Optics Group Lead for Quantum Testbeds

Nu Quantum; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working options

Private Medical and Dental Cover

28 days annual leave + shutdown

Cycle scheme

On-site gym

Sabbatical after 4 years

Employee Referral Scheme

Group DIS cover

Cambridge Botanical Gardens access

Job summary

Nu Quantum seeks an experienced Optics Group Lead to drive development of advanced optical systems for qubit photon interfaces and quantum networking testbeds. You will provide technical leadership, steer design choices, and coordinate an optics team across multidisciplinary groups to ensure high‑quality, scalable performance.

You will mentor engineers and researchers, build robust experimental practices, and contribute to the long‑term optics roadmap while collaborating with nanofabrication,

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent industrial experience in quantum optics, experimental photonics, AMO physics, optical engineering, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated ability to provide technical leadership in optics, including setting technical direction, reviewing designs and experiments, making sound technical decisions, and guiding others through complex optical problems.
• Ability to move seamlessly from optical simulation to laboratory implementation and iterative optimisation (including integration with mechanics, electronics, and control software).
• A working knowledge of atomic and quantum physics sufficient to understand system‑level requirements.
• Experience mentoring, coaching, or supervising engineers, scientists, PhD students, or technical team members.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly through reports, design reviews, presentations, and cross‑functional discussions.
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for the Testbed Optics group, setting direction for the design, execution, and optimisation of advanced optical experiments and optical system builds across classical and quantum optics platforms.
• Take ownership of optical system architecture, including free-space optics, fibre optics, laser systems, interferometry, optical alignment, stability, noise reduction, and system‑level performance optimisation.
• Lead technical decision‑making within the optics function, ensuring robust, reproducible designs and architectures for long‑term development.
• Mentor, coach, and develop optics team members, reviewing experimental plans and supporting problem‑solving to build capability in quantum optics.
• Establish and maintain best practices for optical design, experimental execution, alignment procedures, automation, documentation, data analysis, and knowledge transfer.
• Review experimental results, identify technical risks and performance limitations, and guide the team towards next steps.
• Communicate complex technical information clearly through design reviews, reports, presentations, and cross‑functional discussions.
• Collaborate with nanofabrication, electronics, mechanical, software, and AMO teams to define integrated test plans and resolve system‑level trade‑offs.
• Contribute to the long‑term optics roadmap, including capability development, tooling, infrastructure, and scaling of the optics function.

Skills

Technical leadership

Quantum optics

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Mentoring

Communication skills

Lab automation

Education

PhD in quantum optics

Tools

Zemax

Gaussian beam propagation

Fibre coupling

Pound‑Drever‑Hall locking

ARTIQ

Job description

Nu Quantum seeks an experienced Optics Group Lead to drive development of advanced optical systems for qubit photon interfaces and quantum networking testbeds. You will provide technical leadership, steer design choices, and coordinate an optics team across multidisciplinary groups to ensure high‑quality, scalable performance.

You will mentor engineers and researchers, build robust experimental practices, and contribute to the long‑term optics roadmap while collaborating with nanofabrication,