Senior Mechanisms Engineer, Optical

Responsibilities

• Responsible for delivering the...
  • architectural down-selection, design, and tolerancing;
  • mechanism-specific analyses (structural, controls, thermal, etc.);
  • environmental test and qualification plans;
  • supply chain and high-volume manufacturing plans; and
  • ground- and in-flight performance validation plans

• for a range of mechanisms supporting space-borne optical payloads.
• Collaborate with the optical and satellite bus teams to gather and determine the optimal operations and set of requirements for your mechanisms
• Prepare design reviews for your mechanisms to get stakeholder buy-in and communicate expectations to the other hardware, software, test, and manufacturing teams
• Continually own and refine program deliverables and associated schedules throughout development and production
• Responsible for the evaluation and selection of manufacturing equipment for specialty processes
• Partner with production to develop work instructions, in-process checkouts, and end-of-line tests that ensure successful builds

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, or other relevant engineering discipline
• 5+ years of hands-on laboratory or work experience in optics, laser technology, controller development, electromechanical mechanisms, or electrical/mechanical design or testing
• Deep Experience with CAD and FEA software packages (examples/ NX, Simcenter, FEMAP, and/or Hypermesh)
• Minimum 2 years of experience with working with computer programing language (examples/ Python, Rust, C++, and/or MATLAB)

Nice to Have

• Experience designing and manufacturing flexure-guided mechanisms that provide deterministic constraint, low-friction motion, high repeatability, and controlled stiffness across translational and rotational degrees of freedom.
• Experience designing voice-coil or piezo driven mechanisms and methods for elegantly integrating positional feedback.
• Experience with electronic enclosure packaging of printed circuit boards for space applications.
• Direct experience developing fine-pointing and line-of-sight stabilization solutions for payloads such as optical communication, EO/IR sensors, antennas, or telescopes
• Perform detailed mechanical analysis (FEA, tolerance stack-up, kinematic modeling, vibration/shock analysis) to ensure performance under extreme environments (thermal vacuum, high-g during launch, vibration and jitter)
• Experience collaborating with electrical, controls, and optical engineers to close multi-disciplinary performance loops (pointing accuracy, jitter, settling time, bandwidth)
• Create and maintain detailed CAD models, drawings, and BOMS (NX preferred)
• Experience leading prototyping, assembly, integration and test activities, including environmental qualification testing
• Deep knowledge and experience implementing control loops for mechanism angle utilizing both feed forward and closed loop sensors (PID, adaptive, model predictive MPC)
• Deep knowledge of high-resolution encoders, resolvers, gyros/IMUS/SIRU for space applications
• Experience with NASA-STD-5017, SMC-S-016, and GSFC-STD-7000 for the design and qualification of in-space Moving Mechanism Assemblies

Compensation and Benefits

• Base salary range for this role is $140,000 - $175,000 + equity in the company
• Salary and level will be based on several factors including, but not limited to: knowledge and skills, education, and experience level
• Comprehensive benefits package including paid time off, medical/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, paid parental leave, and many other perks