planetlabs
Opto-Mechanical Engineer
At a Glance
- Location
- San Francisco, California, United States
- Experience
- 4+ years
- Posted
- 2026-02-26T00:02:05-05:00
Key Requirements
Required Skills
Domain Knowledge
- Aerospace
- Defense
- Engineering
- Manufacturing
Requirements
4+ years experience owning the development of opto-mechanical products from requirements through conceptual design, testing and manufacturing
Experience designing for high-reliability space environments including launch survivability, vacuum conditions, on-orbit performance through thermal conditions (STOP)
Experience in the design and fabrication of optical assemblies, incorporating components made from glass, carbon fiber, metals, ceramics, epoxies, as well as mechanisms and electrical elements
Practical and direct engagement with hardware, from prototyping to production and testing phases
Expertise in optics / opto-mechanical manufacturing, metrology, alignment and calibration
Ability to build out the manufacturing line for precision optical systems
Compensation & Benefits
These offerings are dependent on employment type and geographical location, based upon applicable law or company policy.
Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision plans
Health Savings Account (HSA) with a company contribution
Generous Paid Time Off in addition to holidays and company-wide days off
16 Weeks of Paid Parental Leave
Wellness Program and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Responsibilities
The Electro-Optical Systems team at Planet is seeking an Opto-Mechanical Engineer to help drive the design of payloads in Planet’s fleet of Earth-imaging satellites.
Your mission will be to champion our payload design efforts, with a specific focus on opto-mechanical design and manufacturing.
The ideal candidate will be a seasoned opto-mechanical designer who has led optical system engineering efforts across multiple programs from conceptual design through flight.
As a member of the Electro-Optical Systems team within Planet’s Space Systems division, you will be a key contributor and stakeholder in Planet’s agile aerospace approach to spacecraft design, and will work hand-in-glove with optical engineering, structural analysis, thermal engineering, and reliability & qualification, as well as the rest of Planet’s leading-edge spacecraft design and manufacturing teams.