Mining Intern - Optics Focus
AstroForge
Seal Beach, CA, USA
USD 30-30 / hour
Posted on Oct 30, 2025
Mining Intern – Optics Focus
Seal Beach
Science
In office
Full-time
About AstroForge
At AstroForge, our mission is to make space resources accessible on Earth. We mine asteroids to extract valuable minerals in space at a lower cost and smaller carbon footprint than current terrestrial mining methods. By joining the team at AF you’ll have the opportunity to work side by side with our amazing engineering and science teams. This position will provide you with valuable skills, experience, and mentorship necessary to become a leading professional in your field. We offer a unique opportunity to join an exciting team looking to expand humanity’s capabilities in space.
Job Description
This internship is for a graduate optics student interested in building and testing optical systems used in the mining and refining of materials in space and on Earth. You’ll develop, align, and characterize optical setups that are part of our spacecraft payload systems as well as our terrestrial applications . You’ll also gain experience working hands-on in a laboratory environment to support design validation and refinement.
Basic Qualifications
- Currently pursuing a graduate degree in Optics, Physics, or a closely related field.
- Enrollment in an accredited college or university, with a GPA of 3.5 or higher.
- Hands-on experience aligning and assembling optical setups in a lab setting.
- Familiarity with standard lab optical equipment and safety practices.
- Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
- Must not be otherwise employed for the duration of the internship.
- Must be 18 years or older.
- Proof of US Citizenship or Permanent Residency.
Responsibilities
- Design and assemble optical experiments and instrumentation.
- Align lasers, lenses, mirrors, and sensors in experimental setups.
- Perform characterization of optical systems (e.g., power, focus, alignment).
- Support analysis of test data and help iterate on optical designs.
- Work alongside mechanical and electrical engineers to integrate optics with broader hardware systems.
Preferred Skills
- Experience with spectroscopy, lasers, or imaging systems.
- Proficiency with data analysis tools like MATLAB or Python.
- Comfortable working independently in a lab environment.
Location: Onsite in Seal Beach, CA
Pay Rate: $30.00 per hour
Duration: 10 weeks
ITAR Requirements
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S.,protected individual as defined by ITAR (22 CFR §120.15) or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
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Req ID: R74