Staff Optomechanical Design Engineer (FSO)

Location: Austin, Texas, United States; full-time onsite position

Salary: $180K–$200K annually, plus equity.

Company

hirify.global is an early-stage AI hardware company developing silicon photonics and programmable metasurface technology for energy-efficient, high-performance AI inference.

What you will do

• Design the mechanical hardware for free-space optical paths, including collimators, relay and imaging optics, polarization optics, and precision sub-assemblies.
• Translate optical prescriptions into stable mechanical architectures using datums, kinematic and flexure mounts, bonded optics, and monolithic assemblies.
• Lead RSS and Monte Carlo tolerance analysis and support thermal, structural FEA, and STOP analysis to predict alignment drift.
• Design fixtures, reference artifacts, mounts, and station hardware for optical metrology and active-alignment systems.
• Integrate multi-axis alignment stations using hexapods, nanopositioners, and machine vision; build prototypes hands-on and support station bring-up.
• Drive DFM and DFA, documentation, vendor qualification, and transfer of alignment and assembly processes to technicians, partners, and contract manufacturers.

Requirements

• M.S. or PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Physics, or a related field, or a B.S. with equivalent industry experience.
• 8+ years of hands-on optomechanical design experience for precision free-space optical systems, including at least one system taken from concept through qualification and production.
• Demonstrated design of mounts and sub-assemblies maintaining sub-micron and microradian alignment, including kinematic mounts, flexures, and bonded optics.
• Hands-on experience supporting active alignment and optical metrology, including designing metrology fixtures.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD, specifically SolidWorks or Creo, and GD&T; working knowledge of FEA for thermal and structural analysis.
• Ability to read optical prescriptions and strong knowledge of materials, adhesives, and thermal behavior for optomechanical stability.
• Ability to explain tolerance trade-offs and risk to optical, photonics, manufacturing, and executive audiences.
• Comfort using AI tools in day-to-day engineering work.

Nice to have

• Experience with automated alignment stations using hexapods, piezo nanopositioners, and machine vision, plus scripting alignment or measurement routines in Python or LabVIEW.
• Experience transferring alignment and assembly processes to contract manufacturers, writing work instructions and acceptance criteria, and supporting yield ramp.
• Experience in a startup or early-stage hardware team building both the laboratory and the product.

Culture & Benefits

• Hands-on collaboration with optical design, photonics, packaging, electrical, manufacturing, and assembly teams.
• 100% coverage of base health plan premiums for employees and dependents, plus HSA contributions.
• Unlimited PTO and a full suite of voluntary dental, vision, life, hospital, critical illness, and accident insurance.
• 401(k) matching, stock option opportunities, and personalized benefits plan options.