Senior Optomechanical Engineer (Aerospace)

TL;DR

Senior Optomechanical Engineer (Aerospace): Designing and building precision optomechanical structures for high-power satellites with an accent on lens and mirror mounting, structural stability, and thermal management. Focus on maintaining optical alignment through launch and on-orbit operations while driving hardware development from concept to flight qualification.

Location: Los Angeles, CA. Must be a U.S. Person as defined by ITAR.

Salary: $120,000 - $210,000 + equity

Company

hirify.global is a Series C startup mass-producing the highest-power satellite platforms ever built for missions ranging from LEO to deep space.

What you will do

• Design optomechanical assemblies including optical benches, mirror mounts, and lens cells from conceptual design through qualification.
• Implement mounting schemes (kinematic/semi-kinematic mounts, flexures, bonded interfaces) to constrain optics without over-constraining.
• Manage optical alignment and stability budgets, focusing on jitter, dynamic stability, and thermal effects (CTE matching, athermalization).
• Lead design reviews and drive hardware development, including hands-on assembly and alignment.
• Perform development testing such as vibration, thermal-vac, and modal analysis to correlate with designs.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with optical, thermal, GNC, and manufacturing teams to establish product requirements.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, optical, or other relevant engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in mechanical or optomechanical design and analysis with a mechanics-heavy background.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD software for detailed part and assembly design.
• Hands-on experience mounting optics (lenses and mirrors) and designing their support structures.
• Must be a U.S. Person (citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual) per ITAR regulations.

Nice to have

• Proficiency with Siemens NX CAD.
• Familiarity with STOP (Structural-Thermal-Optical Performance) analysis.
• Experience with FEA for structural, modal, and thermal-elastic analysis.
• Practical application of GD&T for precision optical interfaces.
• Experience designing and testing precision optomechanical hardware for satellite payloads or telescopes.

Culture & Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Paid time off and paid parental leave.
• Equity ownership in a high-growth aerospace startup.
• Opportunity to work in a fast-paced environment contributing to groundbreaking space infrastructure.