Senior Opto-Mech Engineer

Socket.dev; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 186,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) plan

Paid time off

Parental leave

Tuition reimbursement

Professional development

Life and disability insurance

9/80 work schedule

Job summary

DRS Daylight Solutions seeks a Senior Opto-Mechanical Engineer to design, integrate, and test precision opto-mechanical systems for aerospace, defense, and scientific applications. You will work on architecture, prototyping, and qualification across challenging environments in San Diego.

The role requires strong CAD, GD&T, and optical alignment skills, plus the ability to mentor teammates and collaborate across disciplines. Onsite work with a 9/80 schedule is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering with 5+ years of experience.
• Ability to lead a technical group independently.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop opto-mechanical assemblies for high-performance use.
• Lead technical execution: requirements, trade studies, alignment, metrology plans.
• Create CAD models, drawings, BOMs, analyses, and reports.
• Collaborate with optical engineers on STOP analysis and test setups.
• Mentor junior engineers and drive continuous improvement.

Skills

Precision mechanics

Optical alignment

GD&T (ASME Y14.5M)

CAD (SolidWorks)

FEA (SW Simulation/Ansys)

Optical design basics

Zemax/Code V knowledge

Laser packaging

Project leadership

Education

B.S. Mechanical Engineering

5+ years experience

Tools

SolidWorks

FEA (SW Simulation)

ANSYS

Zemax

Code V

Job description

Job ID:115540

DRS Daylight Solutions business provides industry-changing mid-infrared laser light technology for government and commercial markets, including: defense and security; life sciences; and industrial process control. As a mid-IR technology pioneer, Daylight Solutions has delivered more mid-IR systems to more applications world-wide than any other company.

Business Unit: Daylight Solutions
Location: San Diego
Career Functional Area: Engineering
Telework Type: Onsite
Relocation Available: Yes
Type: Full Time Permanent
Schedule: 9/80
Shift: 1st Shift

Job Summary

The Senior Opto-Mechanical Engineer at DRS Daylight Solutions will be responsible for the architecture, design, and system-level integration & testing of precision opto-mechanical systems for challenging environments. This position will leverage expertise in precision mechanics, optics, and laboratory metrology, to contribute to the full lifecycle of engineering projects—from prototype design to qualification, and production. Collaborating with interdisciplinary teams, this position offers the opportunity to innovate and lead technical initiatives critical to product advancement in the aerospace, defense, and scientific sectors.

Job Responsibilities

• Design and develop high-performance opto-mechanical assemblies through knowledge of kinematic, thermal, structural, and manufacturability impacts on optical performance in demanding environments.
• Lead technical execution for projects, including system level requirements, trade studies, alignment strategy, and metrology plans for KPPs.
• Generate detailed technical documentation (CAD models, drawings, BOMs, analyses, FEA simulations, and reports) and support customer design reviews and deliverables.
• Collaborate with optical engineers to support Structural-Thermal-Optical (STOP) analysis and optical test setups to ensure system-level optical requirements are met.
• Facilitate prototype design, build, and integration, ensuring alignment and functionality validation.
• Serve as the technical lead on projects, communicating effectively with cross-disciplinary teams of mechanical, optical, electrical, and firmware engineers.
• Investigate product and process problems and implement corrective actions that improve yield and predictability.
• Provide mentorship to junior engineers and foster the development of engineering continuous improvement initiatives.

The Ideal Candidate will have:

• Strong practical mechanical design experience in precision mechanics for opto-mechanical systems.
• Hands‑on expertise in optical alignment techniques in laboratory environments.
• Knowledge of optical drawings, sensitivities, and fabrication methods.
• Deep knowledge of GD&T standards (ASME Y14.5M) and mechanical fabrication methods.
• Proficiency in CAD, SolidWorks preferred. Experience with FEA software (SW Simulation or Ansys) a plus.
• Knowledge of optical design and laser physics. Functional knowledge of optical ray tracing software (e.g., Zemax, Code V) is a plus.
• Laser packaging design experience including soldering, wire bonding, lid welding, adhesive bonding, and hermeticity testing.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects effectively and independently, demonstrating strong organizational and time‑management skills.
• Exceptional communication and collaboration skills, with experience in leading and mentoring teams.
• Expertise in opto‑mechanical design, packaging, and precision mechanics in aerospace, defense, or scientific applications.
• Demonstrated success leading technical teams in a new product development environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering (or related field) with 5+ years of experience; Master’s or PhD in relevant field may be substituted for years of industry experience.
• Fluency in technologies and application domain
• Ability to lead a technical group independently

U.S. Citizenship required. This position requires an active DOD security clearance or the ability to obtain such clearance within a reasonable time after commencement of employment.

The salary range for this position is $119,940/year- $186,206/year. This range reflects the good faith estimate of pay the employer is willing to offer at the time of posting. Several factors can influence the pay scale, including but not limited to: Federal contract labor categories and contract wage rates, collective bargaining agreements, geographic location, business considerations, scope, and responsibilities of the position, local or other applicable market conditions, and internal equity. Other factors include the candidate’s qualifications such as prior work experience, specific skills and competencies, education/training, and certifications. In addition to base pay, employees may be eligible for: annual performance‑based bonuses, equity awards, and overtime pay (for non‑exempt employees as applicable. Our benefits package includes comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, vision), employer matching 401(k) retirement plan, paid time off including vacation, holidays, and sick leave (including ant state‑mandated paid sick leave), parental leave benefits, tuition reimbursement, professional development support, and life and disability insurance coverage.

Taking care of our people is a top priority at Leonardo DRS. We are proud to offer competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, a company contribution to a health savings account, telemedicine, life and disability insurance, legal insurance, and a 401(k) savings plan. We champion wellness programs that focus on physical, emotional, and financial well‑being. We develop our talent by offering programs and activities to support career‑growth, professional development, and skill enhancement. And we understand there is more to life than work, and the importance of offering flexible work schedules with our 9/80 program, competitive vacation, health/emergency leave, paid parental leave, and community service hours. Some employees are eligible for limited benefits only

Leonardo DRS, Inc. and its subsidiaries provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.