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Optical Manufacturing Engineer

K2 Space· Vehicle Operations
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Los Angeles, CA$100k - $140kPosted 3w ago

About the role

Optical Manufacturing Engineer at K2 Space, based in Los Angeles, CA. Role focuses on bridging optical design and production for space-qualified, large-aperture telescopes and optical payloads, from initial design feedback to pilot builds and high-rate production.

Responsibilities

  • Collaborate with the Principal Optomechanical Engineer and optical design team to provide DFX guidance across optics, optomechanical mounts, bonded assemblies, and integrated electro-optical hardware for initial design, flight hardware, and tooling
  • Develop manufacturing and assembly processes for space-qualified optical subsystems and large aperture telescopes, including precision inspection and cleaning, adhesive bonding and UV/thermal cure, mounting and torque, and alignment of freespace optics and fiber optic assemblies
  • Design alignment fixtures, bonding and handling tooling, and ground support equipment (GSE) that protect sensitive optics while achieving required tolerances and repeatability
  • Support the evaluation and selection of optical fabrication, assembly, and metrology equipment, and help develop the factory and cleanroom layout for in-house optics production
  • Develop in-process inspections, optical metrology, and end-of-line test methods (e.g., interferometry, autocollimation, wavefront and alignment verification), ensuring accuracy and data traceability across all builds
  • Create and maintain work instructions, travelers, and procedures in the Manufacturing Execution System (MES); lead root cause analysis and corrective action for nonconformances on optical builds
  • Support integration of optical assemblies with their electromechanical interfaces, including harnessing, sensor electronics, thermal management hardware, and machined structures
  • Develop the subassembly build flow and iterate to create an efficient production flow, ensuring build times align with current takt times as production scales
  • Support environmental acceptance and qualification test campaigns (e.g., thermal vacuum, vibration, thermal cycling) on optical assemblies from a build and test-readiness standpoint
  • Partner with a team of optical manufacturing engineers to perform R&D of novel optics manufacturing and alignment technologies for current and future payloads

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in electrical, optical mechanical, aerospace, or other relevant engineering discipline
  • 3+ years of experience in a high volume, rapid production environment in a manufacturing, integration, and/or design engineering role
  • Demonstrated results with product development and/or process improvements
  • Experience setting up a manufacturing/production floor for first article builds
  • Experience designing and implementing technologies for avionics subassembly manufacturing including wire harness manufacturing and PCBA/mechanical enclosure assembly
  • Experience providing DFX guidance on optomechanical designs, with the ability to read and review mechanical and optical drawings, including GD&T and optical tolerance callouts
  • Familiarity with optical metrology equipment such as interferometers, autocollimators, theodolites, laser trackers, and power meters
  • Experience working with FOD, ESD-sensitive hardware, cleanroom requirements, and optical cleaning methods and solvents
  • Familiarity with industry standards governing optical components and assemblies, including optical specification (ISO 10110, MIL-PRF-13830), interferometric measurement (ISO 14999), optical coatings (ISO 9211, MIL-C-48497), contamination control and cleanrooms (ISO 14644, IEST-STD-CC1246), materials outgassing (ASTM E595), adhesive bonding and staking (NASA-STD-8739.1), fiber optic terminations and cable assemblies (NASA-STD-8739.5), ESD control (ANSI/ESD S20.20), and laser safety (ANSI Z136.1, IEC 60825-1)

Skills

Required:DFX guidance for optomechanical designsOptical metrologyManufacturing process designCleanroom and contamination controlMES / manufacturing documentationTooling and fixture designGD&T and optical tolerances

Benefits

  • Base salary range for this role is $100,000 – $140,000 + equity in the company
  • Salary will be based on several factors including knowledge and skills, education, and experience level
  • Comprehensive benefits package including paid time off, medical/dental/vision/ coverage, life insurance, paid parental leave, and many other perks
Last updated Sep 30, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

About K2 Space

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