Manufacturing Engineer - Optics
- US citizenship
- ITAR / US person
How this pay compares
This posting states $85k–$145k a year. Open manufacturing engineer jobs in California post a median of $141k a year, the middle half $130k–$163k, across 205 jobs that state their pay, so this one is below the middle half of what they post.
Manufacturing engineers in California: pay by town and employer
About the job
Voyager is an innovative defense, national security and space technology company committed to advancing and delivering transformative, mission-critical solutions. We tackle the most complex challenges to unlock new frontiers for human progress, fortify national security, and protect critical assets to lead in the race for technological and operational superiority from ground to space.
Forge the Future: Join Voyager Technologies The future belongs to those who build it. At Voyager Technologies, we’re building technologies that protect lives, expand frontiers and prepare us for what’s next. And we’re doing that with people who are wired to solve, build, adapt and lead. These roles are not for the faint of heart. You’ll help lay the foundation for humanity's future.
Join a culture where innovation thrives, curiosity is rewarded, and impact is real. We’re a company of doers, thinkers and builders, united by purpose and grounded in reality. If you want to put your skills to work where the stakes are real and the mission is bigger than any one person, forge the future with Voyager.
Position Summary The Manufacturing Engineer, Optics Lab is responsible for developing, improving, documenting, validating, and sustaining manufacturing processes used to assemble, align, inspect, test, handle, and integrate optical and optomechanical hardware.
This role translates engineering requirements into repeatable production methods and supports operations, optical engineering, quality, supply chain, and program teams to achieve safety, cleanliness, optical performance, quality, delivery, cost, and production-readiness objectives.
Scope and independence increase by level. ## Key Responsibilities - Develop, document, and improve optical and optomechanical manufacturing processes, work instructions, travelers, routings, process specifications, tooling, fixtures, and production controls. - Support new product introduction, prototype builds, pilot production, production release, capacity planning, and sustaining production within the optics lab. - Develop and validate repeatable methods for optical cleaning, handling, bonding, mounting, alignment, focus adjustment, inspection, metrology, and final integration. - Translate optical drawings, alignment requirements, tolerances, test requirements, and contamination controls into executable production documentation and acceptance criteria. - Design, procure , qualify, and sustain optical assembly fixtures, alignment tooling, metrology setups, test equipment, process aids, and environmental controls. - Analyze yield, alignment performance, optical test results, defects, rework, cycle time, labor hours, process capability, and production constraints. - Drive root cause analysis and corrective action for optical performance issues, contamination events, workmanship defects, alignment escapes, equipment variation, and process instability. - Work with optical, mechanical, electrical, test, and quality engineering to improve manufacturability, assembly sequence, tolerance allocation, testability, reliability, and cost. - Support nonconformance reviews, material review board activities, engineering change implementation, and disposition of optical components and assemblies. - Establish process controls for cleanliness, electrostatic discharge, environmental conditions, material shelf life, adhesive preparation and cure, calibration, and tool control as applicable. - Develop training and qualification requirements for optical technicians, assemblers, inspectors, and production leads; provide hands-on build and troubleshooting support. - Support supplier technical reviews, incoming inspection criteria, process transfers, and production readiness for optical components, coatings, assemblies, and specialized services. - Participate in design reviews, production readiness reviews, risk reviews, PFMEA activities, capacity reviews, and continuous improvement events. - Ensure optics-lab manufacturing processes comply with customer requirements, safety practices, quality procedures, configuration controls, and applicable industry standards. - Mentor less experienced engineers and technical personnel as appropriate for level. ## Required Qualifications - Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering , Mechanical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Physics, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical discipline. - Knowledge of manufacturing process development, production documentation, root cause analysis, process validation, and continuous improvement methods. - Working knowledge of optical assembly, alignment, inspection, metrology, precision handling, or optomechanical integration principles. - Ability to interpret engineering drawings, optical drawings, bills of material, specifications, work instructions, test data, and acceptance requirements. - Strong communication , hands-on problem-solving, data analysis, and cross-functional coordination skills. ## Preferred Qualifications - Experience in aerospace, defense, space, medical, laser, imaging, lidar, semiconductor, or other high-reliability optical manufacturing environments. - Experience supporting production optical alignment, precision bonding, optical cleaning, contamination control, metrology, environmental testing, or failure analysis. - Familiarity with interferometers, autocollimators, collimators, alignment telescopes, microscopes, power meters, beam profilers, coordinate measurement systems, or related optical lab equipment. - Familiarity with Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, PFMEA, control plans, statistical process control, measurement system analysis, process capability, and process validation. - Experience with ERP/MRP, MES, PLM, CAD, data-acquisition systems, statistical analysis tools, MATLAB, Python, or similar engineering tools. - Experience with AS9100, ISO 9001, NASA workmanship standards, cleanroom or contamination-control practices, ESD controls, or related production standards.
