Optical Systems Engineer

Storyboard; Jacksonville (FL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Star Catcher seeks an Optical Systems Engineer in Jacksonville, FL to advance the Star Catcher Network—our orbital power grid. You will apply geometrical and physical optics to design, model, and validate high-power optical systems for space-to-space power beaming.

You will work with mechanical, electrical, software, and test teams, develop prototypes, and support system requirements from concept to verification. A 4-year degree and 5+ years in optical systems are expected.

Qualifications

• Must have a formal degree in engineering/physics/photonics or related field.
• 5+ years designing optical/laser systems for terrestrial or space use.
• Experience translating requirements into optical architectures and models.

Responsibilities

• Designing free-space optical systems for power transmission between spacecraft.
• Performing system architecture analyses to ensure optical performance and reliability.
• Modeling and simulating system performance.
• Building prototypes and testbeds to validate models.
• Defining and documenting system architecture at system and subsystem levels.
• Collaborating with mechanical, electrical, software and test teams.
• Facilitating laboratory, field, and on-orbit system tests.
• Developing new tools to model nonlinear optics and high-power phenomena.
• Supporting proposals and bids with technical input.

Skills

Effective communication

Configuration management

Optical design tools

Multi-physics analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Physics/Photonics

Master’s or PhD preferred

Tools

Lens design tools

Multi-physics tools

MatLab

Excel

Custom analysis tools

Job description

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.

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.

Optical Systems Engineer

Located in Jacksonville, FL, Star Catcher has an opportunity for an Optical Systems Engineer to support the development of space-to-space power beaming spacecraft and the Star Catcher Network, its orbital power grid. Responsible for conducting research and development in optical system concepts, layout, and detailed design, applying knowledge of geometrical and physical optics. Apply expertise and results to achieve desired results in ground-based and space-based systems. Ensure manufacture, integration, test, verification and validation, and mission operations meet service requirements.

Responsibilities

• Designing and developing free space optical systems for power transmission between spacecraft which satisfies overall system requirements.
• Conducting system architecture and design analysis to ensure optical performance and reliability.
• Executing system performance modeling and simulation.
• Constructing and utilizing prototypes and testbeds to validate system models.
• Support definition and documentation of system architecture and requirements at both the system and subsystem levels.
• Collaborating with multi-functional engineering teams including mechanical, opto-mechanical, electrical, thermal, structural, software, system, and test engineers and technicians.
• Facilitating system level and subsystem level testing, including laboratory tests, field tests, and operational/on-orbit tests.
• Developing new tools and techniques as needed to improve our ability to model and understand key phenomena related to non-imaging optics systems, propagation in optical fibers (single mode and multimode), nonlinear optics, and other effects that operate with high peak and high optical power.
• Support business development efforts for proposals/bids.

Ideal Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physics, Photonics or related technical field, Master’s or PhD preferred.
• At least five years experience in a relevant field.
• Proven track record in the successful design and development of optical and/or laser-based systems for either terrestrial or satellite applications.
• Experience with optical system design for manufacturing, design and cost
• Experience in optical transmission systems modeling, simulation, and performance tradeoff analysis
• Creative problem-solving skills, with the capability to develop innovative solutions to advanced engineering challenges.
• A solid foundation in the principles of optical and communication systems, capable of understanding and deriving specifications from first principles.

Desired Skills

• Familiarity with configuration management practices.
• Effective communication skills with the ability to interface with the team and organization and prioritize tasks, projects, and personnel from a variety of disciplines.
• Experience with lens and optical design tools and multi-physics tools.
• Experience with software tools for performing complex analyses (Excel, MatLab, custom tools).

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.