Within the Imperial Military of the Galactic Empire, individuals responsible for operating the weaponry on capital ships, military installations, and battle stations were known as Imperial weapons technicians. Those stationed aboard the Death Star and DS-2 Death Star II Mobile Battle Station often referred to them as Imperial gunners, Imperial engineers, or simply Death Star gunners.
These technicians, sometimes called Imperial gunners or Death Star gunners, were in charge of turbolasers and ion cannons deployed on Galactic Empire capital ships and military facilities. This included both the first and second Death Star, where the most skilled among them also managed the battle stations' planet-destroying superlasers, carefully monitoring their immense power output. Many gunners were former trainees, or those past their prime, in the Imperial Navy's piloting program. Despite this, Imperial weapons technicians still had the required skills to operate their powerful weapons. Turbolasers required teams of gunners to manage recharge cycles, monitor heat levels, and acquire targets. On the experimental Imperial Interdictor, Imperial weapons technicians also controlled the four gravity well projectors.
Imperial weapons technicians wore distinctive black jumpsuits constructed from energy-shielded material, along with black durasteel gloves, specialized boots designed for positive gravity pressure, and large, black helmets commonly known as "jawbone helmets." These helmets featured slit-like visors equipped with polarized lenses designed to shield the eyes from the intense flashes produced by turbolaser and superlaser weaponry, although many gunners felt that these restricted their peripheral vision. The helmets also incorporated sensors for tracking enemy fighter craft and a comlink to facilitate coordinated aiming and firing.
Some gunners were observed wearing quilted black jackets over their standard jumpsuits. Technicians assigned to experimental projects, such as those aboard the Imperial Interdictor commanded by Admiral Brom Titus, could be identified by their light grey jumpsuits adorned with golden yellow Imperial crests. As a standard sidearm, Imperial weapons technicians were issued a blaster pistol.
In the original 1977 Star Wars film, formally known as Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, the two weapons technicians seen during the superlaser firing sequence were played by Industrial Light & Magic modelmakers Grant McCune and Joe Johnston. The unique headgear worn by these gunners was affectionately nicknamed the "beetle helmet" during the movie's production.
Furthermore, Rian Johnson, the director of Star Wars: Episode VIII The Last Jedi, made a cameo appearance as a weapons technician in the 2016 Star Wars Anthology film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
A unique version of the imperial weapons technician, sporting a winter coat, is available as a minifigure in the 2018 LEGO Star Wars set 75257 "Imperial Conveyex Transport," where it operates a gun on a 20-T Railcrawler conveyex transport.