We are looking for a Mechanical Engineer with 0-4 years of experience to own the mechanical design of compact seeker units at a fast-scaling photonics startup building next-generation defense hardware. You'll be a scrappy, hands-on engineer who prioritizes speed over perfection, working directly under the lead hardware engineer to rapidly turn around prototypes. This is a critical hire: mechanical engineering is where the team is weakest, and you'll be solving problems across optomechanical packaging, vibration and shock analysis, and system integration. Ideal candidates come from aerospace, FSAE, or robotics backgrounds and thrive in ambiguity.
What will you be doing?
Designing and prototyping compact mechanical assemblies that integrate optical, electrical, and structural components, ensuring nothing blocks light paths or misaligns under stress.
Performing vibration, shock, and thermal analysis to validate that hardware survives missile-grade environmental extremes.
Rapidly iterating on prototypes with turnaround measured in days, not months: design it in a week, build it in a week, test it in a week.
Developing optomechanical mounts and packaging that maintain photonic component alignment while minimizing weight and size.
Contributing to the transition from prototype to fabrication-ready designs, thinking about manufacturability from day one.
- 1-4 years of experience in mechanical engineering, with hands-on hardware prototyping in aerospace/defense
- Built real hardware through full design-build-test cycles in aerospace, defense, or robotics
- Experience at a fast-paced hardware company (SpaceX, Tesla, Anduril, or similar)
- FSAE, robotics team, or equivalent hands-on project experience
- Expertise in vibration, shock, and thermal analysis
- Optomechanics and optomechanical design or alignment-sensitive assembly experience
- SolidWorks proficiency for compact electro-optical assemblies
- FEA/structural analysis and rapid prototyping experience
- Familiarity with MIL-STD-810 and Zemax a plus
- Prioritizes speed over perfection; ships prototypes in days not months
- BS in Mechanical Engineering or closely related field
- Robotics or aerospace experience is a plus