Mechanical Engineer

Luna Innovations•Blacksburg, VA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Luna Innovations Incorporated (LUNA) is a global leader in fiber optic test and measurement and distributed sensing. Our products are trusted by aerospace manufacturers, defense contractors, research institutions, and commercial operators worldwide to measure what others can’t—with precision down to the millimeter. We’re growing fast, and the engineers who build and design our instruments are at the center of that growth. Our Blacksburg, VA engineering team develops the optical test and measurement equipment and fiber optic sensing platforms that define the state of the art in distributed measurement. We design everything from handheld field instruments to rackmount systems used in some of the most demanding environments on earth—and the mechanical engineers who shape those products directly determine how well they perform, how reliably they hold up, and how efficiently they can be built. Precision optical instruments don’t just need great optics—they need mechanical designs that protect and position those optics, manage heat in increasingly compact enclosures, and hold tight tolerances across optical, electrical, and mechanical interfaces. As Luna’s product line expands and our systems become denser and more capable, the mechanical engineer on the team is the person who makes sure everything fits, functions, and lasts. This is a hands-on, design-driven role with real ownership. You’ll work across the full product development lifecycle—from early concept and SolidWorks modeling through prototyping, test fixture design, and release to production—alongside optical scientists, electrical engineers, and manufacturing teams who care deeply about getting it right.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or related field
Mechanical engineering experience preferred; new graduates will be considered—level commensurate with experience
Proficiency with CAD software (SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or similar) for product and system design
Excellent communication, technical writing, analytical, and interpersonal skills
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative, cross-functional environment

Nice To Haves

Experience with laboratory test equipment (strain gauges, thermocouples, etc.)
Experience with fiber optic componentry and cabling
Experience with standardized testing protocols (IP rating, MIL-STD-810G, etc.)
Experience with NPI processes in a low-to-medium volume, high-mix manufacturing environment
Knowledge of OFDR technology, swept wavelength lasers, or coherent optical systems
Experience with Ansys Fluent (or similar) software for thermal modeling

Responsibilities

Design instrument enclosures for electro-optical systems across form factors—desktop, rackmount, and hand-held
Drive system-level integration across optical, electrical, and mechanical domains—working closely with a multi-disciplinary team to ensure components and subsystems are physically compatible, properly aligned, and optimized for manufacturability and performance
Develop mechanical packaging solutions that accommodate precision optical assemblies, PCBs, connectors, and cabling within constrained form factors while maintaining optical path integrity and serviceability
Define and manage mechanical interfaces and tolerance stack-ups to ensure reliable alignment and repeatable assembly across optical and electromechanical subassemblies
Apply thermal modeling to design high-performance compact products—as our systems become increasingly dense, airflow cooling and thermal management are critical to product reliability and performance
Design fixtures and processes for testing optical test and measurement assemblies
Help guide design changes—both new and existing—to improve manufacturability and reduce production cost
Create procedures for the construction and testing of complex electromechanical products
Collaborate with manufacturing and operations teams to support smooth transitions from prototype to production