Impulse Space

Opto-Mechanical Manufacturing Engineer

Posted 2 Days Ago

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Redondo Beach, CA, USA

In-Office

100K-200K Annually

Senior level

Aerospace • Software

The Role

Develops and optimizes manufacturing and metrology processes for high-precision opto-mechanical assemblies, including spaceflight cameras, star trackers, and sun sensors. Designs optical alignment tooling, supports assembly integration and testing, improves production yields, resolves floor issues, and updates work instructions. Partners with optical design and cross-functional teams on manufacturability, quality, reliability, environmental testing, and functional performance. Provides technical guidance to opto-mechanical technicians and owns optical, vibration, thermal, and other production testing.

Summary Generated by Built In

As an Opto-Mechanical Manufacturing Engineer at Impulse, you will work with cross-discipline teams to build opto-mechanical assemblies. You will own the build and testing of optical assembly production. Your expertise will directly impact the reliability and performance of the systems we send into orbit and beyond.

Leveling will be commensurate with experience.

Responsibilities

Develop, document, and optimize manufacturing processes for opto-mechanical assemblies, such as star trackers, cameras and sun sensors
Develop and optimize metrology processes for opto-mechanical assemblies in production
Design tooling for complex alignment of lens assemblies and drive assembly, integration and test of camera sub-assemblies
Collaborate with optical design engineers to ensure manufacturability, DFM/DFA of optical assemblies, including custom spherical and aspherical lenses/mirrors
Collaborate with cross functional teams on quality and long-term reliability
Provide day-to-day support for the production floor, resolving build issues, updating work instructions, and improving yields
Provide guidance to opto-mechanical technicians
Own environmental and functional testing (optical, vibe, thermal, etc.) in production

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelors' degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics or related field
6+ years of demonstrated manufacturing experience in high-precision opto-mechanical manufacturing
6+ years of optical metrology equipment experience, such as centration measurements, interferometry and wavefront sensors
Knowledge of optical alignment using a laser or collimated light source
Experience with designing tooling for optical assembly
Skilled at mechanical design and GD&T using NX and Teamcenter
Knowledge of CNC Machining

Preferred Skills and Experience

MS/PhD degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics or related field
6+ years of demonstrated manufacturing experience in opto-mechanical manufacturing for space applications
Knowledge of thermal cycling, vibration and TVAC for space applications
Experience with adhesives for space applications
Knowledge of ultra-precision machining: CCP, SPDT, MRF, IBF, Fluid-Jet
Knowledge of theodolites, autocollimators, laser trackers and basic planar optical alignment
Knowledge of setting testing light sources, including solar simulators, laser diodes and black body sources
Comfortable and able to build out quick opto-mechanical set-ups
Knowledge of finite and infinite conjugate lens set-ups
Knowledge of both refractive and reflective methods of collimation
Knowledge of optical/optomechanical tolerance stack-ups

Additional Information:
Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity. In addition to base salary, for full-time hires, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of stock options, and access to medical, vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan.
Impulse Space’s spacecraft manufacturing business is subject to U.S. export regulations including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR). This position requires applicants to be either U.S. Persons (i.e., U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent U.S. resident (green card holder), an individual granted asylum in the U.S., or an individual admitted in U.S. refugee status) or persons eligible to obtain an export license from the U.S. Departments of State, Commerce, or other applicable U.S. government agencies. Learn more about the ITAR here.

Impulse Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Impulse Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

About
Impulse Space, the in-space transportation company founded by Tom Mueller, is opening access beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO) with its fleet of in-space transportation vehicles. The high-energy Helios vehicle unlocks orbits beyond LEO with its powerful Deneb engine, dropping off payloads in MEO, GEO, heliocentric, lunar, and other planetary orbits. The flight-proven Mira vehicle uses a nontoxic, high-impulse chemical propulsion system to offer orbital transport, constellation deployment, and precision reentry services to customers throughout LEO. Led by a team that delivered the most reliable rockets in history, Impulse provides economical and efficient in-space transportation by reliably and rapidly getting customers where they want to go.

Skills Required

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field
6+ years of manufacturing experience in high-precision opto-mechanical manufacturing
6+ years of experience with optical metrology equipment, including centration measurements, interferometry, and wavefront sensors
Knowledge of optical alignment using a laser or collimated light source
Experience designing tooling for optical assembly
Mechanical design and GD&T skills using NX and Teamcenter
Knowledge of CNC machining
MS or PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field
6+ years of opto-mechanical manufacturing experience for space applications
Knowledge of thermal cycling, vibration, and TVAC for space applications
Experience with adhesives for space applications
Knowledge of ultra-precision machining, including CCP, SPDT, MRF, IBF, and Fluid-Jet
Knowledge of theodolites, autocollimators, laser trackers, and basic planar optical alignment
Knowledge of testing light sources, including solar simulators, laser diodes, and black body sources
Ability to build quick opto-mechanical setups
Knowledge of finite and infinite conjugate lens setups
Knowledge of refractive and reflective collimation methods
Knowledge of optical and optomechanical tolerance stack-ups