Space & Defence Opto-Mechanical Engineer

eXalt; Paris (TX); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

eXalt is seeking a Mechanical Engineer for Space and Defence FSO Systems to design high‑precision opto‑mechanical hardware for space and defence environments. You will own subsystems from concept through testing, interfacing with optics, electronics and thermal teams to ensure alignment and reliability.

You will apply CAD/FEA tools to develop mechanical hardware, mounts, and thermal solutions, while supporting qualification campaigns, including vibration and vacuum tests, in a demanding

Qualifications

• Experience taking mechanical hardware from CAD design through fabrication, assembly and testing.
• Space-qualified hardware experience with vacuum, thermal cycling and launch loads.
• Proficiency in CAD tools (SolidWorks, CATIA, Creo, NX) and GD&T.
• Ability to specify, perform or challenge structural and thermo-elastic analyses (FEA).
• Collaborative mindset across optics, thermal, electronics and system engineering.

Responsibilities

• Design precision mechanisms including motion stages, bearings and encoders.
• Develop opto-mechanical structures, benches and mounts from concept to detailed drawings.
• Define thermal architecture, heat paths and athermalisation strategies.
• Lead or support structural and thermo-elastic analyses and test correlations.
• Manage tolerance chains affecting optical alignment and stability.
• Support space mechanism qualification, life testing and testing campaigns.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to balance performance, mass and cost.
• Ensure manufacturability, assembly, and alignment processes are defined.

Skills

SolidWorks

CATIA

Creo

NX

FEA

GD&T

Vacuum tribology

Thermal modelling

Thermal analysis

Vibration analysis

Education

Master’s degree in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering

Engineering degree in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering

Tools

SimScale

ANSYS

Nastran

CAD tools

Job description

eXalt is seeking a Mechanical Engineer for Space and Defence FSO Systems to design high‑precision opto‑mechanical hardware for space and defence environments. You will own subsystems from concept through testing, interfacing with optics, electronics and thermal teams to ensure alignment and reliability.

You will apply CAD/FEA tools to develop mechanical hardware, mounts, and thermal solutions, while supporting qualification campaigns, including vibration and vacuum tests, in a demanding