APRIL - Advanced Pixel Research & Intelligence Lab
Website:
azista.space
Job details:
ABOUT US:
Join a team that is redefining the accessibility of space. Azista space is a transformative force in the global aerospace sector, uniquely positioned at the intersection of indigenous innovation and industrial scalability. Operating India’s first private-sector satellite mass-production facility in Ahmedabad, we have bridged the gap between complex engineering and high-volume manufacturing.
As a vertically integrated leader, we provide end-to-end solutions from the precision design of satellite buses and advanced payloads to mission management and communication systems. We don’t just build hardware, we are democratizing the final frontier by providing global clientele with the cost-effective, high-performance technology needed to power the next generation of orbital missions. At Azista, you won't just be starting a job, you’ll be fuelling the future of space exploration.
JOB SUMMARY:
We are looking for an experienced Precision Mirror Polishing Specialist to join our optical manufacturing team in Hyderabad to drive ultra-precision grinding, shaping, deterministic figuring, and final surface figure correction of advanced optical mirrors for orbital payloads.
In this pivotal role, you will be directly responsible for taking high-performance mirror substrates including Zerodur, ULE, Fused Silica, and Silicon Carbide (SiC)from raw preparation to sub-nanometer surface roughness. You will manage the full optics fabrication lifecycle, running conventional lap/pitch polishers, advanced Computer Controlled Optical Surfacing (CCOS), Magnetorheological Finishing (MRF), and Ion Beam Figuring / Polishing (IBF/IBP) systems within high-vacuum environments.
As our subject matter expert in reflective optical surfacing, your work directly influences payload image fidelity, optical throughput, and wave-front error performance. You will own key metrics around Peak-to-Valley (PV) and RMS wave error, subsurface damage (SSD) minimization, and iterative deterministic correction cycle times for flat, spherical, parabolic, and off-axis parabolic mirrors.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Precision Polishing & Surface Finishing: Execute fine grinding, pitch polishing, and deterministic figure correction on flat, parabolic, off-axis parabolic, and segmented mirrors to achieve sub-nanometer roughness and tight wave-error tolerances.
- Advanced Machinery & Vacuum Operation: Program, set up, and operate Ion Beam Polishing / Figuring (IBF) machines, CCOS, MRF, CNC optical polishers, and custom multi-axis polishing rigs.
- Vacuum Chamber Techniques: Oversee pump-down sequences, vacuum chamber operations, vacuum leak detection, pressure monitoring, and contamination control essential for ion beam optical surfacing.
- Slurry & Tooling Formulation: Formulate, test, and maintain polishing slurries (Cerium Oxide, diamond suspensions) and calibrate pitch lap hardness based on thermal stability and substrate mechanical properties.
- Metrology & Phase Map Analysis: Measure surface figure error (PV/RMS) using Zygo and 4D laser interferometers; evaluate surface roughness down to sub-nanometer levels using optical profilometers and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM).
- Iterative Corrective Passes: Analyze interferograms, surface phase maps, and ion beam removal functions to generate precise dwell-time maps and execute iterative corrective polishing runs.
- Custom Tooling & Fixture Design: Design specialized sub-aperture tools, custom pitch laps, and stress-free vacuum-compatible mounting fixtures to prevent edge roll-off, distortion, and mounting strain on lightweighted or ultra-thin substrates.
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR?
- Education: Diploma, B.Sc., B.E., B.Tech, or M.Sc. (Tech) in Optics, Applied Optics, Photonics, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, or Manufacturing Engineering.
- Substrate Expertise: Proven hands-on experience working with zero-expansion and technical optics materials: Zerodur, ULE, Fused Silica, and Silicon Carbide (SiC).
- Equipment Mastery: Hands-on proficiency operating Ion Beam Polishing/Figuring machines, pitch polishing lathes, CCOS machines, MRF systems, or multi-axis CNC optical polishers.
- Vacuum System Techniques: Practical experience operating and maintaining high-vacuum chambers, vacuum pumping lines (cryo/turbo pumps), vacuum gauging, and vacuum-safe substrate handling.
- Interferometric Metrology: Strong proficiency with Zygo or 4D Laser Interferometers, optical flats, and surface phase-mapping software.
NICE-TO-HAVE SKILLS
- Prior experience fabricating space-grade optics or defense-grade optomechanical assemblies.
- Experience handling lightweighted mirror structures and thin-walled substrates without inducing mechanical stress or mounting distortion.
- Knowledge of optical coating preparation (surface activation, cleanroom handling, and cleanliness protocols prior to PVD/thin-film deposition).
WHY JOIN US?
- Pioneer Space Technology: Work at India's leading private satellite manufacturing ecosystem and contribute flight-proven hardware directly to active orbital missions.
- State-of-the-Art Infrastructure: Access cutting-edge optics manufacturing labs, ultra-clean processing facilities, and industry-leading optical metrology equipment.
- High-Impact Culture: Collaborate with cross-functional aerospace engineers, physicists, and systems experts in an agile, innovation-driven environment.
- Career Growth: Own critical optical production lines as we scale our payload manufacturing and space-optics capabilities globally.
Click on Apply to know more.