Principal Opto-Mechanical Design Engineer

Responsibilities

• Conceive and develop optical, mechanical, and opto-mechanical system and subsystem layouts.
• Create highly complex designs, collaborate with cross-functional partners to ensure optimal system performance, and deliver fast, efficient opto-mechanical concepts using 3D solid-modeling tools aligned with customer requirements.
• Provide support to Engineering, Program Management, and Operations through the design and development of models used for analysis, prototyping, production, and mechanical manufacturing activities as assigned.
• Design intricate opto-mechanical components and assemblies (such as telescopes and sensors) for airborne and space platforms.
• Lead product design initiatives and process development efforts, ensuring all specifications and technical requirements are met.
• Support program management by offering technical guidance and recommendations.
• Resolve fabrication issues, conduct root-cause evaluations, and produce clear technical documentation.
• Cook up design engineering tasks and contribute to conceptual and R&D initiatives for emerging technologies.
• Produce drawings, procedures, work instructions, and Bills of Materials in accordance with document and configuration control standards.
• Assist Business Development by supporting proposals, customer presentations, and quotes for prospective programs.
• Create tooling design support for new and ongoing efforts and create assembly/testing procedures.
• Improve existing designs and processes to identify and implement enhancements.
• Ensure designs align with program financial objectives, including providing estimates and status updates to program managers.
• Determine the manufacturability of design concepts and participate in troubleshooting and testing activities for assigned programs.

Requirements

• Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree with 9+ years of experience. Strong grasp of optical and mechanical design principles, with the ability to apply engineering theories effectively. Significant experience with CAD software; SolidWorks is preferred.
• Preferred Qualifications: Master’s degree with 7+ years; or Ph.D. with 4+ years in mechanical engineering or a related field. Proven ability to deliver results both independently and in team settings, along with strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills. Robust mechanical design skills with CAD tools (SolidWorks preferred) and familiarity with FEA software (Simcenter or FEMAP preferred).
• Expertise in designing optical systems for advanced light sources, including detailed tolerance analysis, manufacturability, and cost considerations. Experience applying design-for-assembly and integration practices to complex opto-mechanical devices, including tolerance stack-up analysis. Knowledge of metal machining and optical fabrication processes (grinding, polishing, coating, testing).
• Understanding of thermal, mechanical, vibration, and shock influences on optical systems. Technical experience with optical alignment tools, metrology, and assembly procedures. Familiarity with materials used in refractive systems across IR, SWIR, NIR, Visible, and UV spectra, as well as mechanical substrates and coatings. Experience working with vendors/suppliers for optics, mechanical parts, tooling, and coatings.
• Skilled in troubleshooting and supporting alignment, testing, and analysis activities for opto-mechanical systems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 9+ years of experience in mechanical engineering or a related field.
• Master’s degree with 7+ years or Ph.D. with 4+ years in mechanical engineering or a related field.
• Strong grasp of optical and mechanical design principles, with the ability to apply engineering theories effectively.
• Significant experience with CAD software; SolidWorks is preferred.
• Robust mechanical design skills with CAD tools (SolidWorks preferred) and familiarity with FEA software (Simcenter or FEMAP preferred).
• Expertise in designing optical systems for advanced light sources, including detailed tolerance analysis, manufacturability, and cost considerations.
• Experience applying design-for-assembly and integration practices to complex opto-mechanical devices, including tolerance stack-up analysis.
• Knowledge of metal machining and optical fabrication processes (grinding, polishing, coating, testing).
• Understanding of thermal, mechanical, vibration, and shock influences on optical systems.
• Technical experience with optical alignment tools, metrology, and assembly procedures.
• Familiarity with materials used in refractive systems across IR, SWIR, NIR, Visible, and UV spectra, as well as mechanical substrates and coatings.
• Experience working with vendors/suppliers for optics, mechanical parts, tooling, and coatings.
• Skilled in troubleshooting and supporting alignment, testing, and analysis activities for opto-mechanical systems.

Skills

• Optical and mechanical design principles.
• Use of CAD software (SolidWorks preferred).
• FEA software (Simcenter or FEMAP preferred).
• Design-for-assembly and integration practices.
• Thermal, mechanical, vibration, and shock influences on optical systems.
• Materials used in refractive systems across IR, SWIR, NIR, Visible, and UV spectra, as well as mechanical substrates and coatings.
• Optical alignment tools, metrology, and assembly procedures.
• Tooling design support.
• Improvement of existing designs and processes.
• Manufacturability of design concepts.
• Export control compliance.

Benefits

This role involves access to technology, materials, software, or hardware subject to U.S. export control laws. Therefore, to be considered, candidates must be classified as a “U.S. Person” under applicable regulations or be eligible for authorization under a U.S. government export license.

Pay

The salary range for this position is: $105,225 – $186,300 per year. This range is intended as a general guideline. Actual offers are determined based on multiple factors, including (but not limited to) job responsibilities, your experience, education and training, specialized skills, and current market and business conditions.