PitchMeAI Jobs
Planet

Opto-Mechanical Engineer

Planet · San Francisco, CA

Posted about 3 months ago

or apply directly on Planet's site. We never take the application ourselves.

Is this posting real?

This role has been open
80 days
Planet's roles stay open a median of 70 days
Reposted
No
Salary listed
No
0% of Planet's roles list one
Ghost-job risk at Planet
high
124 stale, 12 reposted of 127 open
Hiring momentum
156 roles opened in the last 90 days
↑ up vs. the prior 90 days
Last confirmed on the employer's board
2026-10-23

Measured from postings appearing on and disappearing from Planet's own greenhouse board since 2026-08-03. Full hiring picture for Planet.

About this role

As an Opto-Mechanical Engineer at Planet, you will focus on the design and manufacturing of optical payloads for Earth-imaging satellites. Your responsibilities will include leading the opto-mechanical design process, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and ensuring that payloads meet various performance requirements. This role requires hands-on engagement with hardware and involves driving projects from conceptual design through to testing and production.

Our read on this posting3.0out of 5
benefits
5/5
freshness
1/5
career value
4/5
role clarity
5/5
pay transparency
0/5

Scored from the posting itself — how clearly the role is described, how much it says about pay and benefits, and how recently it was listed. Not a judgement of Planet as an employer.

What you need

  • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field
  • 4+ years experience owning the development of opto-mechanical products from requirements through conceptual design, testing and manufacturing
  • Experience designing for high-reliability space environments including launch survivability, vacuum conditions, on-orbit performance through thermal conditions (STOP)
  • Experience in the design and fabrication of optical assemblies, incorporating components made from glass, carbon fiber, metals, ceramics, epoxies, as well as mechanisms and electrical elements
  • Practical and direct engagement with hardware, from prototyping to production and testing phases
  • Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills

Nice to have

  • Expertise in optics / opto-mechanical manufacturing, metrology, alignment and calibration
  • Ability to build out the manufacturing line for precision optical systems
  • Experience with dynamic hardware builds, vibration and shock testing, telescope assembly, and optical performance testing
  • Experience applying systems engineering principles to optimize optical payload integration, focusing on requirements management, trade-off analysis, and balancing system-level constraints such as cost, schedule, and performance
  • Ability to drive manufacturers and DFM/DFA

What you get

  • Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision plans
  • Health Savings Account (HSA) with a company contribution
  • Generous Paid Time Off in addition to holidays and company-wide days off
  • 16 Weeks of Paid Parental Leave
  • Wellness Program and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • Home Office Reimbursement

Worth weighing

  • Full-time, in-office position based in San Francisco 5 days per week
  • No specific mention of remote work options for this role
  • The job requires access to export-controlled information, which may limit candidate eligibility
  • The salary range is provided but may vary based on experience and location, so candidates should inquire further during the hiring process

Summarised from Planet's posting. Read the full original.

Listed by Planet on their greenhouse job board, last confirmed open on 2026-10-23. PitchMeAI is not the employer.

More roles at Planet

All 127 open roles at Planet →