Job Description
The Opto-Mechanical Engineer will lead the design, development, and manufacturing of optical payloads for Planet's Earth-imaging satellites, collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure high-reliability performance in space environments.
Key Responsibilities
- Design and develop opto-mechanical payloads for Earth-imaging satellites
- Manage the manufacturing process of optical payloads and design manufacturing lines for production
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to analyze and ensure payloads meet performance, thermal, structural, and launch survivability requirements
- Develop and maintain detailed design documentation and lead technical reviews
- Support testing, qualification, and failure analysis of hardware
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field.
- At least 4 years of experience owning the development of opto-mechanical products from requirements through conceptual design, testing, and manufacturing.
- Experience designing for high-reliability space environments including launch survivability, vacuum conditions, and on-orbit performance through thermal conditions (STOP).
- Experience in the design and fabrication of optical assemblies, incorporating components made from glass, carbon fiber, metals, ceramics, epoxies, as well as mechanisms and electrical elements.
- Practical and direct engagement with hardware, from prototyping to production and testing phases.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Experience working in a dynamic environment while driving projects to completion.
- Good verbal and visual communication skills.
- Experience with the design and fabrication of optical assemblies, including mechanisms and electrical elements.
- Experience applying systems engineering principles to optimize optical payload integration, focusing on requirements management, trade-off analysis, and balancing system-level constraints such as cost, schedule, and performance.
- Ability to drive manufacturers and DFM (Design for Manufacturing) and DFA (Design for Assembly) processes.
- Application of failure analysis, tolerance stackup, and GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing) analyses to ensure precision and reliability.
- Experience with test planning and qualification test campaigns, including supporting test and hardware testing activities.
- Ability to build out the manufacturing line for precision optical systems.
- Proficiency in SolidWorks, Zemax, Matlab, Visual Basic, Python, and/or C/C++.
Benefits & Perks
Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision plans
Health Savings Account (HSA) with a company contribution
Generous Paid Time Off in addition to holidays and company-wide days off
16 Weeks of Paid Parental Leave
Wellness Program and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Home Office Reimbursement
Monthly Phone and Internet Reimbursement
Tuition Reimbursement and access to LinkedIn Learning
Equity
Commuter Benefits if local to an office
Paid Volunteering Time Off
US base salary range of 128,400 - 160,500 USD
Potential eligibility for discretionary short-term and long-term incentives, bonuses, and equity
Ready to Apply?
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