Principal Mechanisms Engineer, Optical

Responsibilities

• Deliver design and tolerancing for coarse pointing assemblies supporting large aperture optical payloads
• Manage line-of-sight error budgeting and stabilization analysis
• Develop environmental test and qualification plans
• Create supply chain and high-volume manufacturing plans
• Execute ground- and in-flight performance validation plans
• Collaborate with optical and satellite bus teams to determine requirements
• Own top-level CAD assemblies and coordinate placement on the bus
• Prepare design reviews and communicate with hardware, software, and manufacturing teams
• Refine program deliverables and schedules
• Evaluate and select manufacturing equipment for specialty processes
• Partner with production to develop work instructions and test procedures

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, or relevant engineering
• 8+ years of experience in optomechanics, electromechanical mechanisms, or electrical/mechanical design and testing
• Deep experience with CAD and FEA software (NX, Simcenter, FEMAP, or Hypermesh)
• 3+ years of experience with programming languages (Python, Rust, C++, or MATLAB)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with precision optical mechanisms and gimbal architectures
• Knowledge of 2-axis gimbal design for space applications
• Experience closing line-of-sight performance budgets through analysis and controls integration
• Familiarity with precision actuation, sensing, and control technologies (encoders, gyros, IMUs)
• Experience designing harness routing and cable management for rotating mechanisms
• Experience leading mechanism hardware through the full product life cycle
• Experience with spacecraft-level alignment and calibration planning
• Familiarity with NASA-STD-5017, SMC-S-016, and GSFC-STD-7000

About the Company

K2 is building the largest and highest-power satellites ever flown, mass-producing high-power satellite platforms for missions from LEO to deep space.