Optomechanical Integration & Test Engineer

About the role

You will own the end-to-end validation of our optomechanical systems from first prototype to field deployment, defining how we prove that moving optical hardware performs exactly as our energy models predict. You will design and execute measurement campaigns that close the gap between simulation and reality, ensuring every structural and optical assumption is backed by defendable data. You will build the fixtures, instrumentation stacks, and test procedures that turn abstract tracker designs into quantifiable performance metrics under real-world conditions. This role owns the critical bridge between mechanical design and energy yield verification, translating environmental loads into optical errors and then into revenue risk. You will work directly with simulation, controls, and field teams to diagnose underperforming hardware and drive corrective actions that protect our efficiency and reliability guarantees. You will lead the creation of test documentation that investors, regulators, and customers can trust, because your numbers will be the story we tell about our technology. You will mentor junior engineers in best practices for measurement rigor, safety, and reproducibility as the optics group scales. You will treat every test stand as a product, shipping reliable workflows that the rest of the organization depends on for decision-making.

Key facts

What you'll do

Develop and maintain a comprehensive test plan that maps optical performance targets to measurable acceptance criteria for each hardware generation.

Design and fabricate mechanical fixtures, kinematic mounts, and alignment aids that enable repeatable optical measurements in both controlled and outdoor environments.

Integrate sensors, DAQ systems, and control software to capture high-rate positional, thermal, and irradiance data during dynamic tracking tests.

Commission and qualify test stands so that measurement uncertainty is understood, documented, and within tolerance before production decisions are made.

Execute radiometric and angular characterization campaigns to validate that our concentrator optics and tracking strategies deliver the predicted energy output.

Perform structural and thermal analysis in the field, correlating wind, gravity, and thermal gradients with observed optical performance deviations.

Implement data pipelines and analysis notebooks that transform raw test data into clear performance reports and actionable engineering insights.

Partner with simulation and controls teams to refine models using empirical data, closing the loop between predicted and observed behavior.

Drive experiments that isolate failure modes, using measurement evidence to prioritize design changes and field mitigations.

Own the documentation and traceability of every test, ensuring that future teams can reproduce your work without ambiguity or loss of context.

Establish standard operating procedures for safety, calibration, and measurement repeatability across the optics test group.

Coordinate with manufacturing and field deployment teams to ensure that test learnings are incorporated into production hardware.

Lead test campaigns that run continuously for weeks, managing logistics, data integrity, and stakeholder communication throughout.

Champion a culture where every design claim is backed by measured evidence, and where uncertainty is quantified and communicated clearly.

Requirements

You hold a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Physics, or a closely related technical field.

You have demonstrable experience designing test fixtures and measurement systems for optical or precision mechanical hardware.

You are proficient in Python for data analysis, scripting instrument control, and building automated test workflows.

You have hands-on experience with sensors, DAQ hardware, and calibration procedures relevant to strain, displacement, temperature, and irradiance measurement.

You understand structural mechanics concepts such as load paths, stress, deflection, and stability as they apply to large moving optical structures.

You are comfortable with radiometric measurements, including source characterization, detector calibration, and uncertainty budgeting.

You have used optical alignment tools such as interferometers, autocollimators, or laser trackers, or you are prepared to learn them quickly on the job.

You can read and interpret CAD models and technical drawings to guide measurement strategy and troubleshooting.

You have experience working outdoors in demanding environments and coordinating tests that span days or weeks of data collection.

Nice to have

Experience with solar concentrator optics, specular reflection control, or high-flux testing is preferred.

Familiarity with AI-driven test automation or agentic workflows for experiment control is strongly preferred.

Background in photovoltaic or thermal energy systems is a plus for understanding energy yield implications.

Practical notes

This role requires relocation to Miami, FL.

Exowatt provides relocation assistance to support your move.