Optics Technician

Oxford Ionics; Oxford; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Annual performance bonus

Generous annual leave

Private medical and dental insurance

Flexible hybrid working

Job summary

Oxford Ionics, now part of IonQ, is seeking a Technician to join the Optical Manufacturing team. You will assist with control of parts and hands-on building of sub-assemblies for quantum systems, collaborating with engineers and scientists in a fast-paced lab.

You will perform optical, mechanical and electrical assembly, maintain a safe workspace, and document technical work. This role requires practical skills, attention to detail, and teamwork in a PPE-enabled environment.

Qualifications

• About 3 years of industrial experience in a similar assembly environment.
• Experience following work instructions to complete advanced technical assemblies.
• Comfort working with PPE in an assembly environment.

Responsibilities

• Support the optics team with system builds, upgrades and research projects.
• Provide hands-on support through optical, mechanical and electrical assembly.
• Maintain a tidy and safe lab and workshop environment.
• Produce and maintain technical documentation.

Skills

Hands-on assembly

Optical systems

Electrical assembly

Precision assembly

Fibre optics

Vacuum systems

Education

Level 3 engineering apprenticeship

Equivalent industrial experience

Tools

Lasers

Vacuum equipment

Electrical test gear

Job description

Oxford Ionics, now part of IonQ, is pioneering the next generation of quantum computing. Using our world-leading trapped-ion technology, we're building the most powerful, accurate and reliable quantum systems to tackle problems that today's supercomputers cannot solve. Joining Oxford Ionics means becoming part of a global IonQ team that is transforming the future of quantum technology - faster, at scale, and with real world impact.

IonQ, Inc. [NYSE: IONQ] is the world's leading quantum company delivering solutions to solve the world's most complex problems. IonQ's newest generation quantum computers, IonQ Tempo and IonQ Forte Enterprise, are the latest in cutting-edge systems that have been helping customers and partners such as Amazon Web Services, AstraZeneca, and NVIDIA achieve 20x performance results. The company achieved 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity, setting a world record in quantum computing performance in 2025.

The company is accelerating its technology roadmap and intends to deliver the world's most powerful quantum computers with 2 million qubits by 2030 to accelerate innovation in drug discovery, materials science, financial modeling, logistics, cybersecurity, and defense. IonQ's advancements in quantum networking position the company as a leader in building the quantum internet.

What to expect:

We're searching for a Technician to join our growing Optical Manufacturing team to provide assistance with the control of parts and hands-on building of our sub-assemblies. You'll work alongside engineers, scientists and senior technicians supporting the logistics and assembly of our quantum systems.

What you'll be responsible for:

Key responsibilities include:

• Supporting the optics team with system builds, upgrades and ongoing research projects for our quantum computers.
• Providing hands-on support through optical, mechanical and electrical assembly.
• Maintaining a tidy and safe lab and workshop environment.
• Producing and maintaining technical documentation.

What you'll need:

You will need practical technical skills and experience in a similar environment. Alongside hands-on skills, you should demonstrate a proactive approach, excellent attention to detail and a willingness to collaborate effectively within a technical team.

We're looking for relevant industrial operations experience (approx. 3 years), experience following work instructions to complete advanced technical assembly tasks, and experience working in an assembly environment requiring personal protective equipment (PPE).

You’d be a great fit with:

• Further qualifications such as an advanced modern apprenticeship (Level 3) in Engineering or equivalent industrial experience.
• Experience working with fibre optics, optics, electronics or vacuum.
• Experience assembling high-precision or delicate parts, handling optics and using lasers.
• Previous experience assembling and testing scientific instrumentation.

So why us?

Be part of a team that's shaping the future of quantum. We offer more than just a role, you'll join a world class community of scientists, engineers and innovators working to unlock the full potential of quantum computing.

We offer a range of benefits, including opportunities to further your career alongside industry leaders, a competitive salary with IonQ stock options, an annual performance bonus, generous annual leave, flexible hybrid working, private medical and dental insurance for you and your family, and much more.

Join us and be part of the future of quantum computing.

We're proud to be an equal opportunity employer and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.