Product and Mechanical Engineering Lead

PLP Group; Phoenix (AZ); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous equity

Healthcare

401(k)

Unlimited PTO

EEO & accommodations

Job summary

Azora seeks a leader to design and industrialize high‑bandwidth optical terminals for terrestrial and space use. You will own the system architecture and guide optical, electrical, and mechanical engineers to deliver compact, manufacturable hardware ready for real‑world environments and production lines.

You will drive tolerance and robustness engineering, oversee DFM/DFA, and ensure safety and EMC compliance while balancing cost and performance for a competitive, scalable product.

Qualifications

• Track record taking compact, complex products from design to mass production.
• Hands-on experience with optical, electrical, and mechanical integration.
• Familiarity with electrical safety and EMC compliance testing.

Responsibilities

• Lead optical, electrical, and mechanical integration into compact, manufacturable terminals.
• Own full system architecture with cross-disciplinary engineers to hit size, performance and producibility targets.
• Drive tolerance engineering, worst‑case analysis and design margins for product robustness.
• Design for manufacturing and assembly (DFM/DFA) and establish repeatable build processes with manufacturers.
• Plan and oversee electrical safety and EMC testing (FCC Part 15, CE/UKCA, IEC standards).
• Balance cost and performance to keep the product buildable and competitive.

Skills

Optical integration

Electrical integration

Mechanical integration

System architecture ownership

EMC/ safety testing

Tolerance analysis

Job description

Job detailsEngineeringPhoenix , San Francisco Bay AreaFull-time$130,000 USD - $200,000 USDAbout the roleYou’ll lead the design and industrialization of Azora’s optical communication terminals — both terrestrial and space-bound. The goal is hardware that’s not just functional in the lab but repeatable, reliable, and producible at volume. If you’ve taken compact optical or imaging products from a working prototype to a mass-producible design, this is built for you. You’ll own system architecture and partner closely with electrical, mechanical, and optical engineers to deliver compact, integrated products that survive real-world environments and a real production line.What you’ll doLead optical, electrical, and mechanical integration into compact, manufacturable terminals.Own full system architecture, working with electrical and mechanical engineers to hit size, performance, and producibility targets.Drive robustness and tolerance engineering — tolerance stack-ups, worst-case analysis, and design margins drawn from consumer or industrial product practice.Design for manufacturing and assembly (DFM/DFA), and stand up a repeatable build process across internal and external manufacturing.Plan and oversee electrical safety and EMC/EMI compliance testing (e.g., FCC Part 15, CE/UKCA, relevant IEC safety standards).Balance cost and performance across the design, making the trades that keep the product both buildable and competitive.What you bringTrack record taking compact, complex products from design through to mass production.Hands-on experience with optical, electrical, and mechanical integration.Strong robustness and tolerance engineering for consumer or industrial products.Demonstrated ownership of full system architecture in a cross-disciplinary team.Familiarity with electrical safety and EMC compliance testing.Nice to haveA hands-on engineer who wants technical contribution across every part of the product.Autonomous systems experience, including software control of complex hardware.Experience managing both internal and external manufacturing.Cost/performance engineering at the product level.Free-space optics, laser comms, or precision optical product backgroundLocationThis 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:Level 1 (starting from $130,000 USD): 3-5 years of experience in relevant roles.Level 2 (starting from $160,000 USD): 5-15 years of experience in relevant roles.Final salary is based on geographic location, experience, skills, and qualificationsAbout 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.