Associate Manager, Opto-Mechanical Engineer

The Optical Talent Center

The Optical Talent Center within Lockheed Martin Space is seeking an Associate Manager, Opto-mechanical Engineer to lead a team of 5 to 10 engineers in the design and development of cutting-edge optical payloads.

What You’ll Do

• Lead & Mentor: Direct a team of Opto-Mechanical engineers, fostering collaboration across mechanical, optical, electrical, and systems domains.
• Design Innovation: Own the mechanical architecture for a broad portfolio of passive, active, and directed-energy optical payloads, addressing unique structural, thermal, and vibration challenges.
• Analysis & Validation: Perform high-precision mechanical analyses and validate designs through modeling, prototyping, and testing.
• Cross-Functional Integration: Work closely with optical engineers, payload managers, and program stakeholders to translate system requirements into robust mechanical solutions.

What You Bring

• Technical Expertise: Proven track record in opto-mechanical design for high-performance optical systems (telescopes, laser weapons, imaging sensors).
• Quantitative Rigor: Strong analytical skills with proficiency in GD&T, tolerance analysis, and precision-assembly techniques.
• Leadership Ability: Experience leading engineering teams, driving consensus, and mentoring junior staff.
• Effective Communicator: Exceptional written and oral communication skills; comfortable preparing and delivering clear technical briefings, design reviews, and status reports to technical and non-technical audiences, ranging from senior leadership to external partners.
• Problem-Solver Mindset: Ability to tackle "form-fits-function" challenges in precision payload subsystems under demanding performance and schedule constraints.

Why Join Us?

• Work on high-impact space programs that push the boundaries of optical technology.
• Collaborative environment that values innovation, diversity of thought, and continuous learning.

Desired Skills

• 10+ years of demonstrated technical expertise (8+ years with a Master’s degree, or above)
• 2+ years demonstrated hands-on expertise in space OR complex hardware/software systems
• Excellent communications skills both verbal and written with the proven ability to communicate
• Team leadership experience
• Functional experience with multidisciplinary engineering teams
• Design and fabrication of highly engineered (high TRL) systems
• Strong mentoring skills and experience
• Demonstrated ability to drive closure and resolve complex technical issues/challenges
• Variety of customer experience and exposure across business areas (military, intelligence, science and weather instrumentation, etc.)

Other Important Information

• By applying to this job, you are expressing interest in this position and could be considered for other career opportunities where similar skills and requirements have been identified as a match.
• Should this match be identified you may be contacted for this and future openings.
• Able to work remotely
• Full-time: The work associated with this position will be performed onsite at a designated Lockheed Martin facility.