Staff Optomechanical Engineer

Zipline•South San Francisco, CA

12h•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a Staff Optomechanical Engineer to lead end-to-end mechanical development for camera modules, camera brackets/mounts, and camera clearing for drone/UAV applications. In this role, you will own mechanical architecture from concept through production, ensuring robust performance across vibration, shock, thermal, environmental exposure, and flight operations. You will partner closely with electrical, optical, firmware, manufacturing, and flight-test teams to deliver a camera hardware system that meets strict weight, stiffness, alignment, reliability, and perception targets.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Mechanical/Opto-Mechanical Engineering or related discipline
7+ years of hands-on experience designing and delivering camera hardware (Module & Clearing Systems)
Strong understanding of optical & perception related specifications
Deep knowledge of a-thermalization & design methods to optimize for mass
Design experience with Die Cast, Thixomolding, MIM, Injection Molding, CNC Machining
Proficiency in Solid Mechanics, Thermals, CFD
Familiarity with optical coatings; hydrophobic, hydrophilic, oleophobic, UV, HC, AR, AF
Excellent communication and collaboration skills across engineering disciplines
Must be eligible to work in the U.S.

Nice To Haves

Full life cycle ownership experience for mechanical thermal solutions
Experience designing and testing single cell failure and propagation mitigation strategies
Experience with high-volume final assembly and test (thousands to millions units per year)
Experience designing safety-critical aerospace or automotive products
Familiarity with rigid and flexible PCB manufacturing: you may not know how to do the layout, but you know how it all mechanically comes together
NX is your primary CAD tool

Responsibilities

Own the complete mechanical development lifecycle for Zipline’s camera hardware system: defining requirements, concept design, CAD, analysis, prototyping, DFMEA, DVP&R, DFM/DFA, release, and production support.
Translate optical & perception system requirements into mechanical specifications that then shape the final design
Lead trade studies, balancing cross functional inputs to optimize for the full camera system which includes: Module, Module Clearing, Module Integration, Module Interconnects
Perform or guide FEA/CFD (static, modal, thermal) and correlate models to test data.
Lead root-cause investigations for mechanical failures and implement corrective actions.
Shape the architecture of Zipline’s next generation camera system products making impactful design decisions daily, while working with a high level of independence.
Partner with suppliers/CMs to refine designs for cost, yield and assembly efficiency
Travel occasionally to support supplier and manufacturer visit, product deployment, and field validation