Senior Optics Technician

Physics World; Oxford; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare

Dental & Vision

Paid time off

Parental leave

Legal insurance

Home technology stipend

Job summary

IonQ’s Oxford operation is seeking a Senior Optics Technician to join the Optical Manufacturing team. You will build and commission optical and laser assemblies for quantum systems, supporting builds, maintenance and upgrades alongside engineers and scientists.

The role requires practical laser/optics lab experience, precision assembly skills, and the ability to follow drawings and safety protocols. On-site five days per week in Oxford with competitive benefits.

Qualifications

• Practical laboratory experience with lasers and optics required.
• Experience in precision assembly and fibre coupling.
• Ability to read mechanical and electrical drawings and follow instructions.
• Class 4 laser safety training or familiarity with PPE.

Responsibilities

• Build and commission optical and laser assemblies.
• Support system maintenance and upgrades with engineers and scientists.
• Handle high-precision and delicate components using microscopes.
• Follow mechanical and electrical drawings, document work, and test equipment before shipment.
• Maintain a safe laboratory and workshop environment when working with lasers and optics.

Skills

Lab experience with lasers

Optics assembly

Free-space alignment

Fibre coupling

Testing high-tech equipment

Reading drawings & instructions

IT proficiency

Education

Optics or engineering qualifications

Class 4 laser safety training

Tools

Microscopes

Job description

About IonQ:

IonQ, Inc . [NYSE: IONQ] is the world's leading quantum platform and merchant supplier - delivering integrated quantum solutions across computing, networking, sensing, and security. IonQ's newest generation of quantum computers, the IonQ Tempo, is the latest in a line of cutting-edge systems that have been helping customers and partners including Amazon Web Services, and AstraZeneca achieve 20x performance results and accelerate innovation in drug discovery, materials science, financial modeling, logistics, cybersecurity, and defense. In 2025, the company achieved 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity, setting a world record in quantum computing performance .

Headquartered in College Park, Maryland, IonQ has operations in California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Washington, Italy, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Our quantum computing services are available through all major cloud providers, while we also meet the needs of networking and sensing customers across land, sea, air, and space. IonQ is making quantum platforms more accessible and impactful than ever before.

Location:

Oxford, UK

Job ID:

2082

The Role:

We are looking for a Senior Optics Technician to join the Optical Manufacturing team at Oxford Ionics, now part of IonQ. You will build and commission the optics and laser assemblies used in our quantum systems, supporting system builds, maintenance and upgrades alongside technicians, engineers and scientists.

Responsibilities:

You will work on precision optical assembly, free space alignment and fibre coupling, helping the team build and test quantum computing hardware. The work includes technical documentation and the practical care needed to maintain a safe, tidy laboratory and workshop.

Key responsibilities include:

• Build and commission optical and laser assemblies.
• Support system maintenance and upgrades with engineers and scientists.
• Handle high precision and delicate components, using microscopes where required.
• Follow mechanical and electrical drawings and work instructions, document the work and test equipment before shipment.
• Maintain a safe laboratory and workshop environment when working with lasers and optics.

Requirements:

You will need practical laboratory experience with lasers and optics, precision assembly, free space optical alignment and fibre coupling. You should be comfortable taking responsibility for tasks with minimal supervision and have some experience testing high technology equipment before shipment.

You'd be a great fit if you have:

• Experience assembling and testing scientific instrumentation or working in industrial operations.
• Electronic subsystem assembly and fault finding, including continuity testing.
• Class 4 laser safety training and familiarity with appropriate PPE.
• Relevant optics or engineering qualifications, or an equivalent combination of education and practical experience.
• Experience in scientific support or commercial research, with confident IT use.

This role is based in Oxford and requires five days on site each week.

Compensation will vary based on individual factors such as education, qualifications, and experience of the final candidate(s), specific office location, and calibration against relevant market data and internal team equity. Posted base salary figures are subject to change as new market data becomes available. Our benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, matching 401(k), unlimited PTO and paid holidays, parental/adoption leave, legal insurance, and a home technology stipend. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided when a candidate receives an offer of employment.

At IonQ, we believe in fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all while striving to identify and eliminate barriers. We empower employees to thrive by fostering a culture of autonomy, productivity, and respect. We are dedicated to creating an environment where individuals can feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued.

We are committed to equity and justice. We welcome different voices and viewpoints and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, ancestry, physical and/or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

US Technical Jobs.

The position you are applying for will require access to technology that is subject to U.S. export control and government contract restrictions. Employment with IonQ is contingent on either verifying "U.S. Person" (e.g., U.S. citizen, U.S. national, U.S. permanent resident, or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum) status for export controls and government contracts work, obtaining any necessary license, and/or confirming the availability of a license exception under U.S. export controls. Please note that in the absence of confirming you are a U.S. Person for export control and government contracts work purposes, IonQ may choose not to apply for a license or decline to use a license exception (if available) for you to access export-controlled technology that may require authorization, and similarly, you may not qualify for government contracts work that requires U.S. Persons, and IonQ may decline to proceed with your application on those bases alone. Accordingly, we will have some additional questions regarding your immigration status that will be used for export control and compliance purposes, and the answers will be reviewed by compliance personnel to ensure compliance with federal law.

US Non-Technical Jobs.

Due to applicable export control laws and regulations, candidates must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum. Accordingly, we will have some additional questions regarding your immigration status that will be used for export control and compliance purposes, and the answers will be reviewed by compliance personnel to ensure compliance with federal law.