Optomechanical Engineer (Laser Communications)

Location: Culver City, California, United States; onsite. Relocation assistance to Los Angeles is available.

Company

hirify.global is building a high-throughput point-to-point data transport network in space using free-space laser links in Medium Earth Orbit.

What you will do

• Design optomechanical assemblies for laser communications terminals from concept through first light.
• Develop mounts, flexures, and kinematic schemes that preserve sub-micron alignment under mechanical and thermal loads.
• Build line-of-sight error budgets covering structural dynamics, tolerance stack-up, jitter analysis, and pointing calibration.
• Analyze mechanical and thermal stability of optical trains and support structural-thermal-optical analysis.
• Partner with Optical Design on tolerance and alignment-budget trades.
• Execute alignment verification, metrology, environmental testing, and qualification for vibration, shock, and thermal-vacuum conditions.

Requirements

• Degree in mechanical engineering, optical engineering, physics, or a related discipline.
• Optomechanical design experience with mounts, flexures, or kinematic systems.
• Hands-on alignment and integration experience with precision optical assemblies.
• Proficiency in 3D CAD, such as NX, SolidWorks, Creo, or an equivalent tool.
• Ability to make sound engineering decisions with incomplete data and work hands-on in a laboratory environment.
• Onsite work in Culver City, California is required.

Nice to have

• Space or airborne optomechanical hardware experience, including launch-load and on-orbit stability design.
• Laser communications terminal experience and fiber-coupling optomechanics.
• Structural FEA and structural-thermal-optical reasoning.
• Athermalization, CTE matching, low-expansion materials, and bonded versus mechanical mounting experience.
• Precision alignment metrology, environmental qualification, and optical contamination-control experience.

Culture & Benefits

• Lean working environment with direct ownership of models, engineering decisions, and hardware.
• Meaningful hands-on laboratory work and a dedicated equipment and lab budget.
• Full-time employees receive company stock options.
• Medical, vision, and dental insurance with significant company contribution for employees and dependents.
• Paid parental leave, three weeks of accrued vacation, and ten company holidays per year.