Lead Optomechanical Engineer, Space Payloads

K2Spacecorporation; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Medical/dental/vision coverage

Paid time off

Parental leave

Life insurance

Job summary

K2 Space in Los Angeles is seeking a Mechanical/Optomechanical Engineer to design and build precision structures that hold optical payloads in space. You will mount lenses and mirrors, develop mechanical benches, and ensure alignment through launch, thermal cycling, and on-orbit operation.

You will work with optical engineers, lead design reviews, perform tests, and help push flight hardware from concept to built-in-space demonstrations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, optical, or other relevant engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in mechanical or optomechanical design and analysis, with a mechanics-heavy background.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD software for detailed part and assembly design.
• Hands-on experience mounting optics (lenses and mirrors) and designing the structures that support them.

Responsibilities

• Design optomechanical assemblies - optical benches, mirror mounts, lens cells, and support structures - from conceptual design through qualification to on-orbit operations, in support of internal and external customer needs.
• Own mounting and alignment of lenses and mirrors, selecting and designing mounting schemes (kinematic/semi-kinematic mounts, flexures, bonded interfaces) that constrain optics without over-constraining them.
• Design mirror support structures with explicit attention to jitter and dynamic stability, mount‑induced deformation (bonding stress, bolt preload, gravity‑release), and thermal stability (CTE matching, athermalization, gradient management)
• Own optical alignment and stability budgets, translating wavefront and pointing decisions
• Lead design reviews from kickoff through qualification and beyond
• Drive hardware development, including hands‑on assembly and alignment, development testing (vibration, thermal‑vac, modal), analysis correlation, and follow‑on hardware iterations
• Perform hardware trades that steer both sub‑system and top‑level product direction
• Collaborate with a cross‑functional team - optical, thermal, structures, GNC, metrology, and manufacturing - to establish product requirements, company processes, and best practices for optomechanical design and manufacturing
• Continually own and refine system deliverables and associated schedules throughout development and production

Skills

Mechanics heavy

Optomechanical design

3D CAD

Optical alignment

Space hardware

FEA

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

Siemens NX CAD

FEA software

Job description

K2 Space in Los Angeles is seeking a Mechanical/Optomechanical Engineer to design and build precision structures that hold optical payloads in space. You will mount lenses and mirrors, develop mechanical benches, and ensure alignment through launch, thermal cycling, and on-orbit operation.

You will work with optical engineers, lead design reviews, perform tests, and help push flight hardware from concept to built-in-space demonstrations.