Observable Space
Sr. Opto-Mechanical Engineer, Photonics
$140K–$170K
Los Angeles, CA or Detroit, MI · On-site · Senior · Full-time · Posted Apr 3, 2026
- Experience
- 5+ years of optomechanical engineering experience; preferably in photonics, aerospace, or precision instrumentation.
About the job
Designs, integrates, tests, and supports precision opto-mechanical systems for photonic subsystems used in ground and space applications.
What you'll do
- Design and document precision opto-mechanical assemblies, including systems for fiber coupling, lasers, detectors, and wavefront sensors.
- Analyze structural, thermal, and vibrational performance, including STOP analysis and FEA, to preserve optical alignment and stability.
- Support prototyping, integration, testing, troubleshooting, and product development from concept through production.
What they ask for
- 5+ years of optomechanical engineering experience, preferably in photonics, aerospace, or precision instrumentation.
- Proficiency in mechanical design fundamentals, including precision tolerancing and alignment-sensitive assemblies.
- Experience with CAD tools such as SolidWorks or NX, and designing systems involving optical or photonic components.
- Familiarity with FEA tools such as ANSYS or Nastran, and hands-on experience fabricating, machining, and assembling precision systems.
Nice to have
- Experience designing, integrating, and testing Adaptive Optics systems and Wavefront Sensors.
- Basic scripting or automation with Python or MATLAB for analysis, alignment, or test workflows.
Pay
$140K – $170K USD base salary
Tools
SolidWorks, NX, ANSYS, Nastran, Python, MATLAB, Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM)
Model-written summary · the original posting is authoritative