Staff Optical Engineer
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Job Location:
Louisville, KY - USA
Yearly Salary:
$ 150000 - 180000
Posted on:
21 hours ago
Vacancies:
1 Vacancy
Job Summary
At Infleqtion we solve the worlds most challenging problems using cutting-edge quantum technology. Our mission is to commercialize atom-based quantum products that provide orders of magnitude improvements in sensing and computing applications. We are proud to work tirelessly to create and lead the quantum ecosystem towards meaningful advancements today and set the technology roadmap for tomorrow.
POSITION SUMMARY
Within Infleqtions Quantum Computing Product Group the Hardware Engineering Team is seeking a Staff Optical Engineer to provide to provide deep technical leadership people management and hands-on expertise in advanced optical systems for neutral-atom quantum computing.
The successful candidate will independently own complex optical subsystems working closely with physicists and cross-disciplinary engineering teams to translate experimental requirements into robust high-performance optical designs. This role is hands-on and laboratory-focused with responsibility for driving designs from research-grade implementations toward reliable scalable hardware solutions.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
Typically you will be entrusted with:
- Leading the design modeling and validation of complex optical and laser-based subsystems supporting neutral-atom quantum computing platforms.
- Developing and integrating scalable atom addressing and control technologies. This includes but is not limited to digital micromirror devices (DMDs) spatial light modulators (SLMs) acousto-optic deflectors (AODs) electro-optic modulators (EOMs) metasurface-based optics and fast multi-beam steering architectures.
- Designing and implementing (at a subsystem level) atom-resolved detection and feedback systems using state-of-the-art sensors such as SPAD/EMCCD/sCMOS cameras and high-speed photodetectors with consideration for scaling readout bandwidth latency and data throughput.
- Collaborating closely with physicists and optical mechanical electrical software and systems engineersto support the full experimental and hardware development lifecycle from early research demonstrations to integrated scalable systems.
- Leading hands-on laboratory efforts including optical assembly precision alignment debugging and performance characterization of complex multi-channel optical systems.
- Developing and maintaining high-fidelity optical modelsusing Zemax (OpticStudio) including tolerance analysis sensitivity studies and performance optimization informed by experimental data and system-level requirements.
- Defining and executing experimental strategiesto characterize optical stability drift noise sources and scaling limits and using those results to inform design tradeoffs.
- Leading the transition within a defined architecture of optical subsystems from research-grade configurations to repeatable maintainable and scalable hardware suitable for larger atom counts.
- Providing direct management technical guidance and mentorshipto optical engineers through design reviews hands-on coaching and professional development.
- Establishing and improving best practices for optical design workflows laboratory procedures documentation and version control.
- Supporting technical troubleshooting and cross-functional design reviewsas needed to resolve complex system-level issues.
Requirements
- Bachelors degree in optical engineering physics or a related field with at least 6 years of relevant industry experience. Masters degree or PhD may substitute for some experience.
- Strong experience designing modeling and validating laser-based atomic or quantum optics systems.
- Hands-on laboratory expertise in precision optical alignment and experimental troubleshooting.
- Proficiency with Zemax (OpticStudio) for optical system design and tolerance analysis.
- Working knowledge of SolidWorks sufficient to collaborate on opto-mechanical layouts and interfaces.
- Experience using git or similar version control systems for design artifacts scripts or analysis tools.
- Experience mentoring or technically leading engineers in a research or hardware-focused environment.
WE HIGHLY VALUE:
- Background in atomic physics quantum optics or photonics research environments.
- Experience working with stability-sensitive optical systems subject to thermal vibrational or long-term drift effects.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to bridge physics and engineering perspectives.
- A hands-on detail-oriented mindset with a strong sense of ownership and technical accountability.
- Positive collaborative working style and enthusiasm for mentoring and developing engineers.
Benefits
- Salary range: $150000 to $180000 per year
- 100% company-paid medical dental vision short/long-term disability
- Employer-funded Health Savings Account
- Unlimited PTO
- 401(k) match
- Company-paid Life and AD&D Insurance
- Flexible Savings Account
- Paid FMLA Maternity/Paternity Leave
- Employee Assistance Program
- Student Loan Repayment
- Equity Package
Required Experience:
Staff IC
Key Skills
- Computer Science
- Docker
- Kubernetes
- Python
- VMware
- C/C++
- Go
- System Architecture
- gRPC
- OS Kernels
- Perl
- Distributed Systems
About Company
ColdQuanta is looking for enthusiastic individuals to join our teams, here in beautiful Boulder, Colorado; Madison, Wisconsin; and Oxford, UK. We work in a dynamic and collaborative environment and value each person's contribution whether technical or administrative. Our employees ... View more
