Lead Opto-Mechanical Engineer

GalaxEye aims to shape the future of Satellite Image Acquisition, providing the most meaningful datasets, thus helping businesses and governments make data-driven decisions based on insights from satellite imagery. We design and build advanced remote-sensing satellites and develop value-added services for geospatial analytics and infrastructure customers.

Team & Culture:

You’ll join a tight, multidisciplinary payload group that owns the MSI instrument end-to-end: mission-driven requirements, optical/opto-mechanical design, camera + control electronics, firmware/FPGA, and hands-on integration & testing. We operate like a true startup engineering squad direct communication, rapid problem-solving, and shared ownership. Decisions are made with a systems mindset, and plans turn into hardware quickly. Expect deep collaboration with data, business, and spacecraft teams as we mature the payload from prototype to flight-ready hardware.

Role :

You will own opto-mechanical design, analysis, integration, and qualification of a Multispectral Imager (MSI) payload for space applications. This is a hands-on role spanning precision opto-mechanics, structural/thermal/dynamics analysis, build & alignment, environmental testing (vibe/TVAC), and documentation -working closely with optics, detector/ROIC, electronics, and systems engineering.

Responsibilities

• Design and analyze opto-mechanical assemblies for MSI payload subsystems (lens/telescope, focal plane module, baffles, mounts, mechanisms if any).

• Manage optical-mechanical interfaces: alignment features, shimming strategy, tolerance stack-ups, thermal focus stability, stray light baffle interfaces.

• Perform or lead simulations for static strength, thermal gradients, thermo-elastic deformation, and focus/boresight stability.

• Assess thermal paths for vacuum conduction cooling; support heater/thermistor placement and thermal straps.

• Execute modal, sine, and random vibration analysis; define and verify stiffness targets and resonance margins.

• Own design for launch load survivability and optical alignment retention.

• Hands-on build of prototypes and engineering models; develop alignment and integration procedures.

• Plan and execute optical-mechanical verification tests; support metrology, collimator/goniometer/interferometer-based checks as needed.

• Lead mechanical aspects of vibration, shock (if applicable), and thermovac campaigns: test readiness, fixtures, instrumentation, correlation vs models, NCR/RCA closure.

• Design test fixtures and support tooling (including whiffletree-style supports for large optics where relevant), MGSE concepts, and alignment jigs.

• Produce and maintain drawings, GD&T, BOMs, assembly instructions, tolerance reports, test reports, and change logs.

Must-have Qualifications

• B.E./B.Tech/M.E. in Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent).

• 2-4+ years hands-on opto-mechanical experience in precision mechanisms or EO/IR payloads (space/defense/industrial imaging acceptable).

• Strong SolidWorks or NASTRAN (or equivalent CAD): complex assemblies, sheet metal, drawings, configurations.

• Working knowledge of optical alignment and tolerancing methods(CTE effects, stability, mounts, kinematic design concepts).

• Ability to do structural + thermal analysis (ANSYS / NASTRAN / similar) and interpret results for design decisions.

• Experience supporting integration & environmental tests (vibe and/or TVAC strongly preferred).

• Be the SME for the Opto Mechanical design, create AIT and execute AIT test plans for building payloads and TVAC, Vibration testing with space garage testing.

• Good engineering discipline: documentation, review readiness, systematic debugging and Systems thinking.

Good-to-have

• Experience with hyperspectral / multispectral cameras, star sensors, telescope/periscope structures.

• Thermal design for vacuum: conductive cooling, thermal straps, heater control concepts, contamination-aware design.

• Familiarity with space materials and processes: anodize, passivation, bonding/adhesives, torque specs, locking features.

• Experience designing MGSE / alignment tooling; metrology experience.

• Understanding of ECSS/NASA design review expectations and FMEA/FTA exposure.

What we look for :

• Comfortable owning problems end-to-end: design → analysis → build → test → fix → document.

• Bias for action and practical engineering judgment (trade-offs: mass, stiffness, thermal stability, manufacturability).

• Clear communicator who can work tightly with optics/electronics/systems.