Senior Opto-Mechanical Engineer

Astranis Space Technologies; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 145,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity package

High-quality healthcare

Disability and life insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Flexible PTO

Free on-site catered meals

Job summary

Astranis Space Technologies is seeking a Senior Opto-Mechanical Engineer to own the full lifecycle of opto-mechanical systems on spacecraft. You will lead design from concept through production, mentor junior engineers, and work with cross-functional teams to deliver robust, reliable hardware.

You will bring strong hands-on testing skills, experience with spacecraft or aerospace environments, and a deep understanding of tolerances, alignment, and integration of optical components.

Qualifications

• BS or MS in mechanical or aerospace engineering or equivalent.
• 5+ years of opto-mechanical design experience.
• Experience in detailed design, development and validation of mechanical assemblies.
• Experience designing mounts/interfaces/assemblies for optical components.
• Experience with precision optical alignment, micron or sub-micron level.
• Experience with free-space optics and miniature optical assemblies.
• Experience working with suppliers or contract manufacturers.
• Strong problem-solving and hands-on design skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop new opto-mechanical products from concept to production.
• Design and integrate free-space optical assemblies and precision mounts.
• Perform detailed tolerance analyses for optical and mechanical parts.
• Integrate mechanical, optical and electrical components into complex systems.
• Lead mechanical and opto-mechanical design reviews.
• Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams and mentors.

Skills

Opto-mechanical design

Precision optical alignment

Leadership / mentoring

Tolerance analysis

Free-space optics

Team collaboration

Education

B.S. or M.S in mechanical, aerospace engineering or equivalent

Job description

Astranis builds advanced satellites for high orbits, expanding humanity’s reach into the solar system. Today Astranis satellites provide dedicated, secure networks to highly-sophisticated customers across the globe – large enterprises, sovereign governments, and the US military.

With five satellites on orbit and many more set to launch soon, the company is servicing a backlog of more than $1 billion of commercial contracts. Astranis is the preferred satellite communications partner for buyers with stringent requirements for uptime, data security, network visibility, and customization.

Astranis has raised over $1.2 billion from some of the world’s best investors, including Andreessen Horowitz, Baillie Gifford, Blackrock, Fidelity, Franklin Templeton, and Snowpoint, and employs a team of 500 engineers and entrepreneurs. Astranis designs, builds, and operates its satellites out of its 153,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Northern California, USA.

Senior Opto-Mechanical Engineer

As an Astranis Opto-Mechanical Design Engineer you will own the complete lifecycle of various opto-mechanical systems on our spacecraft. Whether it is incremental improvements or the introduction of a new system, you will work together with the various other teams at Astranis to make them a reality.

In addition to being a significant individual on your own, you will mentor and train junior opt-mechanical engineers on such projects. You must have a strong problem-solving background, hands‑on testing skills, and preferably some experience with spacecraft and/or aerospace engineering.

Role

• Develop new opto-mechanical products from concept and detailed design through engineering drawings, vendor selection, evaluation, prototype builds and production
• Design and integrate free‑space optical assemblies, miniature optics, optical mounts and precision alignment mechanisms
• Perform detailed tolerance analyses and tolerance stack‑ups for optical and mechanical assemblies
• Integrate mechanical, optical and electrical components into complex optoelectronic systems
• Lead mechanical and opto‑mechanical design reviews
• Work closely with optical, electrical, manufacturing and other cross‑functional engineering teams
• Assist in recruiting, interviewing, and hiring additional teammates to our rapidly‑growing team

Requirements

• B.S. or M.S in mechanical, aerospace engineering or equivalent
• 5+ years of opto‑mechanical design experience, combining precision mechanical design with optical system integration
• Experience in detailed design, development and validation of mechanical assemblies from prototype through manufacturing
• Experience designing mechanical mounts, interfaces and assemblies for optical components such as lenses, mirrors, lasers/light sources, detectors, fibers or similar optical components
• Experience with precision optical alignment, including active and/or passive alignment; micron or sub‑micron alignment experience is highly desirable
• Experience with free‑space optics and miniature optical assemblies
• Experience working with suppliers and/or contract manufacturers
• A passion for hardware development, including working in a fast‑paced environment with hands‑on design and development
• A motivated leader who has experience mentoring and supporting junior engineers
• Understanding of how mechanical tolerances, thermal effects, vibration and assembly variation can affect optical performance and alignment

Bonus

• Experience running a development program while delegating to a small team
• Experience in synthesizing requirements and flowing them down to sub‑scale verification builds and testing
• Knowledge of geometric optics and semiconductor packaging/assembly
• Experience designing prototype or production equipment for optoelectronic manufacturing
• Experience managing a team of engineers

What we offer:

All our positions offer a compensation package that includes equity and robust benefits.

Base pay is just one component of Astranis’s total rewards package. Your compensation also includes a significant equity package via incentive stock options, high-quality company‑subsidized healthcare, disability and life insurance, 401(k) retirement planning, flexible PTO, and free on‑site catered meals.

Astranis pay ranges are informed and defined through professional‑grade salary surveys and compensation data sources. The actual base salary offered to a successful candidate will additionally be influenced by a variety of factors including experience, credentials & certifications, educational attainment, skill level requirements, and the level and scope of the position.

Base Salary

$145,000—$225,000 USD

U.S. Citizenship, Lawful Permanent Residency, Or Refugee/Asylee Status Required

(To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States, or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3))

Our mission and products are built for everyone, regardless of gender, race, creed, or background. We believe in a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we invite all people to join our team and bring their unique perspectives to make us stronger.

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