supported by university spin-outs and national research centres. Engineers here work on design assurance, systems integration, maintenance planning and compliance across the aviation value chain.

Fees for Ireland: €644 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.

Relevant bodies in Ireland

  • Irish Aviation Authority (IAA)
  • European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
  • Aerospace Industry Ireland (AII)
  • Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)

Typical roles

  • Aerospace Engineer
  • Avionics Engineer
  • Airworthiness Engineer
  • Drone Systems Engineer

Questions from Ireland

Will a SEIUM qualification be recognised by professional bodies in Ireland for aerospace work?

SEIUM's qualifications are private, not state-awarded, and are not accredited by any national body. Engineers Ireland is the main professional body for engineers in Ireland and sets its own membership criteria, so recognition is decided by them, not by SEIUM. Aviation safety oversight sits with the Irish Aviation Authority. Check directly with these bodies before relying on any credential for licensing or chartership.

Do Irish aerospace and drone employers value private online engineering qualifications?

Hiring in Ireland's aerospace and drone sector is generally driven by demonstrable skills, relevant experience and, for many roles, recognised degrees. A private qualification may support a CV, particularly alongside practical experience, but its weight is decided by each employer. We cannot promise any outcome. Speaking to prospective employers about how they view SEIUM's programmes is the most reliable way to judge.

Can I study this programme alongside a full-time job in Ireland?

The programme is 100% online and taught in English, so there is no travel and no student visa is needed to study from home. Master's programmes total 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, so plan your weekly time accordingly. You will have an assigned technical tutor, and fees can be paid in instalments. Some employers offer funding, which you should ask about directly.

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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Understand the optical fundamentals of space instruments.

02

Select detectors and acquisition configurations.

03

Design stable optomechanical systems.

04

Calculate image quality budgets.

05

Apply image calibration and correction processes.

06

Assess applications of optical observation.

07

Produce the preliminary design of an optical instrument.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Optical engineers moving into space instruments.
  • Payload engineers working on Earth observation missions.
  • Optomechanical engineers.
  • Calibration engineers.
  • Remote sensing analysts who want to understand the instrument behind the image.
  • Observation systems engineers.
  • Engineering or science graduates aiming to enter Earth observation.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • ISO 19159-1 (calibration and validation of remote sensing imagery sensors: optical sensors)
  • ISO 10110 (series) (preparation of drawings for optical elements and systems)
  • ECSS-Q-ST-70-01C (cleanliness and contamination control)
  • CEOS-ARD Surface Reflectance (analysis ready data specification for surface reflectance)
  • ISO 19115-2 (geographic information metadata for imagery and gridded data)
  • ISO 12233 (resolution and spatial frequency response measurement)
  • ECSS-E-ST-10-03C (space engineering testing)
  • Zemax OpticStudio
  • CODE V
  • ESA SNAP
  • ENVI
  • QGIS
Syllabus

6 modules

  1. 1.1Geometrical optics and aberrations
  2. 1.2Cassegrain, Korsch and TMA telescopes
  3. 1.3Focal length, aperture and f-number
  4. 1.4Spatial resolution and GSD
  5. 1.5Modulation transfer function
  6. 1.6Diffraction and resolution limit
  7. 1.7Panchromatic and multispectral bands
  8. 1.8Sentinel-2, Pléiades and Landsat missions
  9. 1.9Illumination and acquisition geometry
  10. 1.10Workshop: GSD calculation for a telescope
  1. 2.1CCD and CMOS sensors
  2. 2.2Pushbroom and TDI configuration
  3. 2.3Infrared detectors
  4. 2.4Noise and signal-to-noise ratio
  5. 2.5Dynamic range and quantisation
  6. 2.6Readout electronics
  7. 2.7On-board image compression
  8. 2.8Detector cooling
  9. 2.9Focal plane design
  10. 2.10Practical exercise: SNR calculation for a multispectral channel
  1. 3.1Materials: SiC, Zerodur and ULE
  2. 3.2Thermal stability and alignment
  3. 3.3Mirror mounts
  4. 3.4Baffles and stray light
  5. 3.5Focusing mechanisms
  6. 3.6Contamination of optical surfaces
  7. 3.7Launch vibrations
  8. 3.8Microvibrations and jitter
  9. 3.9Optical tests in thermal vacuum
  10. 3.10Lab: design of a telescope in Zemax OpticStudio
  1. 4.1Pre-launch calibration
  2. 4.2Solar and lunar in-flight calibration
  3. 4.3Vicarious calibration sites
  4. 4.4Radiometric correction
  5. 4.5Geometric correction and orthorectification
  6. 4.6Band-to-band registration
  7. 4.7Atmospheric correction
  8. 4.8Level 1C and 2A products
  9. 4.9Validation with in situ data
  10. 4.10Case study: atmospheric correction of a Sentinel-2 scene
  1. 5.1MTF and SNR budgets
  2. 5.2Platform agility
  3. 5.3Acquisition capacity
  4. 5.4Cartography and stereoscopy
  5. 5.5Agriculture and vegetation
  6. 5.6Surveillance and security
  7. 5.7Small-satellite optical constellations
  8. 5.8Trends in very high resolution
  9. 5.9Export and distribution restrictions
  10. 5.10Case study: performance comparison between missions
  1. 6.1User requirements
  2. 6.2Band and GSD selection
  3. 6.3Optical design
  4. 6.4Detector selection
  5. 6.5MTF and SNR budget
  6. 6.6Optomechanical design
  7. 6.7Calibration plan
  8. 6.8Processing chain
  9. 6.9Report and presentation
  10. 6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so the programme can be combined with work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Zemax OpticStudio, CODE V, ESA SNAP, ENVI and QGIS, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: design of a three-mirror telescope for Earth observation, calculation of MTF and SNR budgets and atmospheric correction of multispectral images. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrating project.

Standards covered: ISO 19159-1, ISO 10110 (series), ECSS-Q-ST-70-01C, CEOS-ARD Surface Reflectance, ISO 19115-2, ISO 12233, ECSS-E-ST-10-03C.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of ISO 19159-1, ISO 10110 (series) and ECSS-Q-ST-70-01C applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:Zemax OpticStudio, CODE V, ESA SNAP, ENVI, QGIS, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:preliminary design of an optical instrument, from user requirements and band and GSD selection to optical design, detector selection, MTF and SNR budget, optomechanical design, calibration plan and processing chain, reviewed by your tutor.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

User requirements and bands
Define the user requirements and select the bands and GSD.
Optical design and detector
Design the telescope optics and select the detector.
Image quality budget
Build the MTF and SNR budget of the instrument.
Optomechanics and calibration
Develop the optomechanical design, calibration plan and processing chain.
Final project
Deliver the report and presentation of the optical payload design for review by your tutor.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Optical engineerPayload engineerOptomechanical engineerCalibration engineerRemote sensing analystObservation systems engineer
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • No prior qualification is required.
  • Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
  • English sufficient to read technical standards.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 300 hours over 3 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with Zemax OpticStudio, CODE V, ESA SNAP, ENVI, QGIS, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.

A SEIUM Institute certificate, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.

Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

No prior qualification is required; you need an internet connection, a computer able to run the programme software and English sufficient to read technical standards.

Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.

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