Job Description
The Senior Optical Manufacturing Engineer will lead the development, scaling, and quality assurance of optical telescope payload assembly and testing processes for satellite production, collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure high-precision manufacturing and continuous improvement in a cleanroom environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and scale assembly, integration, and test operations for satellite optical payloads
- Establish high-precision manufacturing processes for optical telescope components
- Translate optical telescope designs into sustainable, high-yield production environments
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to create assembly procedures and work instructions
- Design and develop mechanical and electrical tooling, fixtures, and ground support equipment
- Perform data analysis for alignment, calibration, and characterization of imaging systems
- Drive resolution of non-conformances and implement corrective actions
- Provide design for manufacturability and assembly feedback to design teams
- Oversee external vendors involved in optical component manufacturing and assembly
- Train optical production technicians and support transition from R&D to production
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field
- 6 years of total relevant experience, of which 3 years directly in the assembly, integration, alignment, and test of complex optical instruments, telescopes, or space-based imaging payloads
- Hands-on experience with complex optomechanical assembly, alignment, integration, and bonding in a cleanroom environment
- Experience leveraging technical software for design and analysis, e.g., Zemax, MATLAB, Python, and/or C
- Expertise in reading technical drawings and using SolidWorks or equivalent CAD software to develop tooling and fixtures
- Experience defining and implementing manufacturing processes in a production environment, including New Product Introduction (NPI)
- Excellent attention to detail and technical writing skills for creating detailed and accurate procedures, test plans, and data summaries
- Application of knowledge to support the assembly, integration, and test of optical telescope payloads, including developing and supporting assembly procedures and work instructions
- Design, development, and implementation of mechanical and electrical tooling, fixtures, and Ground Support Equipment (GSE) for optical telescope assembly and testing
- Perform analysis of measured data for alignment, calibration, and characterization of imaging systems, and monitor production metrics
- Drive timely resolution of non-conformances (NCRs), identify root causes, and implement corrective actions and continuous improvement processes
- Provide technical oversight for external vendors and suppliers involved in optical component manufacturing and assembly
- Participate in the training of optical production technicians to transition manufacturing from R&D to production
- Recommend facilities and capital equipment improvements to scale manufacturing processes
- Must have the ability to access export-controlled information without additional export licensing (EAR ITAR requirements)
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
Discretionary short-term and long-term incentives, bonus, and equity
Salary range: $144,500 - $180,600 USD (specific to San Francisco)
Ready to Apply?
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