Laser Engineer

Atom Computing, Inc.; Boulder (CO); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Unlimited PTO

401(k) matching

Disability insurance

FSA

Dependent care benefits

Life insurance

Job summary

Atom Computing, Inc. seeks a hands-on Laser Engineer in Boulder, CO to align, characterize, and optimize optical and laser systems for our quantum hardware.

You’ll work with experimental physicists, hardware and software engineers to ensure reliable bench performance and scalable designs. Responsibilities include responding to hardware challenges, performing data-driven optimization, and documenting design changes for repeatable builds.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Physics, Optics, Chemistry, Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum 2+ years of experience using and maintaining optical, opto-mechanical, and/or laser systems.
• Ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with a diverse team of experimental physicists, hardware engineers, and software engineers.
• Hands-on experience aligning optical elements in accordance with documented designs.
• Experience with current state-of-the-art lasers/amplifiers (e.g., diode and fiber-based) and nonlinear optical materials, including characterization, phase-locking, and optimization of laser and nonlinear optical systems, plus design and modeling experience for nonlinear optical and laser/amplifier systems.
• Experience with data analysis: taking, plotting, analyzing, fitting, and interpreting data from optical testing experiments.
• Experience with engineering change documentation; ability to work from assembly drawings, schematics, wiring diagrams, sketches, and other written, visual, and oral instructions.

Responsibilities

• Align, tune, and troubleshoot optical and laser systems — including diode- and fiber-based lasers/amplifiers and nonlinear optical systems — to keep quantum computing hardware running reliably
• Characterize, phase-lock, and optimize laser and nonlinear optical systems to improve performance and stability
• Design and model nonlinear optical and laser/amplifier systems for new hardware builds and system upgrades
• Provide technical expertise to laser and optical projects across the team, with the goal of maximizing performance and robustness
• Take, plot, analyze, fit, and interpret data from optical testing experiments to guide design and troubleshooting decisions
• Gather project requirements from stakeholders, turn them into action plans, and keep the team on schedule with proper prioritization
• Create and maintain engineering change documentation; work from assembly drawings, schematics, wiring diagrams, and other written, visual, and oral instructions
• Collaborate day-to-day with experimental physicists, hardware engineers, and software engineers to integrate laser systems into the broader quantum computing platform
• Report progress, risks, and technical findings to the Laser Engineering Manager, and contribute to the team's roadmap for scaling laser systems

Skills

Startup mindset

Communication

Optical alignment

Laser systems

Data analysis

Documentation

Python

Git

Optical CAD

Education

Bachelor's degree in Physics/Optics/Engineering

Tools

Zemax

Onshape

SolidWorks

Job description

At Atom Computing, we build quantum computers using arrays of optically trapped neutral atoms that will empower customers to achieve unprecedented computational breakthroughs. Join a world-class team of scientists, engineers, and business professionals to advance the state-of-the-art in quantum computing.

We are seeking a Laser Engineer to join our Quantum Engineering Department. Our neutral-atom quantum computers depend on a growing network of precision laser and optical systems that need to run reliably around the clock. In this role, you'll work hands-on with that hardware: aligning, characterizing, and optimizing systems on the bench, then turning that work into documented, repeatable designs the team can build on. You'll partner closely with experimental physicists, hardware engineers, and software engineers, and your work will directly shape how reliably our quantum computers run day to day.

Job Responsibilities

• Align, tune, and troubleshoot optical and laser systems — including diode- and fiber-based lasers/amplifiers and nonlinear optical systems — to keep quantum computing hardware running reliably
• Characterize, phase-lock, and optimize laser and nonlinear optical systems to improve performance and stability
• Design and model nonlinear optical and laser/amplifier systems for new hardware builds and system upgrades
• Provide technical expertise to laser and optical projects across the team, with the goal of maximizing performance and robustness
• Take, plot, analyze, fit, and interpret data from optical testing experiments to guide design and troubleshooting decisions
• Gather project requirements from stakeholders, turn them into action plans, and keep the team on schedule with proper prioritization
• Create and maintain engineering change documentation; work from assembly drawings, schematics, wiring diagrams, and other written, visual, and oral instructions
• Collaborate day-to-day with experimental physicists, hardware engineers, and software engineers to integrate laser systems into the broader quantum computing platform
• Report progress, risks, and technical findings to the Laser Engineering Manager, and contribute to the team's roadmap for scaling laser systems

Experience & Education

• Bachelor's degree in Physics, Optics, Chemistry, Engineering, or a related field
• Minimum 2+ years of experience (advanced degree inclusive) using and maintaining optical, opto-mechanical, and/or laser systems

Required Qualifications

• Temperamentally suited to work at a fast-growing startup: self-motivated, humble, driven, collaborative, and comfortable with ambiguity
• Ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with a diverse team of experimental physicists, hardware engineers, and software engineers
• Hands-on experience aligning optical elements in accordance with documented designs
• Experience with current state-of-the-art lasers/amplifiers (e.g., diode and fiber-based) and nonlinear optical materials, including characterization, phase-locking, and optimization of laser and nonlinear optical systems, plus design and modeling experience for nonlinear optical and laser/amplifier systems
• Experience with data analysis: taking, plotting, analyzing, fitting, and interpreting data from optical testing experiments
• Experience with engineering change documentation; ability to work from assembly drawings, schematics, wiring diagrams, sketches, and other written, visual, and oral instructions

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with Python and Git software version control
• Familiarity with Zemax, Onshape, and/or SolidWorks/CAD for designing optical and optomechanical systems

$120,000 - $150,000 a year

Atom Computing provides a wide variety of perks and benefits, including fully paid medical, dental, and vision insurance for our employees and their dependents. Additionally, unlimited paid time off, 401K company matching, short- and long-term disability, FSA, dependent care benefits, and life insurance. We also offer drinks, snacks, and catered team lunches in our offices, every day!

The base salary range for this position is between $120,000 – $150,000, commensurate with experience. In addition to salary, we offer an annual bonus and equity in the company.