Job Description

Mission

Aetherflux's mission is to deliver energy to planet Earth. Our work will make energy more accessible, establish American energy independence, power underdeveloped and disaster-stricken areas, and protect American warfighters.

Background

Aetherflux is taking a new approach to an old idea called space solar power. Our constellation of satellites will collect sunlight in Low Earth Orbit, convert it to electricity, and transmit power through infrared lasers to ground stations, providing reliable energy access where traditional delivery is expensive, challenging, or dangerous.

Current energy systems rely on complex logistics and outdated infrastructure, making them vulnerable to natural disasters, extreme weather, and physical and cyber attacks. Aetherflux overcomes these challenges by enabling direct, on-demand, secure, and scalable 24-hour energy distribution from space. This can revolutionize energy generation and delivery, and enable new capabilities as we deliver power to remote regions, military bases, bespoke operations, and unmanned autonomous systems.

Baiju Bhatt, who also co-founded Robinhood, founded Aetherflux in 2024. Inspired by his father’s career at NASA, Baiju earned his B.S. in Physics and M.S. in Mathematics at Stanford before starting Robinhood, now a public company that has helped over 20 million Americans access the financial system. Aetherflux is currently self-funded through a $10 million investment from Baiju.

This is an ambitious mission that demands extraordinary talent. Aetherflux’s team has worked at places like Robinhood, SpaceX, NASA, Anduril, JPL, and the U.S. Navy, and is based in San Carlos, CA. If you're ready to solve complex technical challenges and help build the most important energy company in the world, we want to hear from you.

Overview

The Opto-Mechanical Engineer at Aetherflux will support the development and integration of space-based energy transmission systems. You will be responsible for the structural, thermal, and mechanical design of satellite components and payloads, ensuring they withstand the harsh environment of space while optimizing performance and manufacturability.

Responsibilities

• Mechanical Design & Analysis: Develop, optimize, and validate mechanical structures, thermal systems, and electromechanical assemblies for space applications.
• Satellite Payload Integration: Work closely with electrical, optical, and software engineers to integrate payloads into spacecraft platforms.
• Thermal Management: Design and analyze thermal control systems to ensure component reliability in space environments.
• Structural Integrity: Perform structural and dynamic analysis (FEA, hand calculations) to validate hardware performance under launch and orbital conditions.
• Materials Selection: Identify and implement advanced materials and manufacturing methods to enhance satellite performance and durability.
• Prototyping & Testing: Build, test, and develop hardware designs to validate system performance through vibration, thermal vacuum, and environmental testing.
• Spacecraft Manufacturing Support: Develop fabrication and assembly processes to transition designs from prototyping to full-scale production.
• Design for Space Environment: Ensure compliance with spaceflight requirements, including radiation tolerance, thermal expansion, and structural loads.
• Collaboration: Partner with optics, thermal, electrical, and software engineers to develop fully integrated satellite systems.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
• 3+ years of experience in opto-mechanical design, precision engineering, or laser system development.
• Hands-on experience with optical and mechanical design tools such as Zemax, Code V, SolidWorks, or ANSYS.
• Knowledge of structural and thermal analysis techniques for space-based systems.
• Experience with alignment techniques for high-precision optical systems.
• Familiarity with spaceflight hardware qualification and environmental testing standards.
• Proficiency in GD&T principles and experience designing for manufacturability and assembly.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s or PhD in Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 5+ years of experience designing and developing opto-mechanical systems for space or aerospace applications.
• Experience with adaptive optics, beam steering mechanisms, and optical metrology techniques.
• Knowledge of lightweight, high-stiffness materials and athermal optical designs.
• Experience with cryogenic optics and extreme temperature stability requirements.
• Familiarity with free-space optical communication and laser power transmission systems.
• Proficiency in Python or MATLAB for modeling and data analysis.

Benefits

• Employees and their eligible dependents may enroll in medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement savings plan
• Unlimited paid time off
• 10 paid holidays per calendar year
• Paid leave for new parents
• Relocation assistance

Disclaimer

This job description is a summary of the primary duties and responsibilities of the job and position. It is not intended to be a comprehensive or all-inclusive listing of duties and responsibilities. Contents are subject to change at Aetherflux’s discretion.

Aetherflux is an equal employment opportunity employer. We consider individuals for employment or promotion according to their skills, abilities and experience. Aetherflux is committed to complying with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religious creed, age, national origin, ancestry, physical, mental or developmental disability, sex (which includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and medical conditions relating to pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding), veteran status, military status, marital or registered domestic partnership status, medical condition (including cancer or genetic characteristics), genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, as well as any other category protected by federal, state or local laws.

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR .

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