Optomechanical Engineer III
About The Position
The Instruments and Communications Division at JPL is responsible for developing and infusing technologies for advanced flight sensors, instruments, and deep space communications, covering the entire electromagnetic spectrum. The Optics & Spectroscopy Section within this division provides world-leading expertise in optical instrument development, including research, system architecture, design, analysis, implementation, integration, alignment, testing, and calibration of optical systems. This role is for an Optomechanical Engineer III within the Optics & Spectroscopy Section, specifically in the Optomechanical Engineering group (364F), which focuses on precision structures for optical instruments for spaceflight, airborne, ground, and testbed systems. The engineer will support the optomechanical design, analysis, and implementation of various optical instruments like telescopes and spectrometers.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, optical engineering, or related technical field with a minimum of 6 years of hands-on hardware experience; Master’s degree in similar fields with a minimum of 4 years of related work experience; or Ph.D. in a similar field with a minimum of 2 years of related work experience in an area related to mechanical and/or optical engineering.
- Experience with CAD tools (e.g., NX or SolidWorks) and mechanical drawings.
- Experience with analytical approaches (e.g., first-principles hand calculations, tolerance stackup analyses, FEA, STOP, and scripting languages).
- Hands-on experience and practical knowledge in hardware integration, optical alignment, state-of-the-art measurement techniques.
- Team leadership experience, especially with multidisciplinary teams over multiple phases in the project lifecycle.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with technical contract management (CTM) for vendors of complex optical and mechanical hardware.
- Experience developing hardware from concept to flight.
- Advanced knowledge of materials and processes (M&P; e.g., metallurgy or adhesive bonding).
- Experience defining subsystem requirements, verification plans, and presenting at lifecycle reviews (e.g., preliminary and critical design reviews; PDR and CDR).
- Experience with NASTRAN FEA software or a similar analysis package.
- Experience with Zemax Optics Studio or CodeV optical design software tools.
- Experience with Python or MATLAB programming languages, for both data analysis and instrumentation automation tasks
- Able to obtain an TS/SCI clearance or willingness to obtain a TS/SCI clearance.
Responsibilities
- Own optomechanical hardware through its full lifecycle, including design, analysis, review, procurement, assembly, integration, and precision alignment
- Lead multidisciplinary teams and deliver subsystems or instruments that meet technical requirements, cost constraints, and schedule commitments
- Use CAD tools to design precision spaceflight instrument parts (including optics and kinematic mounts), airborne instrument parts, and/or ground support equipment (GSE)
- Conduct structural finite element analysis (FEA) and structural-thermal-optical performance (STOP) analysis
- Support integration and test (I&T) activities including precision alignment and environmental qualification
Benefits
- variety of health, dental, vision, wellbeing, and retirement plans
- paid time off
- learning
- rideshare
- childcare
- flexible schedule
- parental leave
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
