Opto-Mechanical Manufacturing Engineer

Optical Society of Southern California; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Medical, vision & dental coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Job summary

Impulse Space is actively seeking an Opto-Mechanical Manufacturing Engineer to own production builds and testing of optical assemblies for space systems. You will work with cross-discipline teams to drive reliability and performance of opto-mechanical hardware intended for orbit.

The role requires deep experience in high-precision optical manufacturing, metrology, and tooling design, with hands-on leadership on the production floor and a path toward ownership of environmental tests and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, Physics or related field.
• 6+ years in high-precision opto-mechanical manufacturing.
• 6+ years of optical metrology equipment experience (centration measurements, interferometry, wavefront sensors).
• Knowledge of optical alignment using a laser or collimated light source.
• Experience designing tooling for optical assembly.
• Mechanical design and GD&T using NX and Teamcenter.
• Knowledge of CNC Machining.

Responsibilities

• Develop, document, and optimize manufacturing processes for opto-mechanical assemblies, such as star trackers, cameras and sun sensors.
• Develop and optimize metrology processes for opto-mechanical assemblies in production.
• Design tooling for complex alignment of lens assemblies and drive assembly, integration and test of camera sub-assemblies.
• Collaborate with optical design engineers to ensure manufacturability, DFM/DFA of optical assemblies, including custom spherical and aspherical lenses/mirrors.
• Collaborate with cross functional teams on quality and long-term reliability.
• Provide day-to-day support for the production floor, resolving build issues, updating work instructions, and improving yields.
• Provide guidance to opto-mechanical technicians.
• Own environmental and functional testing (optical, vibe, thermal, etc.) in production.

Skills

Opto-mechanical manufacturing

Optical metrology

Optical alignment

Tooling design

Mechanical design and GD&T

CNC machining

Space applications manufacturing

Thermal/vibration testing knowledge

Education

Bachelors in Mechanical Eng, Electrical Eng, Physics

MS/PhD in related field

Tools

NX

Teamcenter

Job description

Stefan Forschner

9/8/2026 3:06 PM

Contact me at [e-mail] with any questions.

We have the following open position at Impulse Space: Opto-Mechanical Manufacturing Engineer

Link to Job Posting

Department

Manufacturing

Employment Type

Full Time

Location

Redondo Beach

Workplace type

Onsite

Compensation

$100,000 - $200,000 / year

As an Opto-Mechanical Manufacturing Engineer at Impulse, you will work with cross-discipline teams to build opto-mechanical assemblies. You will own the build and testing of optical assembly production. Your expertise will directly impact the reliability and performance of the systems we send into orbit and beyond.

Leveling will be commensurate with experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop, document, and optimize manufacturing processes for opto-mechanical assemblies, such as star trackers, cameras and sun sensors


• Develop and optimize metrology processes for opto-mechanical assemblies in production


• Design tooling for complex alignment of lens assemblies and drive assembly, integration and test of camera sub-assemblies


• Collaborate with optical design engineers to ensure manufacturability, DFM/DFA of optical assemblies, including custom spherical and aspherical lenses/mirrors


• Collaborate with cross functional teams on quality and long-term reliability


• Provide day-to-day support for the production floor, resolving build issues, updating work instructions, and improving yields


• Provide guidance to opto-mechanical technicians


• Own environmental and functional testing (optical, vibe, thermal, etc.) in production

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors' degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics or related field


• 6+ years of demonstrated manufacturing experience in high-precision opto-mechanical manufacturing


• 6+ years of optical metrology equipment experience, such as centration measurements, interferometry and wavefront sensors


• Knowledge of optical alignment using a laser or collimated light source


• Experience with designing tooling for optical assembly


• Skilled at mechanical design and GD&T using NX and Teamcenter


• Knowledge of CNC Machining

Preferred Skills And Experience

• MS/PhD degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics or related field


• 6+ years of demonstrated manufacturing experience in opto-mechanical manufacturing for space applications


• Knowledge of thermal cycling, vibration and TVAC for space applications


• Experience with adhesives for space applications


• Knowledge of ultra-precision machining: CCP, SPDT, MRF, IBF, Fluid-Jet


• Knowledge of theodolites, autocollimators, laser trackers and basic planar optical alignment


• Knowledge of setting testing light sources, including solar simulators, laser diodes and black body sources


• Comfortable and able to build out quick opto-mechanical set-ups


• Knowledge of finite and infinite conjugate lens set-ups


• Knowledge of both refractive and reflective methods of collimation


• Knowledge of optical/optomechanical tolerance stack-ups

Additional Information

Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity. In addition to base salary, for full-time hires, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of stock options, and access to medical, vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan.

Impulse Space’s spacecraft manufacturing business is subject to U.S. export regulations including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR). This position requires applicants to be either U.S. Persons (i.e., U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent U.S. resident (green card holder), an individual granted asylum in the U.S., or an individual admitted in U.S. refugee status) or persons eligible to obtain an export license from the U.S. Departments of State, Commerce, or other applicable U.S. government agencies. Learn more about the ITAR here.

Impulse Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Impulse Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.