Opto-Mechanical Engineer

The role

You will drive the design of payloads for Earth-imaging satellites with a focus on opto-mechanical design and manufacturing. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure payloads meet performance and survivability requirements.

What you will do

• Own the opto-mechanical manufacturing process of optical payloads
• Design the manufacturing line for mid-volume production of optical payloads
• Collaborate with structural, thermal, and optical engineering teams
• Drive part and assembly design
• Manage fabrication with key vendors
• Perform failure analysis
• Execute tolerance stackup and GD&T analyses
• Develop and maintain comprehensive design documentation
• Lead technical presentations and reviews across design review gates
• Support test planning and qualification test campaigns

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field
• 4+ years experience owning the development of opto-mechanical products from requirements through conceptual design, testing and manufacturing
• Experience designing for high-reliability space environments including launch survivability, vacuum conditions, on-orbit performance through thermal conditions (STOP)
• Experience in the design and fabrication of optical assemblies, incorporating components made from glass, carbon fiber, metals, ceramics, epoxies, as well as mechanisms and electrical elements
• Practical and direct engagement with hardware, from prototyping to production and testing phases
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Experience working in a dynamic environment while driving projects to completion
• Good verbal and visual communication skills

Nice to have

• Expertise in optics / opto-mechanical manufacturing, metrology, alignment and calibration
• Ability to build out the manufacturing line for precision optical systems
• Experience with dynamic hardware builds, vibration and shock testing, telescope assembly, and optical performance testing
• Experience applying systems engineering principles to optimize optical payload integration
• Ability to drive manufacturers and DFM/DFA
• Proficiency in SolidWorks, Zemax, Matlab, Visual Basic, Python and/or C/C++

Benefits

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision plans
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with a company contribution
• Generous Paid Time Off in addition to holidays and company-wide days off
• 16 Weeks of Paid Parental Leave
• Wellness Program and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Home Office Reimbursement
• Monthly Phone and Internet Reimbursement
• Tuition Reimbursement and access to LinkedIn Learning
• Equity
• Commuter Benefits (if local to an office)
• Volunteering Paid Time Off

Before you apply

• Employment is contingent upon the ability to access export-controlled information without additional export licensing

About the company

Planet designs, builds, and operates the largest constellation of imaging satellites in history. They are both a space company and a data company.