Lead Opto-Mechanical Engineer

Job Title: Lead Opto-Mechanical Engineer

Job Category: Engineering

Time Type: Full time

Minimum Clearance Required to Start: None

Employee Type: Regular

Percentage of Travel Required: Up to 10%

Type of Travel: Continental US

CACI is looking for a Lead Opto-Mechanical Engineer to join our Photonics team-- we are expanding! Our laser communications technology is helping NASA provide high-definition video from the International Space Station, and to explore asteroids 250 million miles away. Our other optical technology can also help scientists discover biohazards; support intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions; and protect soldiers from explosive devices. Do you have a passion for innovation? Apply now and join the team!

• Under limited direction design the packaging for complex subsystems with optical, photonic, optoelectronic, electrical, and mechanical elements for R&D and production programs for U.S. government customers.
• Own mechanical designs from concept through flight qualification, including requirements definition, trade studies, and detailed design.
• Collaborate with optical engineers to translate optical prescriptions into robust mechanical designs.
• Design optical mounts and systems for launch loads, vibration, shock, thermal cycling, and vacuum environments.
• Collaborate with and manage 3rd party vendors to resolve specification, performance, and reliability issues to realize the commercial and custom parts necessary to build the system.
• Support integration, alignment, and test (I&T) activities, including environmental testing and troubleshooting
• Lead a team of other designers, analysts, and engineering professionals, developing the technical direction and providing guidance and mentorship.
• Provide input to project schedules and budget, ensuring timely completion and high-quality outcomes.

Required:

• BS in Mechanical Engineering and a minimum of 10 years of related experience or equivalent combination of education, skills, and experience.
• Proficient use of computer-aided design software, with SolidWorks preferred.
• Experience working with optomechanical systems, precision structures, or high-stability mechanical assemblies.
• Strong understanding of optical mounts, materials, tolerancing, and alignment techniques.
• Takes full ownership of assigned projects, and exhibits strong leadership skills by guiding and mentoring team members to achieve project goals.
• Familiarity with Design for Manufacturing (DFM), with experience applying these principles to improve product quality and manufacturability.
• Must be a US Citizen.

Desired:

• Demonstrated expertise in the design of complex subsystems with optical, photonic, optoelectronic, electrical, and mechanical elements.
• Involvement with gimbal systems or other precision motion control mechanisms, including design, integration, and optimization for applications in optical systems or robotics.
• Familiarity with material behavior in space environments, such as CTE matching, thermal gradients, and outgassing considerations.
• Proven experience conducting static, modal, thermal, nonlinear, or dynamic simulations using FEA solvers (Ansys or Nastran), or collaborating with analysts to ensure adequate margin and performance.
• Experience in optical and electronic subassembly layout including board physical design, chassis or enclosure design, optical fiber routing, and electrical and optical connector selection.
• Experience in creating or contributing to project schedules, estimating effort, and managing labor budgets.
• Master's degree preferred

-