Senior Optomechanical Engineer I/IIActive$125K

Rocket Lab
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The opportunity

Rocket Lab is the end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems that keep the world connected, protected, expand humanity’s reach to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. We move fast, build real hardware for meaningful missions, and make the impossible routine.

What you'll 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.

What they're looking for

  • 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.