Mechanical Technician, Opto-Mechanical

Star Catcher; Jacksonville (FL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/dental/vision coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Life insurance

Paid parental leave

Job summary

Star Catcher Industries, Inc. in Jacksonville, FL is seeking a Mechanical Technician, Opto-Mechanical to support the development of space-to-space power beaming spacecraft and our orbital power grid.

The role focuses on assembling, aligning, and testing precision opto-mechanical systems, using GD&T, laser trackers, autocollimators, and CMMs to ensure flight readiness. Collaboration with design, thermal, and manufacturing engineers is required.

Qualifications

• Associate's degree, technical certificate, or equivalent hands-on experience in a mechanical, manufacturing, or optical discipline.
• At least four years of experience assembling, aligning, and testing precision mechanical or opto-mechanical hardware in an aerospace manufacturing environment or other relevant industry experience.
• Experience aligning optical elements using autocollimators, laser trackers, or interferometers.
• Proven experience with precision torquing and with bonding, potting, and shimming of spacecraft assemblies.
• Familiarity with laser safety practice for Class IV laser operations, including controlled area procedures, eyewear selection, and beam path control.
• Ability to read and build to drawings with GD&T.
• Creative problem-solving skills, with the capability to develop innovative solutions to advanced engineering challenges.
• Ability to effectively communicate and work in a multidisciplinary team setting. Willingness to follow company standards and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Assemble opto-mechanical systems, sub-assemblies, and support structures using engineering drawings and work instructions
• Align optical elements to specified tilt, decenter, and spacing tolerances using laser trackers, autocollimators, and sub-micron position stages.
• Handle, clean, and install flight optics under contamination control protocols.
• Mix and apply flight-qualified epoxies, silicones, and locking compounds to optical mounts with strict outgassing requirements and cure times.
• Perform precision torquing of flight hardware fasteners in accordance with engineering drawings and work instructions.
• Fabricate and modify parts, fixtures, and tooling to support build and alignment operations
• Prepare and support opto-mechanical hardware through environmental and optical performance tests, including test hardware installation, instrumentation, and alignment checks.
• Inspect hardware with CMMs & PCMMs, and document nonconformances.
• Partner with opto-mechanical, mechanical design, thermal, and manufacturing engineers to resolve benchtop clearance issues and improve assembly procedures.

Skills

Assemble opto-mechanical

Align opto-mechanical systems

Read GD&T drawings

Bonding, potting, shimming

CMM inspection

CAD - Inventor

Laser trackers/autocollimators

Education

Associate degree or technical certificate

Tools

Autodesk Inventor

Autocollimators

Laser trackers

Interferometers

CMMs

Job description

Power the future of Space at Star Catcher

Star Catcher is building the first energy grid in space to power the orbital economy.

Today’s spacecraft must generate all of their own power, which caps what they can do and how long they can operate. But what if they could “plug” into a grid, the way buildings do on Earth? Instead of cables and outlets, Star Catcher is building the technology to wirelessly beam energy to spacecraft’s existing solar panels when and where they need it.
Be an early member of a team building an entirely new energy infrastructure at scale to power the next frontier.

Star Catcher Industries, Inc., located in Jacksonville, Florida, has an opportunity for a Mechanical Technician, Opto-Mechanical to support the development of space-to-space power beaming spacecraft and the Star Catcher Network, its orbital power grid.This role will be responsible for assembly, alignment, integration, and testing of opto-mechanical systems and components used on spacecraft, satellites, and other space-related technologies.

Key Responsibilities

• Assemble opto-mechanical systems, sub-assemblies, and support structures using engineering drawings and work instructions
• Align optical elements to specified tilt, decenter, and spacing tolerances using laser trackers, autocollimators, and sub-micron position stages.
• Handle, clean, and install flight optics under contamination control protocols.
• Mix and apply flight-qualified epoxies, silicones, and locking compounds to optical mounts with strict outgassing requirements and cure times.
• Perform precision torquing of flight hardware fasteners in accordance with engineering drawings and work instructions.
• Fabricate and modify parts, fixtures, and tooling to support build and alignment operations
• Prepare and support opto-mechanical hardware through environmental and optical performance tests, including test hardware installation, instrumentation, and alignment checks.
• Inspect hardware with CMMs & PCMMs, and document nonconformances.
• Partner with opto-mechanical, mechanical design, thermal, and manufacturing engineers to resolve benchtop clearance issues and improve assembly procedures.

Basic Qualifications

• Associate's degree, technical certificate, or equivalent hands-on experience in a mechanical, manufacturing, or optical discipline.
• At least four years of experience assembling, aligning, and testing precision mechanical or opto-mechanical hardware in an aerospace manufacturing environment or other relevant industry experience.
• Experience aligning optical elements using autocollimators, laser trackers, or interferometers.
• Proven experience with precision torquing and with bonding, potting, and shimming of spacecraft assemblies.
• Familiarity with laser safety practice for Class IV laser operations, including controlled area procedures, eyewear selection, and beam path control.
• Ability to read and build to drawings with GD&T.
• Creative problem-solving skills, with the capability to develop innovative solutions to advanced engineering challenges.
• Ability to effectively communicate and work in a multidisciplinary team setting. Willingness to follow company standards and procedures.

Preferred Qualifications

• Machine shop experience on manual mill, manual lathe, or CNC equipment, fabricating fixtures and tooling to support precision build and alignment.
• Experience building or operating ground support equipment and handling fixtures for optical hardware.
• Experience supporting thermal vacuum, vibration, or optical performance test campaigns.
• Demonstrated expertise in mechanical design principles and CAD software (Autodesk Inventor preferred).
• Familiarity regulations and standards relevant to space missions and operations.

Help us deploy and scale space infrastructure that will drive our utilization of space forward! We offer a highly competitive benefits package including access to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, 401(k) retirement plan, life insurance, and paid parental leave, in addition to other benefits.

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.