Senior Optomechanical Engineer, Space Payloads

K2 Space; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Medical/Dental/Vision

Paid time off

Parental leave

Job summary

K2 Space is seeking a senior engineer to own the design and build of precision optomechanical structures for high‑power satellite payloads. This role sits at the intersection of mechanics and optics, requiring hands‑on assembly, alignment, and qualification through development and flight hardware.

You will lead mounting strategies, jitter‑aware structures, and thermal stability while collaborating with optical, thermal, and manufacturing teams to deliver robust, space‑ready hardware.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, optical, or another relevant engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in mechanical or optomechanical design and analysis, with a mechanics‑heavy background.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD software for detailed part and assembly design.
• Hands‑on experience mounting optics (lenses and mirrors) and designing the structures that support them.

Responsibilities

• Design optomechanical assemblies – optical benches, mirror mounts, lens cells, and support structures – from conceptual design through qualification to on‑orbit operations, in support of internal and external customer needs.
• Own mounting and alignment of lenses and mirrors, selecting and designing mounting schemes that constrain optics without over‑constraining them.
• Design mirror support structures with explicit attention to jitter and dynamic stability, mount‑induced deformation, and thermal stability.
• Own optical alignment and stability budgets, translating wavefront and pointing decisions.
• Lead design reviews from kickoff through qualification and beyond.
• Drive hardware development, including hands‑on assembly and alignment, development testing, analysis correlation, and follow‑on hardware iterations.
• Perform hardware trades that steer both sub‑system and top‑level product direction.
• Collaborate with a cross‑functional team to establish product requirements, company processes, and best practices for optomechanical design and manufacturing.
• Continually own and refine system deliverables and associated schedules throughout development and production.

Skills

5+ years mechanical/optomechanical

3D CAD

Optics mounting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical/optical engineering

Tools

Siemens NX CAD

Job description

K2 Space is seeking a senior engineer to own the design and build of precision optomechanical structures for high‑power satellite payloads. This role sits at the intersection of mechanics and optics, requiring hands‑on assembly, alignment, and qualification through development and flight hardware.

You will lead mounting strategies, jitter‑aware structures, and thermal stability while collaborating with optical, thermal, and manufacturing teams to deliver robust, space‑ready hardware.