Source: Sentinel-2, Copernicus Program, ESA

>

Welcome!

I’m Flora Gabriagues

Optical Payload Performance & Image Quality Consultant

About Me

I am a freelance Optical Payload and Image Quality Engineer specializing in Earth Observation missions. I provide remote support to engineering teams across system specification, performance budgets, interface definition, and in-orbit operations. I typically intervene, on short or long term missions, to de-risk designs and support technical decisions at both system and payload level.

Earth Observation Optical Systems Imaging Performance & Budgets In-Orbit Performance Image Processing Python

Your needs

01

Optical Payload Teams

You are designing or evolving an optical payload. I support you on system specification, optical performance budgets, interfaces with platform and ground segment, and design trade-offs to de-risk critical phases of the program.

Optical payloadsPerformance budgetsInterfacesEO systems
02

Satellite Platform & Operations Teams

You are responsible for platform design or satellite operations. I help ensure payload–platform coherence, manage interfaces, assess in-orbit performance, and support payload anomaly analysis in operation.

Payload–platform interfacesAOCS effect on imagesIn-orbit imaging operations
03

Satellite Images Users

You use Earth Observation imagery and need to understand its real performance, limits, and uncertainties. I help translate payload design and in-orbit behavior into actionable insights for image quality and use cases.

Image qualityRadiometryGeometric performanceEO data understanding

Experience

Optical Payload Performance & Image Quality Freelance

Independent · Freelance

Jan 2026 – Present · Remote
  • Image quality performance analysis for Earth Observation optical payloads (SNR, MTF, spatial resolution, geolocation errors, LOS contributors).
  • Support to system and payload trade-off studies (optical architectures, detectors, STOP constraints, performance margins).
  • Technical support to calibration & validation activities and in-orbit performance assessment.
  • Contribution to system requirements definition and support to calls for tender and proposal phases.
  • Targeted technical interventions on specific mission phases, short or long term, to de-risk design and operational decisions.

Optical Payload & Image Quality Engineer

PROMÉTHÉE Earth Intelligence

Jan 2024 – Aug 2025 · Toulouse, France
  • Optical payload system requirements definition and technical follow-up of subcontractors.
  • In-flight image quality analysis and development of image processing and performance assessment tools.
  • Calibration & Validation planning, tasking, and subcontractor technical coordination.
  • Technical support to Copernicus Contributing Mission (CCM) activities.
  • Supervision of internships on image processing topics (PRNU/DSNU detection, cloud detection, image deblurring).

EO Optical Payload Thermal Engineer

Airbus Defence and Space

Sept 2021 – Dec 2023 · Toulouse, France
  • Thermal modelling, design trade-offs, and performance analysis for high-resolution EO optical payloads: Pleiade NEO HR, CO3D, Aeolus Follow-On.
  • Multiphysics (structural, thermal, optical) telescope design and performance optimization.
  • Development of improved thermal regulation linearization methods for optical systems.
  • Thermal vacuum test prediction, preparation, and supervision.
  • Supervision of internships and creation of an internal training program on thermal–optical coupling.

Education

Master 2 – Satellite Payload Design & Space Systems Engineering (OSAE)

Observatoire de Paris | PSL

2020 – 2021
  • Advanced curriculum in systems engineering and physics applied to scientific satellite payloads.
  • Core topics: optical detection, optics, signal processing, space environment, EMC, cryogenics.
  • Specialization in numerical methods and machine learning for space data processing.

Engineering Degree – Aeronautics & Space Engineering

EPF Engineering School

2015 – 2020
  • Generalist engineering education in physics applied to aeronautics and space systems.
  • Key subjects: heat transfer, structural mechanics, fluid dynamics, electronics, electromagnetics, computer science.
  • Academic project: pre-design of a nanosatellite launcher for constellation deployment (CNES student project).
  • Design, prototyping, and flight testing of an unmanned aerial vehicle.