Optical / Laser Technician

Star Catcher; Jacksonville (FL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Life insurance

Paid parental leave

Job summary

Star Catcher in Jacksonville, FL is seeking an Optical / Laser Technician to support space-to-space power beaming development and the Star Catcher Network. You will perform fiber splicing, optics cleaning, and assemble optical mounts under engineering direction.

The role requires hands-on optics experience, familiarity with cleanroom practices, and adherence to laser safety. Ideal candidates will have 3+ years in optics or photonics, associate degree preferred, and a disciplined approach to

Qualifications

• 3+ years of hands-on optics, photonics, or laser lab experience including fiber splicing and optics cleaning.
• Ideal: Associate's degree or certificate in Photonics, Laser/Electro-Optics Technology, or related field.
• Experience with Class 4 laser safety program and cleanroom conditions.

Responsibilities

• Perform fiber preparation, cleaving, and fusion splicing, including large-mode-area and specialty fibers, with splice-loss measurement and inspection.
• Clean and inspect optics and fiber end faces to procedure using approved methods and inspection microscopes.
• Work in cleanroom and controlled environments with correct gowning, handling, and contamination control.
• Assemble optical mounts and subassemblies, including bonding, torquing, and handling of delicate optics.
• Execute lab tests and record data under Class 4 laser-safety rules, including eyewear, interlocks, and controlled-area procedures.
• Support alignment, environmental test setups, and laser builds under engineering direction.
• Maintain build travelers, records, configuration control, and equipment calibration status.
• Maintain the optics and laser lab, including consumables, tool upkeep, and safe lab practices.

Skills

Fiber splicing

Optics cleaning

Class 4 laser safety

Optical alignment

Documentation

Education

Associate's degree in Photonics or related field

Tools

Power meters

Beam profilers

OSA (Optical Spectrum Analyzers)

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 an Optical / Laser Technician to support the development of space-to-space power beaming spacecraft and the Star Catcher Network, its orbital power grid.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform fiber preparation, cleaving, and fusion splicing, including large-mode-area and specialty fibers, with splice-loss measurement and inspection.
• Clean and inspect optics and fiber end faces to procedure using approved methods and inspection microscopes, including scratch-dig and cleanliness evaluation.
• Work in cleanroom and controlled environments with correct gowning, handling, and contamination control.
• Assemble optical mounts and subassemblies, including bonding, torquing, and handling of delicate optics.
• Execute lab tests and record data under Class 4 laser-safety rules, including eyewear, interlocks, and controlled-area procedures.
• Support alignment, environmental test setups, and laser builds under engineering direction.
• Maintain build travelers, records, configuration control, and equipment calibration status.
• Maintain the optics and laser lab, including consumables, tool upkeep, and safe lab practices.

Minimum Qualifications

• 3+ years of hands‑on experience in an optics, photonics, or laser lab or production environment, including fiber splicing and optics cleaning.

Ideal Experience

• Associate's degree or certificate in Photonics, Laser/Electro-Optics Technology, or a related field.
• Experience splicing large-mode-area or polarization‑maintaining fibers.
• Experience working under a Class 4 laser safety program.
• Experience with cleanroom work and contamination control for flight or high‑reliability hardware.

Desired Skills

• Careful, methodical approach to delicate hardware and documentation.
• Experience with build documentation, travelers, and traceability for flight hardware.
• Comfort with optical test equipment (power meters, beam profilers, optical spectrum analyzers).
• Ability to work in a fast‑paced development lab while maintaining workmanship standards.

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.