Senior Optomechanical Engineer I/II

SPACE SYSTEMS 

 At Rocket Lab, we’re not just launching rockets — we're building the future of space. Our Space Systems team builds everything from complete spacecraft, precision payloads to the components and subsystems that allow them to thrive in space, like solar panels, flight software, star trackers, optical systems, separation systems, radios, and more.  

Our Space Systems team has enabled more than 1,700 missions, ranging from interplanetary exploration, in-space manufacturing to national security and defense initiatives. The team has built spacecraft, payloads, and components for missions to the Moon and Mars, working with partners including NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force. Whether it’s a single high-performance spacecraft, constellation, or the vertically integrated components that help them get to space — our world class Space Systems team is empowering some of the boldest and most ambitious space missions. 

SENIOR OPTOMECHANICAL ENGINEER I/II

Based on site at Rocket Lab Robotics in Pasadena, CA, the Senior Optomechanical Engineer I/II is responsible for leading mechanical design efforts for optical payloads, camera systems, precision mechanisms, sensor assemblies, tooling, fixtures, ground support equipment, and electromechanical hardware. You will translate program, payload, production, and test needs into practical opto-mechanical architectures and drive approved designs through design, analysis, review, procurement, assembly, integration, precision alignment, environmental test, qualification, and flight delivery.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on opto-mechanical engineer with strong SolidWorks, precision mechanical design, tolerance analysis, STOP analysis, and spaceflight hardware delivery experience. You will help turn optical and sensor concepts into flight-capable hardware that is mechanically robust, align-able, manufacturable, testable, and stable through launch, thermal, vibration, and operational environments. You will own technical milestones, report status and risks, mentor less experienced engineers, and help establish practical design standards for reliable opto-mechanical and precision electromechanical hardware in a fast-paced development environment.

(Please note: This position can be hired as a Senior Optomechanical Engineer I or Senior Optomechanical Engineer II) 

WHAT YOU'LL GET TO DO:

• Lead assigned opto-mechanical and precision mechanical design projects, including defining scope, requirements, schedules, technical risks, project milestones, and verification approaches.
• Own opto-mechanical hardware through its full lifecycle, including design, analysis, review, procurement, vendor coordination, assembly, integration, precision alignment, environmental test, qualification, and flight delivery.
• Partner with electrical, software, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and test teams to identify requirements, perform trade studies, evaluate alternatives, and recommend practical build-ready mechanical solutions.
• Develop opto-mechanical hardware for camera systems, optical payloads, sensor assemblies, lens and filter mounts, etc.
• Design precision mechanisms used with optical and sensor systems, including pointing assemblies, adjustable mounts, focus mechanisms, launch locks, limited-angle actuation systems, motorized stages, gimbals, and alignment tooling.
• Develop tooling, fixtures, and ground support equipment used for assembly, integration, alignment, inspection, test, and production support of opto-mechanical and electromechanical hardware.
• Define mechanical architectures, interfaces, packaging, tolerance approaches, alignment concepts, and integration plans for opto-mechanical and electromechanical hardware.
• Design hardware with appropriate attention to stiffness, thermal stability, alignment retention, tolerance stack-up, vibration environments, contamination control, manufacturability, and ease of assembly and test.
• Perform and support structural, thermal, tolerance, and structural-thermal-optical performance analyses to verify that opto-mechanical hardware meets alignment, stability, and performance requirements.
• Own complex component and subsystem designs and guide design decisions using hand calculations, tolerance analyses, FEA, STOP analysis, prototyping, inspection data, and test results.
• Support integration and test activities, including hardware checkout, precision alignment, environmental testing, qualification testing, troubleshooting, test fixture development, and review of test data.
• Lead design, manufacturing, and test reviews with engineering, production, quality, supply chain, and test stakeholders; document actions and drive closure.
• Create and maintain product definition using SolidWorks, including 3D CAD models, production drawings, interface details, bills of material, assembly documentation, test procedures, work instructions, and supporting design analyses.
• Coordinate vendors, fabricated components, budgets, schedules, and build priorities to support program commitments.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to opto-mechanical design standards, best practices, design-for-manufacture improvements, and lessons learned for Rocket Lab Robotics hardware.

QUALIFICATIONS YOU WILL BRING AS A SENIOR OPTOMECHANICAL ENGINEER I:

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, optical, mechatronics, robotics, or other engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of mechanical engineering experience.
• Experience delivering spaceflight hardware from concept through design, build, integration, environmental test, qualification, and flight delivery.
• Experience designing precision mechanical hardware, opto-mechanical assemblies, mechanisms, aerospace hardware, sensor assemblies, or electromechanical systems.
• Experience performing or leading structural-thermal-optical performance analysis, thermal-elastic analysis, or equivalent analysis used to verify opto-mechanical alignment, stability, and performance through launch and flight environments.
• Experience leading component or subsystem designs from concept through build, procurement, integration, test, qualification, and production readiness.
• Experience with SolidWorks CAD modeling, production drawing creation, GD&T, tolerance analysis, and mechanical design documentation.
• Experience designing hardware where alignment, stiffness, thermal stability, vibration response, tolerance stack-up, and manufacturability are important to system performance.
• Experience using engineering fundamentals, first-principles hand calculations, tolerance stack-up analysis, FEA, STOP analysis, inspection data, and test data to make design decisions.
• Hands-on experience supporting hardware integration, troubleshooting, inspection, test, environmental qualification, or precision alignment activities.

QUALIFICATIONS YOU WILL BRING AS A SENIOR OPTOMECHANICAL ENGINEER II:

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, optical, mechatronics, robotics, or other engineering discipline.
• 8+ years of mechanical engineering experience.
• Experience delivering spaceflight hardware from concept through design, build, integration, environmental test, qualification, and flight delivery.
• Experience designing precision mechanical hardware, opto-mechanical assemblies, mechanisms, aerospace hardware, sensor assemblies, or electromechanical systems.
• Experience performing or leading structural-thermal-optical performance analysis, thermal-elastic analysis, or equivalent analysis used to verify opto-mechanical alignment, stability, and performance through launch and flight environments.
• Experience leading component or subsystem designs from concept through build, procurement, integration, test, qualification, and production readiness.
• Experience with SolidWorks CAD modeling, production drawing creation, GD&T, tolerance analysis, and mechanical design documentation.
• Experience designing hardware where alignment, stiffness, thermal stability, vibration response, tolerance stack-up, and manufacturability are important to system performance.
• Experience using engineering fundamentals, first-principles hand calculations, tolerance stack-up analysis, FEA, STOP analysis, inspection data, and test data to make design decisions.
• Hands-on experience supporting hardware integration, troubleshooting, inspection, test, environmental qualification, or precision alignment activities.

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:

• Master's or PhD in mechanical, aerospace, optical, mechatronics, robotics, or other engineering discipline.
• Rapid conceptual design and prototype iteration experience, including hands-on build, integration, troubleshooting, alignment, and testing.
• Exceptional mechanical problem-solving skills and the ability to resolve ambiguous design, packaging, alignment, and integration challenges.
• Perform preliminary structural, vibration, thermal, or thermal-elastic analysis of precision mechanical or opto-mechanical hardware.
• Oversee final analysis and assist with environmental testing, production testing, test planning, fixture design, instrumentation, and analysis of test data.
• Demonstrated ability to lead assigned technical work, communicate status and risks, and coordinate with cross-functional stakeholders.

This position may require prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, computer work, and occasional exposure to moderate levels of noise, dust, and fumes in production areas.