Senior Optomechanical Engineer I​/II

About Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab is an end‑to‑end space company delivering responsive launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, payloads, satellite components, and more – all with the goal of opening access to space. The rockets and satellites we build and launch enable some of the most ambitious and vital space missions globally, supporting scientific exploration, Earth observation, and missions to combat climate change, national security, and exciting new technology demonstrations.

Location:

Rocket Lab Robotics, Pasadena, CA. This position can be hired as a Senior Optomechanical Engineer I or Senior Optomechanical Engineer II.

The Senior Optomechanical Engineer is responsible for leading mechanical design efforts for optical payloads, camera systems, precision mechanisms, sensor assemblies, tooling, fixtures, ground support equipment, and electromechanical hardware. You will translate program, payload, production, and test needs into practical opto‑mechanical architectures and drive approved designs through design, analysis, review, procurement, assembly, integration, precision alignment, environmental test, qualification, and flight delivery.

• Lead assigned opto‑mechanical and precision mechanical design projects, including defining scope, requirements, schedules, technical risks, project milestones, and verification approaches.
• Own opto‑mechanical hardware through its full lifecycle, including design, analysis, review, procurement, vendor coordination, assembly, integration, precision alignment, environmental test, qualification, and flight delivery.
• Partner with electrical, software, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and test teams to identify requirements, perform trade studies, evaluate alternatives, and recommend practical build‑ready mechanical solutions.
• Develop opto‑mechanical hardware for camera systems, optical payloads, sensor assemblies, lens and filter mounts, etc.
• Design precision mechanisms used with optical and sensor systems, including pointing assemblies, adjustable mounts, focus mechanisms, launch locks, limited‑angle actuation systems, motorized stages, gimbals, and alignment tooling.
• Develop tooling, fixtures, and ground support equipment used for assembly, integration, alignment, inspection, test, and production support of opto‑mechanical and electromechanical hardware.
• Define mechanical architectures, interfaces, packaging, tolerance approaches, alignment concepts, and integration plans for opto‑mechanical and electromechanical hardware.
• Design hardware with appropriate attention to stiffness, thermal stability, alignment retention, tolerance stack‑up, vibration environments, contamination control, manufacturability, and ease of assembly and test.
• Perform and support structural, thermal, tolerance, and structural‑thermal‑optical performance analyses to verify that opto‑mechanical hardware meets alignment, stability, and performance requirements.
• Own complex component and subsystem designs and guide design decisions using hand calculations, tolerance analyses, FEA, STOP analysis, prototyping, inspection data, and test results.
• Support integration and test activities, including hardware checkout, precision alignment, environmental testing, qualification testing, troubleshooting, test fixture development, and review of test data.
• Lead design, manufacturing, and test reviews with engineering, production, quality, supply chain, and test stakeholders; document actions and drive closure.
• Create and maintain product definition using Solid Works, including 3D CAD models, production drawings, interface details, bills of material, assembly documentation, test procedures, work instructions, and supporting design analyses.
• Coordinate vendors, fabricated components, budgets, schedules, and build priorities to support program commitments.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to opto‑mechanical design standards, best practices, design‑for‑manufacture improvements, and lessons learned for Rocket Lab Robotics hardware.

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, optical,…