Senior Opto-Mechanical Engineer (Aerospace)

Location: San Francisco, United States; onsite spacecraft hardware development

Salary: $145,000–$225,000 USD base pay per year, plus equity and benefits

Company

hirify.global designs, builds, and operates advanced high-orbit satellites and secure satellite communications networks for enterprises, governments, and the U.S. military.

What you will do

• Own the lifecycle of opto-mechanical spacecraft systems from concept and detailed design through engineering drawings, vendor selection, prototyping, validation, and production.
• Design and integrate free-space optical assemblies, miniature optics, optical mounts, and precision alignment mechanisms.
• Perform tolerance analyses and stack-ups for optical and mechanical assemblies.
• Integrate mechanical, optical, and electrical components into complex optoelectronic systems.
• Lead mechanical and opto-mechanical design reviews while collaborating with optical, electrical, manufacturing, supplier, and cross-functional engineering teams.
• Assist with recruiting, interviewing, and hiring, and mentor junior opto-mechanical engineers.

Requirements

• B.S. or M.S. in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or an equivalent discipline.
• 5+ years of opto-mechanical design experience combining precision mechanical design with optical system integration.
• Experience designing, developing, and validating mechanical assemblies from prototype through manufacturing.
• Experience designing mounts, interfaces, and assemblies for lenses, mirrors, lasers or light sources, detectors, fibers, or similar optical components.
• Experience with precision optical alignment, including active and/or passive alignment; micron or sub-micron alignment experience is highly desirable.
• Experience with free-space optics and miniature optical assemblies, suppliers and/or contract manufacturers.
• Understanding of how mechanical tolerances, thermal effects, vibration, and assembly variation affect optical performance and alignment.
• Hands-on hardware development, testing, problem-solving, and work in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience mentoring and supporting junior engineers; applicants may apply even if they do not meet every criterion.

Nice to have

• Experience running a development program while delegating to a small team.
• Experience synthesizing requirements and flowing them down to sub-scale verification builds and testing.
• Knowledge of geometric optics and semiconductor packaging or assembly.
• Experience designing prototype or production equipment for optoelectronic manufacturing.
• Experience managing a team of engineers.

Culture & Benefits

• Equity and a comprehensive compensation package.
• Company-subsidized healthcare, disability and life insurance, and 401(k) retirement planning.
• Flexible paid time off and free onsite catered meals.
• U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residency, or refugee/asylee status is required to comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations.
• Inclusive workplace welcoming diverse backgrounds and perspectives.