Optical Systems Engineer: Space Power Beaming

Star Catcher; Jacksonville (FL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits

Job summary

Star Catcher in Jacksonville, FL seeks an Optical Systems Engineer to advance the Star Catcher Network, developing space-to-space power beaming systems and the orbital power grid. You will conduct research in optical concepts, layout, and design, ensuring manufacturability, integration, test, and mission operations meet requirements.

The ideal candidate has a strong background in optical and photonics systems, with hands-on experience in modeling, testing, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physics or Photonics required; Master’s/PhD preferred.
• At least five years of experience in optical or laser-based systems.
• Experience in optical transmission systems modeling, design and tradeoffs.
• Experience in design for manufacturing and cost.

Responsibilities

• Design free-space optical systems for power transmission between spacecraft satisfying system requirements.
• Analyze system architecture to ensure optical performance and reliability.
• Model and simulate system performance; validate with prototypes and testbeds.
• Support system and subsystem architecture documentation and requirements.
• Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, software and test engineers across disciplines.
• Lead testing including laboratory and on-orbit experiments; develop new modeling tools.

Skills

Optical design

Systems engineering

Modeling & simulation

Test & verification

Photonics

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Physics/Photonics

Master’s or PhD preferred

Tools

Optical design software

Multi-physics tools

Excel

MATLAB

Custom tools

Job description

Star Catcher in Jacksonville, FL seeks an Optical Systems Engineer to advance the Star Catcher Network, developing space-to-space power beaming systems and the orbital power grid. You will conduct research in optical concepts, layout, and design, ensuring manufacturability, integration, test, and mission operations meet requirements.

The ideal candidate has a strong background in optical and photonics systems, with hands-on experience in modeling, testing, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.