Mechanical Engineer at Observable

Adrian, Michigan, United States

Observable Logo
Not SpecifiedCompensation
Mid-level (3 to 4 years), Senior (5 to 8 years)Experience Level
Full TimeJob Type
UnknownVisa
Aerospace, Space Technology, AstronomyIndustries

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Optical Engineering (or equivalent)
  • 5+ years of relevant experience in aerospace, optics, or mechanical systems
  • Experience with CAD tools (SolidWorks, NX, or similar)
  • Strong understanding of mechanical design fundamentals
  • Effective communicator and collaborator
  • Demonstrated passion for aerospace or observational technologies
  • Proven record of delivering engineered components or systems from concept to production

Responsibilities

  • Design and optimize mechanical and optomechanical components (e.g., telescope tubes, mounts, enclosures, optical supports)
  • Create detailed 3D CAD models, engineering drawings, and bills of materials (BOMs)
  • Perform STOP analysis (Structural, Thermal, Optical Performance) to verify system-level integrity and alignment through operating conditions
  • Conduct FEA simulations for stress, thermal, and vibrational environments
  • Collaborate with optics and software teams to ensure mechanical compatibility with imaging, tracking, and sensing subsystems
  • Support the full product lifecycle—from concept design and prototyping to testing and production
  • Participate in and contribute to design reviews (PDR, CDR, etc.) and internal documentation
  • Provide engineering support during fabrication, QC, assembly, and system validation
  • Mentor junior engineers or lead subsystem efforts (senior level)

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

CADSolidWorksEngineering DrawingsBOMFEASTOP analysisOptomechanicsPrecision Mechanical DesignStructural AnalysisThermal AnalysisVibration Analysis

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

Is this Mechanical Engineer position remote or onsite?

The position is onsite.

What are the basic qualifications for the Mechanical Engineer role?

Basic qualifications include a Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Optical Engineering (or equivalent), 5+ years of relevant experience in aerospace, optics, or mechanical systems, experience with CAD tools like SolidWorks or NX, strong understanding of mechanical design fundamentals, effective communication and collaboration skills, passion for aerospace or observational technologies, and a proven record of delivering components from concept to production.

What preferred skills are there for this Mechanical Engineer position?

Preferred qualifications include proficiency with FEA (ANSYS, Nastran, etc.), tolerance analysis, and DFM principles, as well as a strong grasp of materials, fasteners, and coatings.

What is the salary or compensation for this role?

This information is not specified in the job description.

What kind of team will I be working with as a Mechanical Engineer?

You'll work with a multidisciplinary team of optical, electrical, and software engineers, and may mentor junior engineers or lead subsystem efforts at a senior level.

Observable

Collaborative platform for data visualization

About Observable

Observable provides a platform for data visualization and analytics, allowing users to create, share, and explore data through interactive notebooks. These notebooks are web-based documents that integrate code, data, and visualizations, enabling real-time data manipulation. The platform caters to data scientists, analysts, developers, and educators, making it especially beneficial for academic settings. Users can utilize various templates and examples to enhance their data visualization skills. Observable operates on a freemium model, offering basic features for free while charging for advanced features and services, which appeal to businesses and professional teams. The company also fosters a supportive community through forums and a Slack channel, encouraging collaboration and knowledge sharing among users.

San Francisco, CaliforniaHeadquarters
2017Year Founded
$44.8MTotal Funding
SERIES_BCompany Stage
Data & Analytics, Consumer Software, EducationIndustries
11-50Employees

Risks

Freemium model faces competition from robust free features of Google Data Studio and Power BI.
Observable Cloud may face adoption hurdles if users resist migrating from current setups.
Pressure from investors for rapid growth may lead to strategic shifts alienating users.

Differentiation

Observable allows developers to build custom dashboards using code, unlike legacy BI tools.
The platform offers live, collaborative notebooks for real-time data exploration and iteration.
Observable's open-source framework supports any language or library for instant data app creation.

Upsides

Integration with AI-driven tools enhances insights generation and data interpretation capabilities.
The rise of low-code platforms could expand Observable's user base beyond developers.
Increasing demand for real-time analytics in finance and healthcare presents new opportunities.

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