Opto-Mechanical Engineer

Power the future of Space at Star Catcher

Star Catcher is powering the future of space by building the world’s first orbital energy grid: the Star Catcher Network. Spacecraft connect into the Star Catcher Network and receive conditioned energy via their existing solar arrays, requiring no retrofit to utilize the first true space-based infrastructure. The Star Catcher Network provides power as needed from tens of Watts to tens of thousands of Watts at concentrations from fractions of a Sun of flux to ten Suns of flux.

The Star Catcher Network enables More Uptime, More Bandwidth, and More Mission.

Join our team of experienced and passionate space innovators driven to transform and expand humanity’s utilization of space. The creation of space-based power infrastructure is as impactful for space missions in the 2020’s and 2030’s as the advent of low-cost launch services was in the 2010’s. We seek individuals who share our passion for enabling people to do more in space and are not afraid to get their hands dirty to make our vision of the future reality.

Star Catcher, located in Jacksonville, FL, has an opportunity for an Opto-Mechanical Engineer to support the development of space-to-space power beaming spacecraft and the Star Catcher Network, its orbital power grid. Responsible for design, analysis, and integration of opto-mechanical systems and components used spacecraft, satellites, and other space-related technologies.  

Responsibilities:

• Designing and developing opto-mechanical systems, including optical components, mechanical structures, and alignment mechanisms.
• Collaborating with engineering teams to integrate opto-mechanical systems into spacecraft and satellite platforms and serving as a bridge between the mechanical and optical engineering teams during system design efforts.
• Ensuring compliance with mission requirements, optical performance requirements and compatibility with other systems and components.
• Leading onsite precision alignment, mounting, and stabilization efforts.
• Developing and executing test and validation plans for opto-mechanical systems, and performing performance and reliability testing to validate system functionality and compliance with specifications.
• Conducting optical and mechanical analysis to ensure system performance and reliability, and reducing risk of optical system failure.
• Addressing and resolving technical issues related to opto-mechanical systems.
• Preparing and maintaining detailed documentation, including design specifications, test reports, and technical manuals.
• Working closely with a cross-functional engineering team to resolve integration and performance issues.
• Managing project timelines, resources, and budgets related to opto-mechanical engineering tasks.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Optical Engineering, or a related field or a related field, Master’s or PhD preferred.
• At least five years of experience designing, analyzing and building opto-mechanical systems in an aerospace manufacturing environment or other relevant industry experience.
• Strong understanding of the unique requirements and challenges associated with opto-mechanical systems for space missions.
• Minimum 2 years Zemax lens design (CodeV ok), basic experience with stray light analysis (FRED, LightTools, Zemax non-sequential, or similar), and basic CAD expertise. 
• Fiber optics skills including cleaving, splicing, combining, core-alignment, connector termination, high density fiber routing, reflection/attenuation management, fiber inspection, loss budgeting/link engineering.
• Experience building vendor relationships and managing custom optical component procurement and logistics.
• Basic testing and metrology skills such as interferometry and the use of autocollimators.
• Basic understanding of optical surface fabrication/polishing techniques and associated errors and aberrations.
• Applied understanding of basic Seidel, Zernike, and chromatic aberrations.
• Creative problem-solving skills, with the capability to develop innovative solutions to advanced engineering challenges.
• Ability to teach/instruct other optical and mechanical engineers and technicians to execute basic opto-mechanical tasks in a rapidly evolving, time-sensitive technology development environment.

Desired skills:

• Expertise in advanced opto-mechanical systems design, test, and integration techniques including but not limited to STOP analysis, optical metrology, high-power thermal damage testing (CW LIDT testing), and system tolerancing.
• Experience with white light engineering systems, non-imaging systems, lightpipes/waveguides, diffractive and/or solar optics.
• Ability to create basic object-oriented code in Python or willingness to learn.
• Demonstrated ability to drive innovation in opto-mechanical system design and implementation, contributing to the development of cutting-edge space technologies.
• Familiarity with space industry regulations, safety standards relevant to space missions and operations.
• Effective communication skills with the ability to interface with the team and organization and prioritize tasks, projects, and personnel from a variety of disciplines.

Help us deploy and scale space infrastructure that will drive our utilization of space forward! We offer a highly competitive benefits package. 

Star Catcher is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Star Catcher is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

All offers of employment at Star Catcher are contingent upon results of a thorough background check and your ability to provide proof of eligibility to work in the US.

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.