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Observable Space is a vertically integrated space technology company building precision optics platforms for Earth observation and in-space applications. The company serves NASA, JPL, SpaceX, Boeing, Raytheon, and the US DoD, combining precision opto-mechanical hardware, embedded computing, cloud orchestration, and developer-friendly APIs.
As Director of Mechanical Engineering, you will lead and scale the mechanical engineering team while remaining actively involved in design and development—a player-coach leadership role. You'll provide technical direction across mechanical systems and lead engineers responsible for developing precision optomechanical hardware for advanced sensing platforms.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading design and development of complex mechanical and optomechanical systems (telescope structures, optical support assemblies, mechanisms, precision instrumentation)
- Building, mentoring, and leading a high-performing team of mechanical engineers at varying experience levels
- Owning mechanical engineering execution across multiple development programs, balancing technical quality, schedule, and business priorities
- Leading design reviews, performing engineering trade studies, and providing technical direction throughout the product lifecycle
- Partnering with engineering leadership to define technical roadmaps, organizational growth plans, and engineering priorities
- Guiding structural, thermal, vibration, and tolerance analyses to ensure designs meet performance requirements
- Supporting prototyping, integration, testing, manufacturing, and production by solving challenging technical issues
- Supporting supplier selection, fabrication partners, and manufacturing readiness activities
- Establishing engineering processes, design standards, documentation practices, and quality expectations to enable team scaling
You'll need 10+ years designing complex mechanical systems for aerospace, automotive, robotics, or high-performance hardware industries, with demonstrated experience leading mechanical engineering teams while remaining an active technical contributor. Expert-level CAD proficiency (SolidWorks, Siemens NX, or equivalent) is required, along with strong understanding of FEA, GD&T, tolerance analysis, DFM/DFA, precision machining, fabrication, and assembly. Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related discipline required.
