Mechanical Engineer - Lasercom

Hardware FYI; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Stock options

Hybrid work LA

Unlimited PTO

Health insurance

Advanced tools

Job summary

Observable Space is seeking a Mechanical Hardware Engineer to design terminal hardware for laser communication systems, from optical benches to space-qualified enclosures. You will see designs go from sketch to bench prototype in weeks, then be involved in assembly, alignment, and flight-quality testing with a cross-functional team.

Join a mission-driven, equal opportunity employer building precision optics platforms for earth and space, with hybrid work options and hands-on experience in

Qualifications

• 3+ years designing mechanical hardware in aerospace/optics/precision equipment.
• BS in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD, SolidWorks, and GD&T.
• Experience with structural and thermal analysis for manufacturing.
• Hands-on experience building, testing, and troubleshooting assemblies.

Responsibilities

• Design terminal hardware including optical benches, structures, mounts, enclosures, and packaging.
• Set mechanical interfaces, tolerances, and stiffness and thermal stability requirements; use hand calculations and FEA.
• Create production drawings, BOMs, 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.
• Plan and support environmental tests (vibration, shock, thermal vacuum).

Skills

Mechanical design

3D CAD (SolidWorks)

GD&T

Tolerance analysis

Structural analysis

Thermal analysis

Hands-on prototyping

Education

BS in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

FEA

Job description

About Observable Space

At Observable Space, we're redefining how humanity observes and connects with the universe. We're a vertically integrated, high-growth, space technology company building industry-leading precision optics platforms for Earth and in space. Our systems are trusted by thousands of customers, including NASA, JPL, SpaceX, Boeing, RTX, the US Space Force and the U.S. Department of War, leading research institutions and international partners.

We combine precision opto-mechanical hardware, embedded compute, cloud orchestration, and developer-friendly APIs into world class products at scale with in-house manufacturing. From advanced ground stations, on-orbit sensor suites, free space optical lasercom, to distributed compute platforms, we deliver the foundational systems enabling continuous, real-time navigation, observation, and communication in space.

Observable Space is backed by top-tier institutional investors including Lux Capital, Upfront Ventures, RTX Ventures, Detroit Venture Partners and Embedded Ventures. To learn more, visit observable.space.

About the Role

You’ll design and build mechanical hardware for laser communications terminals, from optical ground stations to space-based systems. Your impact is immediate. We go from a sketch to a bench prototype in weeks, then build, test, and ship flight hardware on a timeline measured in months. You’ll own your assemblies and work alongside optics, electrical, controls, and manufacturing engineers to build, align, and test them.

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.

Basic 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with free-space optical terminals, pointing, acquisition, and tracking (PAT) systems, or fine-pointing hardware such as fast steering mirrors.

• Experience with precision optical mounts, alignment tooling, or structural, thermal, and optical performance (STOP) analysis.

• Experience qualifying hardware for spaceflight or rugged outdoor environments.

• Experience taking precision hardware from prototype builds into repeatable

What We Offer

Competitive Compensation – A salary package aligned with industry standards and your experience.

Equity Opportunities – Take part in our success with stock options.

Flexible Work Environment – Enjoy working from our office or in a hybrid work setup with the flexibility to work remotely part of the week. We require a minimum of 3 days per week in our office to support collaboration and team culture. (LA Office only)

Unlimited PTO (Salaried positions only) – Take the time you need with our flexible, trust-based vacation policy, including paid holidays. We encourage everyone to rest, recharge, and take care of themselves.

Health & Wellness – Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with 100% of the premium paid by the employer for employees.

Cutting-Edge Tools – Get access to the latest hardware and software you need to do your best work.

Mission-Driven Culture – Be part of a team working on meaningful challenges with real-world impact.

Inclusive Team – We foster a supportive and diverse workplace where all voices are valued.

Observable Space is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.