Optics Intern: Align & Calibrate Ground Beacon System

Overview Energy; Ashburn (VA); On-site; USD 41,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Overview Energy in Northern Virginia is seeking an Optics Intern to help design and build the ground beacon from the optical bench to a field test site. You will align the laser, characterize its output, and co-align the beacon with the telescope.

You will own a method for re-aligning after transport and installation at the DoW site. You will work alongside optics and hardware engineers; your alignment data will feed hardware decisions.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in a bachelor’s or master’s program in optics, optical engineering, physics, or related field.
• Coursework or lab experience with optical alignment: mounts, mirrors, lenses, beam paths.
• Williness to complete laser safety training and follow protocol.
• Careful documentation habits; alignment work must be repeatable by others.
• Available ~10 hours per week on-site in Northern Virginia from Sept 2026 through Mar 2027.

Responsibilities

• Align the beacon laser within its emitter and verify pointing outside the emitter aperture.
• Characterize laser output—power, beam profile, divergence, and pointing stability—document results.
• Co-align the beacon laser with the observational telescope and verify boresight.
• Design a repeatable field alignment procedure for transport/installation at the DoW site.
• Write the procedure so a non-optics operator can execute it, then validate hands-on.
• Maintain clean alignment and characterization records; feed findings to engineering.

Skills

Optics student

Optical alignment

Laser safety training

Documentation habit

Part-time 10h/wk

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in optics/optical engineering/physics

Tools

Zemax OpticStudio

Quadoa

Code V

Job description

Overview Energy in Northern Virginia is seeking an Optics Intern to help design and build the ground beacon from the optical bench to a field test site. You will align the laser, characterize its output, and co-align the beacon with the telescope.

You will own a method for re-aligning after transport and installation at the DoW site. You will work alongside optics and hardware engineers; your alignment data will feed hardware decisions.