Senior Optomechanical Engineer I/II

Rocket Lab Corporation; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Onsite gym

Employee stock purchase program

EV charging stations

Flexible spending accounts

Job summary

Rocket Lab Robotics in Pasadena seeks a Senior Optomechanical Engineer I/II to lead optical payload and precision mechanical design for spaceflight hardware.

Responsibilities span concept through flight, including analysis, procurement, assembly, alignment, and environmental testing. Senior engineers mentor juniors and standards evolve with lessons learned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree requirement and 5+ years mechanical engineering experience.
• Experience delivering spaceflight hardware from concept through production.
• Experience with opto-mechanical assemblies and precision mechanisms.
• Experience performing structural-thermal-optical or thermal-elastic analyses.

Responsibilities

• Lead opto-mechanical and precision mechanical design projects with scope and milestones.
• Own opto-mechanical hardware through full lifecycle including procurement and flight delivery.
• Collaborate with electrical, software, manufacturing, quality, and test teams.
• Develop tooling, fixtures, and ground support equipment for assembly and test.
• Design hardware with stiffness, thermal stability, and manufacturability in mind.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to design standards.

Skills

SolidWorks CAD modeling

GD&T

Tolerance analysis

FEA

Mechanical design

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, optical, mechatronics, robotics, or other engineering discipline

Tools

None listed

Job description

About Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab is an end‑to‑end space company delivering responsive launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, payloads, satellite components, and more – all with the goal of opening access to space. The rockets and satellites we build and launch enable some of the most ambitious and vital space missions globally, supporting scientific exploration, Earth observation, and missions to combat climate change, national security, and exciting new technology demonstrations.

Senior Optomechanical Engineer I/II

Location: Rocket Lab Robotics, Pasadena, CA. This position can be hired as a Senior Optomechanical Engineer I or Senior Optomechanical Engineer II.

The Senior Optomechanical Engineer is responsible for leading mechanical design efforts for optical payloads, camera systems, precision mechanisms, sensor assemblies, tooling, fixtures, ground support equipment, and electromechanical hardware. You will translate program, payload, production, and test needs into practical opto‑mechanical architectures and drive approved designs through design, analysis, review, procurement, assembly, integration, precision alignment, environmental test, qualification, and flight delivery.

Responsibilities

• Lead assigned opto‑mechanical and precision mechanical design projects, including defining scope, requirements, schedules, technical risks, project milestones, and verification approaches.
• Own opto‑mechanical hardware through its full lifecycle, including design, analysis, review, procurement, vendor coordination, assembly, integration, precision alignment, environmental test, qualification, and flight delivery.
• Partner with electrical, software, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and test teams to identify requirements, perform trade studies, evaluate alternatives, and recommend practical build‑ready mechanical solutions.
• Develop opto‑mechanical hardware for camera systems, optical payloads, sensor assemblies, lens and filter mounts, etc.
• Design precision mechanisms used with optical and sensor systems, including pointing assemblies, adjustable mounts, focus mechanisms, launch locks, limited‑angle actuation systems, motorized stages, gimbals, and alignment tooling.
• Develop tooling, fixtures, and ground support equipment used for assembly, integration, alignment, inspection, test, and production support of opto‑mechanical and electromechanical hardware.
• Define mechanical architectures, interfaces, packaging, tolerance approaches, alignment concepts, and integration plans for opto‑mechanical and electromechanical hardware.
• Design hardware with appropriate attention to stiffness, thermal stability, alignment retention, tolerance stack‑up, vibration environments, contamination control, manufacturability, and ease of assembly and test.
• Perform and support structural, thermal, tolerance, and structural‑thermal‑optical performance analyses to verify that opto‑mechanical hardware meets alignment, stability, and performance requirements.
• Own complex component and subsystem designs and guide design decisions using hand calculations, tolerance analyses, FEA, STOP analysis, prototyping, inspection data, and test results.
• Support integration and test activities, including hardware checkout, precision alignment, environmental testing, qualification testing, troubleshooting, test fixture development, and review of test data.
• Lead design, manufacturing, and test reviews with engineering, production, quality, supply chain, and test stakeholders; document actions and drive closure.
• Create and maintain product definition using SolidWorks, including 3D CAD models, production drawings, interface details, bills of material, assembly documentation, test procedures, work instructions, and supporting design analyses.
• Coordinate vendors, fabricated components, budgets, schedules, and build priorities to support program commitments.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to opto‑mechanical design standards, best practices, design‑for‑manufacture improvements, and lessons learned for Rocket Lab Robotics hardware.

