Optical Systems Engineer Seen this week

About Star Catcher

Star Catcher is building the world's first orbital energy grid: the Star Catcher Network. Spacecraft connect into this network and receive conditioned energy via existing solar arrays, requiring no retrofit. The network delivers power from tens of Watts to tens of thousands of Watts at flux concentrations from fractions of a Sun to ten Suns.

The Role

You will support development of space-to-space power beaming spacecraft and the Star Catcher Network. You will conduct research and development in optical system concepts, layout, and detailed design, applying knowledge of geometrical and physical optics. You will ensure that manufacture, integration, test, verification, validation, and mission operations meet service requirements.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop free-space optical systems for power transmission between spacecraft that satisfy overall system requirements.
• Conduct system architecture and design analysis to ensure optical performance and reliability.
• Execute system performance modeling and simulation.
• Construct and utilize prototypes and testbeds to validate system models.
• Support definition and documentation of system architecture and requirements at system and subsystem levels.
• Collaborate with multi-functional engineering teams including mechanical, opto-mechanical, electrical, thermal, structural, software, system, and test engineers and technicians.
• Facilitate system level and subsystem level testing, including laboratory tests, field tests, and operational/on-orbit tests.
• Develop new tools and techniques to improve modeling and understanding of non-imaging optics systems, optical fiber propagation (single mode and multimode), nonlinear optics, and high peak and high optical power effects.
• Support business development efforts for proposals and bids.

Required 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 successful design and development of optical and/or laser-based systems for 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 capability to develop innovative solutions to advanced engineering challenges.
• Solid foundation in 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 ability to interface with team and organization and prioritize tasks, projects, and personnel from various disciplines.
• Experience with lens and optical design tools and multi-physics tools.
• Experience with software tools for performing complex analyses including Excel, MatLab, and custom tools.

Star Catcher offers a highly competitive benefits package. Employment is contingent upon background check and proof of eligibility to work in the US. To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations including 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 required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.