Senior Optomechanical Engineer

Ground A; Berlin; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

VSOP equity participation

Central Berlin office

Monthly voucher

Public transportation subsidies

Job summary

Ground A in Berlin is seeking a Senior Optomechanical Engineer to design, integrate, and qualify precision optical hardware for high-performance laser and imaging systems.

You will own optomechanical assemblies, collaborate across optical, mechanical, electrical, and software teams, and ensure performance under shock, vibration, and real-world conditions. Onsite role with security clearance eligibility.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Physics, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of professional experience developing precision optomechanical systems.
• Strong experience designing and integrating optical hardware using SolidWorks or equivalent CAD tools.
• Proven experience with precision alignment-sensitive assemblies and optical integration.
• Experience developing hardware for laser systems, imaging systems, telescopes, beam directors, or related optical platforms.
• Strong understanding of boresight stability, alignment retention, thermal effects, and vibration-sensitive systems.
• Hands-on experience assembling, aligning, testing, and troubleshooting complex optical hardware.
• Strong analytical skills and a data-driven approach to engineering decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Design, integrate, and optimize precision optomechanical assemblies from concept through production.
• Own the mechanical architecture of optical systems, ensuring boresight stability, alignment retention, and environmental robustness.
• Design and develop optical mounts, structural interfaces, alignment mechanisms, and precision assemblies for telescopes, beam directors, imaging systems, and fast steering mirror platforms.
• Develop lightweight optomechanical solutions that meet performance requirements while minimizing SWaP.
• Analyze and mitigate performance degradation caused by thermal drift, structural deformation, vibration, shock loading, and environmental effects.
• Define optical alignment, calibration, and assembly strategies for complex laser and imaging systems.
• Assemble, integrate, and characterize precision optical hardware in the laboratory.
• Collaborate with optical engineers to translate optical requirements into manufacturable and field-deployable designs.
• Work with suppliers to specify, source, and qualify custom optical components, precision machined parts, and specialized optomechanical hardware.
• Support environmental testing and qualification activities, including vibration, shock, and thermal testing.
• Partner with software and controls teams to support beam steering, tracking, and stabilization systems.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior engineers and technicians.

Skills

SolidWorks CAD

Optomechanical design

Thermal/vibration analysis

Hands-on assembly/testing

Data-driven engineering

Education

Engineering degree

Optics background

Job description

We are a defense technology startup based in Berlin, building the next generation defense layer against aerial threats. Our systems combine high-power laser technology, precision tracking, embedded control, and real-time software to operate reliably in complex operational environments.

Operating in stealth mode, we place strong emphasis on engineering rigor, first-principles physics, and uncompromising performance validation.

Role Overview

We are seeking a Senior Optomechanical Engineer to work on the design, integration, and qualification of precision optical hardware for high-performance laser and imaging systems.

This is a high-impact role focused on translating demanding optical performance requirements into robust, field-deployable hardware. You will own the development of optomechanical assemblies including beam directors, telescope systems, fast steering mirror assemblies, and fiber-coupled laser subsystems.

You will work closely with optical, mechanical, electrical, and software engineers to deliver lightweight, alignment-stable systems capable of maintaining performance under shock, vibration, and real-world operational conditions.

This position requires onsite work and eligibility for German security clearance.

Key Responsibilities

• Work on the design, integration, and optimization of precision optomechanical assemblies from concept through production.
• Own the mechanical architecture of optical systems, ensuring boresight stability, alignment retention, and environmental robustness.
• Design and develop optical mounts, structural interfaces, alignment mechanisms, and precision assemblies for telescopes, beam directors, imaging systems, and fast steering mirror platforms.
• Develop lightweight optomechanical solutions that meet performance requirements while minimizing size, weight, and power (SWaP).
• Analyze and mitigate performance degradation caused by thermal drift, structural deformation, vibration, shock loading, and environmental effects.
• Define optical alignment, calibration, and assembly strategies for complex laser and imaging systems.
• Assemble, integrate, and characterize precision optical hardware in the laboratory.
• Collaborate with optical engineers to translate optical requirements into manufacturable and field-deployable designs.
• Work with suppliers to specify, source, and qualify custom optical components, precision machined parts, and specialized optomechanical hardware.
• Support environmental testing and qualification activities, including vibration, shock, and thermal testing.
• Partner with software and controls teams to support beam steering, tracking, and stabilization systems.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior engineers and technicians.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Physics, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of professional experience developing precision optomechanical systems.
• Strong experience designing and integrating optical hardware using SolidWorks or equivalent CAD tools.
• Proven experience with precision alignment-sensitive assemblies and optical integration.
• Experience developing hardware for laser systems, imaging systems, telescopes, beam directors, or related optical platforms.
• Strong understanding of boresight stability, alignment retention, thermal effects, and vibration-sensitive systems.
• Hands-on experience assembling, aligning, testing, and troubleshooting complex optical hardware.
• Strong analytical skills and a data-driven approach to engineering decision-making.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with beam directors, telescope assemblies, fast steering mirrors, or EO/IR systems.
• Experience with fiber-coupled laser systems and precision laser hardware.
• Experience designing systems for high-shock and high-vibration environments.
• Familiarity with environmental qualification testing and ruggedized hardware development.
• Experience developing lightweight structures for airborne, mobile, or field-deployed platforms.
• Knowledge of optical tolerancing, alignment methods, and precision manufacturing processes.
• Background in defense, aerospace, photonics, or other high-reliability engineering environments.
• Experience leading technical projects or mentoring engineers.

What We Offer

• VSOP / equity participation
• Central Berlin office
• Extreme growth opportunity in a fast-scaling defense startup
• Monthly voucher
• Public transportation subsidies

Who You Are

• Technically accountable: You take ownership of system performance from design through qualification.
• Hands-on: You are comfortable moving between CAD, laboratory integration, testing, and field validation.
• Precision-focused: You understand that optical performance depends on mechanical stability, alignment retention, and robust design.
• Systems-minded: You naturally consider thermal, structural, manufacturing, and operational constraints when developing solutions.
• Collaborative: You work effectively across optics, mechanical, electrical, controls, and software disciplines.