Staff Mechanical Engineer, Precision Machine and Optomechanical Design

Department: R&D

Location: San Diego

Compensation: $150K – $160K • Offers Equity

Employment Type: FullTime

Staff Mechanical Engineer, Precision Machine and Optomechanical Design

Location: San Diego, CA

Job Type: Full-Time

Salary Range $150,000 - $160,000

Position Overview

As a Staff Mechanical Engineer, you will own the architecture and implementation of precision mechanical and optomechanical subsystems. You will work closely with optical, electrical, firmware, and systems engineers to translate performance requirements into stable, manufacturable hardware.

You are analytical and rigorous, comfortable building and defending error budgets, and equally comfortable in the lab assembling and debugging prototypes. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys precision engineering in real-world systems and wants meaningful technical ownership within a fast-moving startup.

Responsibilities

Precision Machine & Optomechanical System Design

• Develop and own system-level mechanical and optomechanical error budgets (thermal, vibration, alignment, drift, motion accuracy)

• Drive tolerance allocation across subsystems in collaboration with optics, electrical, and systems teams

• Own the design of optomechanical structures and alignment features with stable, repeatable optical mounting strategies accounting for thermal drift, vibration, and long-term stability

• Make principled tradeoffs between performance, cost, manufacturability, and schedule

Analysis & Verification

• Analyze stiffness, deflection, modal response, and thermal expansion using analytical methods and FEA

• Perform hand calculations and simulations to predict performance

• Design validation strategies to verify stability, drift, and repeatability

• Lead root-cause investigations when performance gaps emerge

Prototyping & Integration

• Lead subsystem bring-up and integration during early builds

• Develop alignment procedures and tooling strategies

• Maintain a strong hands-on presence in the lab during critical phases

Manufacturing & Documentation

• Create detailed drawings with proper GD&T

• Drive DFM/DFA for precision assemblies

• Collaborate with vendors on machining processes, material selection, and tolerance capability
  

Qualifications

Required

• B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering or related field

• 8–12+ years of experience in precision mechanical and optomechanical system design

• Demonstrated experience architecting complex precision systems, not just individual components

• Strong foundation in tolerance analysis, error budgeting, and GD&T

• Experience developing and defending analytical models for performance prediction

• Proficiency in 3D CAD (e.g., SolidWorks)

• Significant hands-on experience assembling and troubleshooting precision hardware

Preferred

• Experience in bioinstrumentation, medical devices, microscopy, imaging systems, sequencing, or scientific instrumentation

• Experience with vibration isolation, thermal compensation strategies, and environmental robustness

• Deep familiarity with precision machining processes and vendor capability management

• Experience leading cross-functional technical design reviews

• Experience mentoring engineers

What We’re Looking For

• Systems-level thinker who understands how mechanical architecture governs optical performance

• Highly analytical engineer who builds structured, quantitative design frameworks

• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and defining architecture from first principles

• Hands-on leader who engages directly in prototype builds

• Clear technical communicator who elevates the rigor of the entire team

We are an equal opportunity employer. We thrive on diversity and collaboration.