Qualifications – Senior Optomechanical Engineer I

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, optical, mechatronics, robotics, or other engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of mechanical engineering experience.
• Experience delivering spaceflight hardware from concept through design, build, integration, environmental test, qualification, and flight delivery.
• Experience designing precision mechanical hardware, opto‑mechanical assemblies, mechanisms, aerospace hardware, sensor assemblies, or electromechanical systems.
• Experience performing or leading structural‑thermal‑optical performance analysis, thermal‑elastic analysis, or equivalent analysis used to verify opto‑mechanical alignment, stability, and performance through launch and flight environments.
• Experience leading component or subsystem designs from concept through build, procurement, integration, test, qualification, and production readiness.
• Experience with SolidWorks CAD modeling, production drawing creation, GD&T, tolerance analysis, and mechanical design documentation.
• Experience designing hardware where alignment, stiffness, thermal stability, vibration response, tolerance stack‑up, and manufacturability are important to system performance.
• Experience using engineering fundamentals, first‑principles hand calculations, tolerance stack‑up analysis, FEA, STOP analysis, inspection data, and test data to make design decisions.
• Hands‑on experience supporting hardware integration, troubleshooting, inspection, test, environmental qualification, or precision alignment activities.

Qualifications – Senior Optomechanical Engineer II

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, optical, mechatronics, robotics, or other engineering discipline.
• 8+ years of mechanical engineering experience.
• Experience delivering spaceflight hardware from concept through design, build, integration, environmental test, qualification, and flight delivery.
• Experience designing precision mechanical hardware, opto‑mechanical assemblies, mechanisms, aerospace hardware, sensor assemblies, or electromechanical systems.
• Experience performing or leading structural‑thermal‑optical performance analysis, thermal‑elastic analysis, or equivalent analysis used to verify opto‑mechanical alignment, stability, and performance through launch and flight environments.
• Experience leading component or subsystem designs from concept through build, procurement, integration, test, qualification, and production readiness.
• Experience with SolidWorks CAD modeling, production drawing creation, GD&T, tolerance analysis, and mechanical design documentation.
• Experience designing hardware where alignment, stiffness, thermal stability, vibration response, tolerance stack‑up, and manufacturability are important to system performance.
• Experience using engineering fundamentals, first‑principles hand calculations, tolerance stack‑up analysis, FEA, STOP analysis, inspection data, and test data to make design decisions.
• Hands‑on experience supporting hardware integration, troubleshooting, inspection, test, environmental qualification, or precision alignment activities.

Nice to Have

• Master’s or PhD in mechanical, aerospace, optical, mechatronics, robotics, or other engineering discipline.
• Rapid conceptual design and prototype iteration experience, including hands‑on build, integration, troubleshooting, alignment, and testing.
• Exceptional mechanical problem‑solving skills and the ability to resolve ambiguous design, packaging, alignment, and integration challenges.
• Perform preliminary structural, vibration, thermal, or thermal‑elastic analysis of precision mechanical or opto‑mechanical hardware.
• Oversee final analysis and assist with environmental testing, production testing, test planning, fixture design, instrumentation, and analysis of test data.
• Demonstrated ability to lead assigned technical work, communicate status and risks, and coordinate with cross‑functional stakeholders.

Location Requirements (US Offices Only)

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Rocket Lab Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident, or otherwise eligible to obtain the required authorizations. Only U.S. Government issued employees may be considered.

Compensation and Benefits

Base Pay Range (CA Only): $125,000 – $190,000 USD. Benefits include top‑tier medical HMO, PPO, 100% company‑sponsored HSA plan, dental and vision coverage, 3 weeks paid vacation, 5 days sick leave per year, 11 paid holidays, flexible spending and dependent care savings accounts, paid parental leave, disability, life insurance, and a 401(k) retirement plan with company match. Other perks: discounted employee stock purchase program, subsidized EV charging stations, onsite gym, food and drinks, and various discounts.

EEO Statement

Rocket Lab provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment at Rocket Lab, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.