Senior Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technician (Optical)

TL;DR

Senior Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technician (Optical) (Optical Hardware/Spacecraft): Fabricating, assembling, aligning, and testing optical subsystems for high-power satellites with an accent on precision inspection, optical cleanliness, tooling, and hardware validation. Focus on integrating delicate free-space optics, mechanics, thermal hardware, and fiber assemblies, while solving production and test challenges in a fast-paced spacecraft manufacturing environment.

Location: Onsite in Los Angeles, California, United States. The role may require overtime and weekend work, and access to ITAR-controlled information requires U.S. person status or eligibility for a federally issued export control license.

Salary: $40–$45 per hour, equivalent to approximately $6,400–$7,200 per month, plus company equity.

Company

hirify.global is a Series C aerospace startup mass-producing high-power satellite platforms for commercial and U.S. government missions from low Earth orbit to deep space.

What you will do

• Fabricate, assemble, align, integrate, test, and maintain optical subsystems and related mechanical hardware.
• Perform precision inspection, cleaning, bonding, troubleshooting, and validation of optical components.
• Operate microscopes, adhesive dispensing systems, UV curing equipment, optical alignment tooling, and other precision tools.
• Partner with design engineering during hardware development, pre-production, and production activities.
• Own test setup, execution, data reporting, hardware records, calibration, and traceability.
• Maintain laser safety, optical cleanliness, FOD/ESD controls, 5S standards, and an efficient production workspace.

Requirements

• At least 5 years of experience assembling, integrating, and testing optical or adjacent technical hardware.
• Experience handling delicate optical components, fibers, sensors, sources, or high-resolution mechanisms.
• Experience with FOD- and ESD-sensitive hardware, cleanroom requirements, optical cleanliness, and laboratory solvents.
• Ability to work independently from verbal instructions, engineering drawings, and technical procedures with minimal supervision.
• Strong ownership, problem-solving, communication, adaptability, dexterity, and prioritization skills.
• Ability to stoop, bend, crawl, maneuver in tight spaces, and lift or carry equipment weighing up to 25 pounds.

Nice to have

• Experience with optical metrology equipment, fiber handling and polishing, lasers, laser safety, or optical wavefront alignment.
• Ability to develop or troubleshoot production code using LabVIEW, Python, MATLAB, or similar tools.
• Ability to interpret mechanical drawings, tolerances, and GD&T.
• Experience operating lathes, mills, or drill presses.
• Experience improving tooling designs, production processes, and parts in collaboration with engineering teams.

Culture & Benefits

• Fast-paced, hands-on, all-hands-on-deck spacecraft production environment.
• Hourly non-exempt employment with company equity.
• Paid time off, medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Life insurance and paid parental leave.
• Overtime and weekend work may be required based on production needs.