Laser Safety Engineer: Design-First Safety for Global Systems

QuEra Computing Inc.; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The Laser Safety Engineer at QuEra Computing Inc. will own end-to-end laser safety by design across modules and deployments at our US sites.

You will influence optics, beam paths, containment, interlocks, and safety documentation while collaborating with safety officers, scientists, and facilities teams in the US, UK, and Japan. Responsibilities include designing and reviewing beam path safety, implementing layered protection, interlocks, hazard analyses, and ensuring compliance with ANSI Z136

Qualifications

• B.S. or M.S. in Physics, Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field; equivalent hands-on experience.
• Hands-on experience with Class 3B and Class 4 laser systems, including high power sources.
• Laser safety engineering built and used on real hardware, such as containment, interlocks, or hazard analysis.
• Working knowledge of ANSI Z136 or IEC 60825 and applying them to non-standard system configurations.
• Competence in optical power measurement, beam characterization, and stray light assessment.
• Credibility with practicing laser scientists and engineers, and clear written and verbal communication.

Responsibilities

• Own beam path safety review as a formal design gate for laser modules and systems.
• Specify layered protection at the design stage: optics and coating selection, beam containment, enclosures, beam dumps, and stray light management.
• Address fiber-borne hazards, including connector and end-face integrity, uncontrolled emission from damaged or disconnected fiber, and high power fiber delivery.
• Define scattered and stray radiation detection, including sensor selection, placement, thresholds, and integration with system telemetry.
• Design interlock and access control architecture across enclosures, doors, and emergency stop, with fail-safe behavior and machine-readable interlock state for automated operation.
• Retrofit containment and interlocks on deployed setups.
• Perform hazard analysis, define laser controlled area boundaries, and write laser safety acceptance criteria into module and system acceptance test procedures.
• Run hazard surveys and periodic spot checks across setups, investigate incidents and near misses, and specify PPE by area.
• Own laser safety standards for the team across ANSI Z136, IEC and BS EN 60825, and JIS C 6802, and align QuEra practice across the three regimes.
• Work with the Laser Safety Officers and the local scientists and engineers at our UK and Japan sites to select protection methods per configuration, review local builds, and audit on site.
• Partner with Scientists, Engineers, and Facilities so that safety requirements are coherently applied in design.

Skills

Laser safety engineering

Beam path safety

Optical power measurement

Beam characterization

Stray light assessment

Written and verbal communication

ANSI Z136 / IEC 60825

Interlocks and containment

Education

B.S./M.S. in Physics/Optical/Electrical/Mechanical Engineering

Job description

The Laser Safety Engineer at QuEra Computing Inc. will own end-to-end laser safety by design across modules and deployments at our US sites.

You will influence optics, beam paths, containment, interlocks, and safety documentation while collaborating with safety officers, scientists, and facilities teams in the US, UK, and Japan. Responsibilities include designing and reviewing beam path safety, implementing layered protection, interlocks, hazard analyses, and ensuring compliance with ANSI Z136