Senior Mechanical & Controls Engineer

Diffraqtion is developing the Quantum Vision System, a device that replaces a conventional camera and edge AI processor by computing at the speed of light. We are a small team founded by MIT and Harvard scientists with deep roots in AI, optics, and quantum sensing, and backed by DARPA, NASA, and leading venture investors. We are delivering orders-of-magnitude improvements in visual sensing, processing speed, and energy efficiency for machines and satellites that need to see and think at the edge.

We are looking for a Senior Mechanical & Controls Engineer to support integration of opto-mechanical systems into ground-based and space-based camera systems. You will own pointing, acquisition, and tracking (PAT) hardware and controls, taking concepts from prototype through flight qualification and operation.

You bring deep, hand‑on control systems expertise and a track record of shipping precision pointing systems for ground or space environments. This is a chance to lead the mechanical side of a first-of-its-kind system headed to orbit.

NOTE:

This position requires access to technical data subject to U.S. export control laws, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Applicants who are not U.S. persons may need an export license or other U.S. government authorization before receiving that access.

• Own the productization of pointing, acquisition, and tracking (PAT) opto‑mechanical subsystems, guiding coarse‑pointing and fine‑steering systems from prototype through field and flight qualification.

• Design opto‑mechanical and electro‑mechanical assemblies for pointing and beam steering, including gimbals, fast steering mirrors (FSMs), telescope mounts and adapters, relay optics, focus and tip/tilt mechanisms, and fiber‑coupling stages.

• Lead the mechanical integration of Diffraqtion's opto‑mechanical payloads into ground‑based and space‑based systems, defining and owning mechanical interface control documents (ICDs).

• Architect, model, and tune control systems including servo loop design (PID, lead/lag, state‑space), feed forward, and disturbance rejection.

• Develop pointing and line‑of‑sight error budgets covering base motion, jitter, thermal drift, and control‑loop residuals, and flow them down to component requirements.

• Perform structural, thermal, modal, and structural‑thermal‑optical performance (STOP) analysis to verify line‑of‑sight stability and wavefront error budgets for observatory environments (wind, temperature, seismic) and launch and on‑orbit environments.

• Select and specify space‑qualified materials and processes to meet NASA/ASTM E595 requirements, and maintain the program's materials and processes (M&P) list and contamination control approach.

• Work with spacecraft GNC/ADCS teams to integrate the payload with attitude determination and control, including star trackers, gyros and IMUs, reaction wheels, and payload‑based fine guidance.

• Apply design for manufacturing and assembly (DFM/DFA) throughout to produce drawings with GD&T, run tolerance stack-ups, and work with machine shops, suppliers, and contract manufacturers to transition designs to repeatable production.

• Lead hands‑on alignment, integration, test, and environmental qualification (thermal, thermal vacuum, vibration, and shock) of optical assemblies, and correlate results to models.

• Lead acquisition and tracking field campaigns at telescope and ground station sites, including on‑sky verification and troubleshooting under real atmospheric conditions.

• Provide technical leadership and mentoring to junior engineers and co‑ops, and produce clear design documentation, test reports, and progress updates for stakeholders.

• B.S. in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical or…