Must be a U.S. citizen and able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance at the level required for the position and applicable government contract. The position also requires appropriate access eligibility and a need-to-know. Clearance eligibility is determined by the U.S. Government. The good-faith base salary range (OR hourly range) for this role is $125,000–$145,000 at the time of this posting.
Where you fall within the range depends on your experience, skills, and location. This range reflects base salary only and does not include benefits or bonus/ incentive . This range may be adjusted in the future.
Voyager offers a comprehensive, total compensation package, which includes competitive salary, a discretionary annual bonus plan, paid time off (PTO), a comprehensive health benefit package, retirement savings, wellness program, and various other benefits. When you join our team, you’re not just an employee; you become part of a dynamic community dedicated to innovation and excellence. To conform to U.S.
Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Voyager is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. Minority/Female/Disabled/Veteran The statements contained in this job description are intended to describe the general content and requirements for performance of this job.
It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties, responsibilities, and requirements. This job description is not an employment agreement or contract. Management has the exclusive r
From Voyager Technologies's job posting, checked 7 Nov 2026. The employer's own page is the final word on requirements and availability.
Selected agencies hiring now
Sterling EngineeringEngineering and technical staffing agency
Engineering and technical staffing firm for manufacturers, aerospace suppliers among them.
Places: Mechanical, Technicians, Quality
Chipton-RossEngineering and technical staffing agency
Aerospace and defense engineering staffing firm with offices in El Segundo, Long Beach and Playa Del Rey, California, Charleston, Pascagoula and Newport News, placing engineers, designers and technicians 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 space manufacturing and technician jobs in California, 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 Voyager Technologies
Defense, national security and space technology, including the Starlab space station.
Pay on its listings: 85.6% of its open jobs state an hourly rate
How it pays: Paid as an employee on Voyager Technologies's own payroll (salaried or hourly, as each posting states).
More open jobs at Voyager Technologies
- Administrative Assistant$28–$34/hr
- Manufacturing Application Developer
- Energetics Technician I$27/hr
- Chief Engineer$190,000–$250,000/yr
- FPGA Engineering Manager$200,000–$265,000/yr
- Director, Public Relations$200,000–$250,000/yr
More space manufacturing and technician jobs
- Senior Manufacturing Engineer I - Avionics & Test$115,200–$144,000/yr
- Senior Manufacturing Engineer II - Avionics & Test$132,000–$176,000/yr
- Manufacturing Engineer$100,000–$130,000/yr
- Manufacturing Engineer (Tanks)$68,000–$80,000/yr
- CNC Lathe Machinist I and II, Prototype Shop$29–$40/hr
- Manufacturing Engineer, Machining & Additive Associate (Winter 2027)$1,925/wk
A certified technician, machinist or welder?
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.
Voyager Technologies openings, sent to you weekly
Each week we send the newest postings from Voyager Technologies's own careers site, along with similar openings at other space employers. It costs nothing and you can stop anytime.