Mechanical Engineer - Laser Communication Optics

Observable Space; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Compensation

Equity Opportunities

Flexible Work Environment (LA Office)

Unlimited PTO

Health & Wellness

Cutting-Edge Tools

Mission-Driven Culture

Inclusive Team

Job summary

Observable Space in Los Angeles designs precision optics platforms for Earth and space. The Mechanical Hardware Engineer will design terminal hardware, optical benches, telescope structures, mounts, and electronics packaging, and will own assemblies from sketch to bench prototype to flight hardware.

You'll collaborate with optics, electrical, controls, and manufacturing engineers to meet alignment tolerances, stiffness, and thermal stability, using hand calculations and FEA to validate designs.

Qualifications

• 3+ years designing mechanical hardware in aerospace, optics, robotics, precision equipment, or a related industry.
• BS in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD such as SolidWorks and experience applying geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) and tolerance stack-up analysis to production drawings and mechanical interfaces.
• Working knowledge of structural and thermal analysis and design for manufacturing and assembly.
• Hands-on experience building, testing, and troubleshooting mechanical assemblies.

Responsibilities

• Design terminal hardware such as optical benches, telescope structures, mounts, enclosures, and electronics packaging.
• Work with optics and systems engineers to set mechanical interfaces, alignment tolerances, and stiffness and thermal stability requirements. Use hand calculations and finite element analysis (FEA) to evaluate designs.
• Create production drawings, bills of materials, and interface documentation.
• Work with shops and suppliers to make parts easy to build, assemble, and align.
• Build, align, and troubleshoot prototypes with technicians through rapid design iterations. Design fixtures and write procedures for repeatable assembly and testing.
• Plan and support environmental tests for the intended deployment, such as vibration, shock, or thermal vacuum. Use test results to improve the hardware and prepare it for production.

Skills

SolidWorks

GD&T

Tolerance analysis

FEA

Education

BS in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

Observable Space in Los Angeles designs precision optics platforms for Earth and space. The Mechanical Hardware Engineer will design terminal hardware, optical benches, telescope structures, mounts, and electronics packaging, and will own assemblies from sketch to bench prototype to flight hardware.

You'll collaborate with optics, electrical, controls, and manufacturing engineers to meet alignment tolerances, stiffness, and thermal stability, using hand calculations and FEA to validate designs.