Lead Mechanical Engineer

The Lead Mechanical Engineer will lead the design, analysis, and integration of high-performance opto-mechanical systems, focusing on telescopes, beam directors, and related instruments. This role requires coordination with multiple engineering disciplines and requires strong leadership abilities, including mentor development. Responsibilities include CAD modeling, FEA, and managing vendor fabrication. The position also contributes to program planning and risk management.

Requirements

• Lead the design of large telescope structures, mounts, and optical support assemblies.
• Perform or oversee FEA for gravity sag, thermal distortion, thermal management, wind loading, and dynamic response.
• Participate in the characterization of system and component-level optical performance.
• Develop mirror support mounts, metering structures, and precision, multi-degree of freedom positioning actuators.
• Coordinate across disciplines to ensure functional and performance requirement compliance.
• Manage CAD modeling, detailed drawing generation, and tolerance budgeting.
• Integrate mechanical designs with subsystems such as drives, bearings, enclosures, and thermal management systems.
• Define technical requirements, support procurement, and oversee vendor fabrication/testing.
• Lead risk reduction activities.
• Mentor junior engineers.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Experience with Configuration Management.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation program