Sr. Specialist, Opto-Mechanical Engineer (Space Systems)
About the job
L3Harris is dedicated to recruiting and developing high-performing talent who are passionate about what they do. Our employees are unified in a shared dedication to our customers’ mission and quest for professional growth. L3Harris provides an inclusive, engaging environment designed to empower employees and promote work-life success.
Fundamental to our culture is an unwavering focus on values, dedication to our communities, and commitment to excellence in everything we do. L3Harris is the Trusted Disruptor in defense tech.
With customers’ mission-critical needs always in mind, our employees deliver end-to-end technology solutions connecting the space, air, land, sea and cyber domains in the interest of national security. ## Relocation Assistance: Relocation assistance is available to qualified applicants ## Job Description L3Harris is seeking a highly skilled hands-on Mechanical Engineer to support the design and development of space-based infrared sensors and the special test equipment required to deliver high-performance solutions.
The ideal candidate has experience with optical system architectures, opto-mechanical integration, and alignment methods used in precision applications. The Mechanical Engineer will perform design, development, analysis, and manufacturing tasks on complex mechanical hardware including precision space structures and mechanisms in a program team environment.
This role requires technical depth, hands-on problem solving, and close collaboration across multi-disciplinary engineering teams. ## Essential Functions - Contribute to detailed CAD modeling and mechanical design of opto-mechanical structures supporting IR sensors. - Support integration of infrared sensors into spacecraft payload assemblies, collaborating closely with thermal, structural, electrical, and systems engineering. - Perform opto-mechanical analysis including tolerance analysis, sensitivity studies, and alignment error budgets. - Develop and refine precision alignment tools, fixtures, and methodologies required to achieve micron level and arc second accuracy during sensor assembly and integration. - Assist in developing alignment procedures, build instructions, inspection guidelines, and verification documentation. - Execute verification of optical alignment, system performance, and environmental robustness through laboratory measurement, metrology, and test setups. - Provide technical support during optical assembly, test campaigns, and troubleshooting of optical or alignment related anomalies. - Ability to obtain a U.S.
Security Clearance ## Qualifications - Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering and a minimum of 6 years of prior relevant experience. Graduate Degree in Engineering and a minimum of 4 years of prior related experience.
In lieu of a degree, minimum of 10 years of prior related experience. - 2+ years of opto-mechanical analysis including tolerance analysis, sensitivity studies, and alignment error budgets. - 2+ years of experience CAD modeling and mechanical design of opto-mechanical structures ## Preferred Additional Skills - Experience designing for a space environment. - Hold a current security Clearance - Familiarity with precision metrology tools (interferometers, laser trackers, autocollimators, coordinate metrology systems like CMM/FARO). - Understanding of space environmental qualification (thermal vacuum, random vibration, shock, radiation). - Experience creating assembly tooling or fixtures for high accuracy optical systems. - Proficiency in CAD and/or optical analysis tools (SolidWorks, Creo, Zemax, Code V, OpticStudio, or similar) - Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly and work effectively in cross functional teams - Experience conducting analysis of space environments - including thermal gradients, vibration, radiation, and contamination - and their impact on optical performance and stability. #LI-RK1 L3Harris Technologies is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.
L3Harris is committed to treating all employees and applicants for employment with respect and dignity and maintaining a workplace that is free from unlawful discrimination.
All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or other related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, characteristic or membership in any other group protected by federal, state or local laws.
L3Harris maintains a drug-free workplace and performs pre-employment substance abuse testing and background checks, where permitted by law. Please be aware many of our positions require the ability to obtain a security clearance. Security clearances may only be granted to U.S. citizens.
In addition, applicants who accept a conditional offer of employment may be subject to government security investigation(s) and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.
By submitting your resume for this position, you understand and agree that L3Harris Technologies may share your resume, as well as any other related personal information or documentation you provide, with its subsidiaries and affiliated companies for the purpose of considering you for other available positions. L3Harris Technologies is an E-Verify Employer.
Please click here for the E-Verify Poster in English or Spanish . For information regarding your Right To Work, please click here for English or Spanish .
From L3Harris's job posting, checked 7 Nov 2026. The employer's own page is the final word on requirements and availability.
Selected agencies hiring now
Contract Professionals Inc (CPI)Engineering and technical staffing agency
Aerospace and defense staffing firm in Waterford, Michigan, placing engineers, maintenance technicians, mechanics, welders and CNC machinists.
Places: Propulsion, Mechanical, Avionics, RF & Payloads
NESC Staffing (Nesco Resource)Engineering and technical staffing agency
Engineering and technical staffing firm placing engineers, designers, technicians and manufacturing staff on contract and direct hire.
Places: Mechanical, Avionics, Systems & Test, Technicians
These agencies and apps pay SpaceJobs.Now a referral fee when someone we introduce is placed or signs up. It costs you nothing and never changes your pay. Employers' own jobs below keep their own order.
Sponsored jobs from job networks, which pay SpaceJobs.Now when you click one.
Free tools for this application: check your resume against this job, answer the application's questions or see every free tool.
New mechanical, structures and thermal engineering jobs in space in Indiana, by email
One email a week with the newest ones, straight from the employers' own careers sites, with the pay each posting states. Free, stop anytime.
About L3Harris
Satellites, space sensors and rocket engines, inside a defense and aerospace prime.
Pay on its listings: 41.4% of its open jobs state an hourly rate
How it pays: Paid as an employee on L3Harris's own payroll (salaried or hourly, as each posting states).
More open jobs at L3Harris
- Associate Manager, Integration and Test Engineering 1
- Scientist, Systems Engineering (Chief Systems Engineer): Sign-on bonus ($50k max) 1
- Specialist, Electrical Engineering
- Principal, Program Management
- Specialist, Software Engineer (Cloud Developer)
- Sr Specialist, Structural Mechanical Engineer (Space Optical Payloads)
More mechanical, structures and thermal engineering jobs in space
- Loads & Dynamics Engineer (Starshield)$100,000–$160,000/yr
- Spacecraft Dynamics Engineer$136,000–$220,000/yr
- Senior Spacecraft Mechanical Engineer$150,000–$200,000/yr
- Senior Spacecraft Mechanical Engineer - Composites and Structures$175,000–$215,000/yr
- Vehicle Structures Engineer I (Heat Shield)$90,000–$136,000/yr
- Strength Analyst 3$99,604–$166,007/yr
A mechanical, structures or thermal engineer?
One profile for every employer here. Space companies and their recruiters ask us for people with a specific degree, clearance, specialty or location: add yours once, and when a job fits, we introduce you, only with your yes. Free.
L3Harris openings, sent to you weekly
Each week we send the newest postings from L3Harris's own careers site, along with similar openings at other space employers. It costs nothing and you can stop anytime.