Lead Optical Engineer, Quantum Hardware

Infleqtion; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 175,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision benefits

Unlimited PTO

401(k) match

Life and AD&D Insurance

Health Savings Account

Job summary

Infleqtion is seeking a Staff Optical Engineer to lead design and validation of complex optical subsystems for neutral-atom quantum computing. The role centers on translating experimental requirements into robust, scalable optical hardware with a hands-on laboratory focus.

You will work with physicists and cross-disciplinary teams to advance atom-addressing technologies and high-speed readout. Prior Zemax, lab alignment, and mentorship capabilities are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in optical engineering, physics, or a related field; 6+ years of industry experience preferred.
• Strong experience designing, modeling, and validating laser-based, atomic, or quantum optics systems.
• Hands-on laboratory expertise in precision optical alignment and experimental troubleshooting.
• Proficiency with Zemax (OpticStudio) for optical system design and tolerance analysis.
• Working knowledge of SolidWorks for opto-mechanical layouts.
• Experience using git or similar version control for design artifacts.

Responsibilities

• Leading the design, modeling, and validation of complex optical and laser-based subsystems supporting neutral-atom quantum computing platforms.
• Developing and integrating scalable atom addressing and control technologies (DMDs, SLMs, AODs, EOMs, metasurface optics).
• Designing and implementing atom-resolved detection and feedback systems using SPAD/EMCCD/sCMOS cameras and high-speed photodetectors.
• Collaborating with physicists and optical, mechanical, electrical, software, and systems engineers across the lifecycle.
• Leading hands-on lab efforts: optical assembly, precision alignment, debugging, and performance characterization of multi-channel systems.
• Developing and maintaining high-fidelity optical models using Zemax with tolerance analysis and data-informed optimization.
• Defining experimental strategies to characterize stability, drift, noise, and scaling limits for design tradeoffs.
• Leading transitions from research-grade to repeatable, scalable hardware for larger atom counts.
• Providing technical guidance and mentorship to optical engineers.
• Establishing and improving best practices for optical design workflows and documentation.

Skills

Optical design

Zemax (OpticStudio)

System integration

Lab testing

Mentorship

SolidWorks

Git

Atomic/Quantum optics

Education

Bachelor's degree in optical engineering/physics or related field

Master's or PhD preferred

Tools

DMDs

SLMs

AODs

EOMs

SPAD

EMCCD

sCMOS

Job description

Infleqtion is seeking a Staff Optical Engineer to lead design and validation of complex optical subsystems for neutral-atom quantum computing. The role centers on translating experimental requirements into robust, scalable optical hardware with a hands-on laboratory focus.

You will work with physicists and cross-disciplinary teams to advance atom-addressing technologies and high-speed readout. Prior Zemax, lab alignment, and mentorship capabilities are essential.