Senior Manufacturing Engineer - Space Technologies

Job description

Job responsibilities

• Develop, document, validate, and sustain assembly, integration, alignment, and test processes for space optical systems, precision optomechanical assemblies, and fast steering mirrors.
• Lead manufacturing readiness activities from prototype development through design transfer, qualification builds, and production transition; identify process maturity gaps and implement closure plans.
• Review designs for manufacturability, assembly, alignment access, inspection, testability, serviceability, and cost; address tolerance stacks, datum strategies, and sensitivity to handling and assembly variation.
• Establish methods for handling, cleaning, protecting, packaging, and storing delicate optics and coated surfaces;
• Develop controlled bonding and curing processes, including surface preparation, adhesive mixing and dispensing, bond-line control, fixturing, shimming, cure parameters, and witness coupons or other verification methods…
• Develop FSM assembly processes for mirrors, mounts, flexures, actuators, coils, sensors, wiring, and cables; control polarity, cable routing, keep-out zones, flexure protection, and repeated handling during adjustment.
• Partner with Optical and Test Engineering to establish alignment sequences, metrology setups, reference datums, adjustment methods, and acceptance criteria for optical and electromechanical performance.
• Develop repeatable measurement and test methods for applicable requirements, such as mirror flatness, surface figure, wavefront error, boresight, line-of-sight stability, range of motion, pointing accuracy,…

Job requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Typically 3–7 years of relevant manufacturing or process engineering experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated experience developing and sustaining processes for precision optical, optomechanical, or complex electromechanical products and assemblies.
• Hands-on experience with delicate component handling and precision assembly, alignment, metrology, or performance testing.
• Experience with new product introduction, production transition, design for manufacturability, and cross-functional technical projects.
• Working knowledge of controlled bonding, cleanliness, contamination prevention, precision tooling, and process verification applicable to optical hardware.
• Strong knowledge of root-cause analysis, corrective action, process capability, and continuous-improvement methods.
• Experience creating and maintaining manufacturing documentation and product traceability in a controlled environment.