Flight Opto-Mechanical Engineer – Space Imaging

Diffraqtion; Somerville (MA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Stock options

Medical, dental and vision benefits

401K match

Job summary

Diffraqtion in Somerville, MA is seeking an Opto-Mechanical Engineer to design, build, and qualify precision mechanical structures for our Quantum Camera. You will own the mechanical architecture of optical payloads, from lens mounts to interfaces with the spacecraft bus, collaborating with optical, electrical, and AI teams.

This hands‑on role blends design, analysis, and flight qualification in an early‑stage hardware project.

Qualifications

• B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Optical Engineering, or a related field.
• 3+ years of industrial (non‑academic) experience designing precision optomechanical hardware.
• Demonstrated experience designing for the space environment or comparable harsh environments.
• Proficiency in 3D CAD and producing production‑ready drawings with GD&T per ASME Y14.5.
• Hands‑on experience with FEA for structural, modal, and thermal analysis.
• Direct experience planning and executing temperature, vibration, and outgas testing, and correlating test data to models.
• Willingness to work on‑site in Somerville, MA.

Responsibilities

• Design precision optomechanical assemblies with tight alignment tolerances.
• Apply space-grade materials and processes balancing stiffness and manufacturability.
• Develop thermal and vibration models and coordinate STOP analyses.
• Produce fully toleranced drawings with GD&T and engage with shops and vendors.
• Plan and execute environmental tests (vibration, shock, vacuum) and update designs from results.
• Define mechanical interfaces and contribute to PDR/CDR/qualification documentation.
• Manage BOMs, drawing releases, and supplier nonconformances.

Skills

Optomechanical design

Thermal analysis

GD&T

Metrology

3D CAD

Education

B.S./M.S. in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks / Creo / NX

Job description

Diffraqtion in Somerville, MA is seeking an Opto-Mechanical Engineer to design, build, and qualify precision mechanical structures for our Quantum Camera. You will own the mechanical architecture of optical payloads, from lens mounts to interfaces with the spacecraft bus, collaborating with optical, electrical, and AI teams.

This hands‑on role blends design, analysis, and flight qualification in an early‑stage hardware project.