An apparatus for holding an optical element that may be used in conjunction with a process for aligning and attaching an array of optical fibers to an array of optoelectronic devices. The apparatus may comprises: (1) a holding structure having a first end and a second end; (2) pin-positioning holes on the second end of the holding structure, where the pin-positioning holes function to receive alignment pins from the optical element; and (3) an attractive holding force functioning to secure the optical element to the holding structure. One or more optical fibers are packaged between the pin-positioning holes of the holding structure, and the optical fibers are optically aligned with one or more optical fibers packaged in the optical element. A light may be mounted to the first end of the holding structure to emit optical energy into the optipal fibers that are packaged in the holding structure. This optical energy functions to optically align the optical element to another object. The optical element may be a ferrule. The attractive holding force may be an electrostatic charge or a vacuum.