Optical Engineer - Pointing, Acquisition & Tracking (PAT) Optics

The role

This person will design the optical architecture of the pointing, acquisition, and tracking (PAT) system for space-to-space power beaming spacecraft and an orbital power grid. They will develop pointing and jitter budgets, design tracking-sensor optics, and conduct PAT optical testing.

What you will do

• Design the optical architecture of the pointing, acquisition, and tracking (PAT) system.
• Co-own PAT interfaces with the EE Senior Controls (PAT) engineer.
• Develop line-of-sight (LOS) pointing and jitter budgets.
• Design tracking-sensor optics for acquisition and fine tracking.
• Define transmit/receive boresight alignment, calibration, and on-orbit boresight maintenance approaches.
• Specify and select FSMs and coarse-pointing optics.
• Model tracking-sensor response and work with controls engineers on loop design and sensor requirements.
• Own the optical side of the closed PAT loops.
• Plan and run PAT optical testing.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 3+ years of professional experience in pointing and tracking, beam control, or free-space laser systems.
• Deep understanding of PAT for free-space laser systems including acquisition, coarse and fine pointing, and tracking.
• Hands-on experience with FSMs, quadrant detectors or position-sensing detectors, and focal-plane tracking sensors.
• Ability to build LOS pointing and jitter budgets including noise-equivalent angle, residual jitter, boresight drift, and calibration error.
• Proficiency with Zemax OpticStudio or CODE V and with Python or MATLAB modeling.
• Working knowledge of control concepts sufficient to partner effectively with controls engineers.
• Lab experience building and testing closed-loop tracking systems.

Nice to have

• More than 3 years of experience
• Space Lasercom or Beam Control: Flight or flight-like optical terminals or beam-control systems
• Non-Cooperative Tracking: Tracking targets by reflected or scattered return rather than a beacon
• Boresight and Point-Ahead: Calibration of transmit/receive co-alignment over temperature and on orbit
• Integrated Modeling: Structural-dynamics-to-LOS jitter modeling
• Master's degree or Ph.D. in Optical Sciences, Physics, or Electrical Engineering

Benefits

• Medical coverage
• Dental coverage
• Vision coverage
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Life insurance
• Paid parental leave

Before you apply

• All offers are contingent upon results of a thorough background check.
• Must provide proof of eligibility to work in the US.
• 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 St

About the company

Star Catcher is building the first energy grid in space to power the orbital economy. The company is building technology to wirelessly beam energy to spacecraft's existing solar panels.