Job Description & Details
This is a heavy-duty design role where you'll be building advanced sensor systems for short-duration R&D projects. If you enjoy working in small teams on rapid prototypes that span optical, mechanical, thermal, and electronic domains, this gig offers a great mix of hands-on engineering and complex CAD modeling. You'll be bridging the gap between raw engineering concepts and manufacturable hardware, meaning your drawings and assemblies actually have to work in the physical world.
What You'll Actually Be Doing
Expect to spend a lot of your time translating engineer sketches into precise layout, detail, and assembly drawings using tools like SolidWorks or CATIA. You won't just be pushing pixels, though; you'll check dimensions, evaluate material choices, verify how parts interact in larger assemblies, and maintain bill of materials alongside design calculations. You'll juggle multiple short-term projects (roughly 6 to 18 months each), collaborating closely with subject matter experts to deliver robust opto-mechanical prototypes.
The Core Tech Stack
SolidWorks or alternative advanced CAD software is your bread and butter here, alongside a deep intuition for complex mechanical assemblies and mechanisms. Because this is heavily focused on opto-mechanics, you need a strong grasp of how optical components integrate with structural and thermal subsystems. Familiarity with standard manufacturing techniques like machining and sheet metal is a must, and experience with military standards or mil-spec hardware will give you a massive edge.
Interview Expectations
When they quiz you on your CAD background, expect them to ask how you handle complex assembly management, mating conditions, and revision control when design changes drop mid-flight. They want to see how you troubleshoot tolerance stack-ups in opto-mechanical assemblies, so be ready to walk through a specific project where your design prevented an alignment failure during testing.
Application Advice
Make sure your resume explicitly highlights your hands-on experience with opto-mechanical design and complex assemblies rather than just general drafting. Sprinkle in exact keywords from the listing—such as SolidWorks, thermal analysis, structural analysis, and EO/IR systems—so your profile easily clears the automated screen. If you have any background working with military specs or rapid prototyping, bring those front and center.