Optical Assembly & Alignment Lead – Precision Photonics

Atom Computing, Inc.; Boulder (CO); On-site; USD 170,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Unlimited PTO

401K plan

Short/Long-term disability

FSA

Dependent care

Life insurance

Snacks and catered lunches

Job summary

Atom Computing seeks a Senior Optical Assembly & Alignment Engineer to build and verify optical breadboards and laser-delivery assemblies for neutral-atom quantum computers. This bench-focused role defines placement, beam alignment, polarization, and optical performance at the subsystem level for delivery to the system integration team.

You will install and align lenses, mirrors, beam splitters, polarization optics, and fiber-coupling assemblies; measure throughput, power, beam profile,

Qualifications

• BS in optics, optical engineering, physics, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 7+ years of hands-on optical assembly, free-space alignment, fiber coupling, and characterization of precision laser or photonics hardware.
• Experience building from controlled optical layouts and recording repeatable measurements for subsystem acceptance.
• Experience with neutral-atom quantum-computer optics, AMO laboratory systems, or precision scientific instrumentation preferred.

Responsibilities

• Build optical breadboards from layouts, drawings, BOMs, and instructions; verify optic identity, coating orientation, mount placement, and assembly references.
• Install and align lenses, mirrors, beam splitters, polarization optics, and fiber-coupling assemblies to establish specified free-space beam paths, geometry, and subsystem interfaces.
• Measure throughput, power, beam profile, polarization, and coupling efficiency; use wavefront sensors or interferometers when required by the verification procedure.
• Diagnose beam clipping, optical loss, pointing drift, polarization errors, and mount‑induced alignment changes; document the cause and perform only approved adjustment or rework.
• Establish pre‑bond alignment and fixturing with Optical Bonding Technicians; compare alignment and optical measurements after curing before accepting the assembly.
• Inspect and clean optical surfaces; protect coatings and maintain clean‑handling and laser‑safety practices through build, test, storage, and delivery.
• Combine optical‑board assemblies into the assigned subsystem and execute approved verification steps; subsystem optical tests remain separate from later testing with atoms.
• Record component identifiers, revisions, alignment references, instrument identity, raw measurements, and completed steps in the subsystem traveler and release package.
• Capture first‑of‑a‑kind alignment methods; propose repeatable sequences, fixtures, and access improvements using data.

Skills

Optical assembly

Free-space alignment

Fiber coupling

Precision photonics hardware

Controlled optical layouts

Education

BS in optics/optical engineering/physics

Tools

Wavefront sensors

Interferometers

Job description

Atom Computing seeks a Senior Optical Assembly & Alignment Engineer to build and verify optical breadboards and laser-delivery assemblies for neutral-atom quantum computers. This bench-focused role defines placement, beam alignment, polarization, and optical performance at the subsystem level for delivery to the system integration team.

You will install and align lenses, mirrors, beam splitters, polarization optics, and fiber-coupling assemblies; measure throughput, power, beam profile,