Pointing and Tracking Optomechanical Engineer

PLP Group; Phoenix (AZ); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Health and dental insurance

401(k)

Unlimited PTO

Job summary

Azora is building high-bandwidth optical terminals for diverse space and ground applications. We seek an experienced engineer to own productization of compact PAT optical subsystems and guide pointing systems from prototype to field qualification.

You will design beam steering assemblies, perform STOP analyses, and develop pointing budgets while coordinating with software and electrical teams for autonomous optical communications across space assets.

Qualifications

• BSc or MS in Mechanical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field.
• 3+ years of optomechanical design experience for precision optical systems.

Responsibilities

• Design optomechanical assemblies for beam steering: gimbals, FSMs, telescope mounts, relay optics, and fiber-coupling stages.
• Perform structural, thermal, and STOP analysis to verify line-of-sight stability and wavefront error budgets.
• Develop pointing error budgets covering base motion, jitter, thermal drift, and control-loop residuals, and flow them down to component requirements.
• Design, select and qualify actuators, encoders, bearings, and flexures for ground and space environments.
• Lead alignment, integration, and test of optical assemblies in the field.
• Support acquisition and tracking field campaigns at ground station sites, including troubleshooting under real atmospheric conditions.
• Work closely with software, electrical and network engineers to close the loop between lab-based mechanical design and to autonomous optical communications with space assets.

Skills

Optomechanical design

CAD

FEA

Alignment & testing

GD&T

Thermal-structural analysis

Field deployment

Education

BSc or MS in Mechanical Engineering / Optical Engineering / Aerospace Engineering

Tools

Zemax/OpticStudio

CODE V

ANSYS/Nastran

Job description

Job detailsEngineeringPhoenix , San Francisco Bay AreaFull-time$140,000 USD - $180,000 USDRoleOwn the productization of compact pointing, acquisition, and tracking (PAT) optomechanical subsystems for Azora's modular optical ground stations and space terminals. You will guide the process of fine-steering and coarse-pointing systems from commercial prototype through field qualification, ensuring microradian-class stability no matter the weather or platform where the Azora systems are located.ResponsibilitiesDesign optomechanical assemblies for beam steering: gimbals, fast-steering mirrors (FSMs), telescope mounts, relay optics, and fiber-coupling stages.Perform structural, thermal, and STOP (structural-thermal-optical performance) analysis to verify line-of-sight stability and wavefront error budgets.Develop pointing error budgets covering base motion, jitter, thermal drift, and control-loop residuals, and flow them down to component requirements.Design, select and qualify actuators, encoders, bearings, and flexures for ground and space environments.Lead alignment, integration, and test of optical assemblies in the field.Support acquisition and tracking field campaigns at ground station sites, including troubleshooting under real atmospheric conditions.Work closely with software, electrical and network engineers to close the loop between lab-based mechanical design and to autonomous optical communications with space assets.Required QualificationsBSc or MS in Mechanical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field.3+ years of optomechanical design experience for precision optical systems (laser communications, telescopes, directed energy, or similar).Proficiency with CAD (SolidWorks, NX, Creo, or similar) and FEA tools (ANSYS, Nastran, or similar).Hands-on experience aligning and testing optical assemblies in a lab environment.Working knowledge of GD&T, tolerance analysis, and precision machining practices.PreferredExperience with fast-steering mirrors, gimbal design, or telescope pointing systems.Familiarity with STOP analysis workflows and optical design tools (Zemax/OpticStudio, CODE V).Experience qualifying hardware for launch and on-orbit environments (vibration, shock, thermal vacuum).Field experience with optical ground stations or astronomical instrumentation.LocationThis is an onsite/hybrid role based in Tempe, AZ or the Bay Area, CA – hardware work that’s hard to do remotely. Some travel expected for field deployment and vendor/manufacturing visits.Benefits:Generous equityCompetitive healthcare (including options for vision and dental)401(k)Unlimited PTOEEO & Reasonable AccommodationsAzora is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know by contacting [e-mail] ControlTo conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicants must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful permanent resident (iii) protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or (iv) be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.Salary ranges are based on the following criteria:Final salary is based on geographic location, experience, skills, and qualifications.About this CompanyAzora is building high-bandwidth communications infrastructure for environments where fiber can’t reach. This work spans LEO spacecraft constellations, lunar exploration missions, GEO satcom, deployable optical ground for defense, and data centers both on- and off-world. To enable rapid global proliferation Azora is developing compact and modular optical terminals small enough to deploy from a backpack, and space terminals that support high speed optical links from LEO out to the Moon.Benefits:401(k)Dental insuranceHealth insurancePaid time offVision insuranceWork Location: Hybrid remote in Phoenix, AZ 85040