Photonics Engineer 3 Components

Monarch Quantum; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance

Fidelity 401(k) plan with 4% employer;

20 PTO days per year

13 paid holidays

9/80 work schedule

Job summary

Monarch Quantum is seeking a Photonics Engineer 3 with a solid foundation in optics and photonics packaging to design, develop, and evaluate high‑performance photonic components for optical systems.

The role involves rigorous alignment and packaging work, collaboration with manufacturing and supply chain, and transitioning designs from prototype to high‑volume production. Candidates should have hands‑on lab experience and proficiency with Zemax or Code V.

Qualifications

• BS/MS/PhD in Optical Engineering, Physics, EE or related field.
• 5–10+ years of experience developing photonic or optical hardware.
• Hands-on lab experience with optical alignment and characterization.
• Experience designing or integrating optical components and assemblies.
• Familiarity with optical modeling tools such as Zemax, Code V, or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Design and create photonic components (isolators, switches, fiber connectors, modulators).
• Develop optical packaging concepts (fiber coupling assemblies, optical benches, mounts).
• Establish testing setups and measure insertion loss, isolation, return loss, and power handling.
• Support reliability qualification and failure analysis of optical assemblies.
• Collaborate with mechanical, manufacturing, supply chain, and QA teams to scale production.

Skills

Optical design

Opto-mechanical integration

Precision assembly

Optical testing

Education

BS, MS, or PhD in Optical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or related field

Tools

Zemax

Code V

Job description

Join our fast-paced and passionate team as a Photonics Engineer 3 Components dedicated to the design, development, and evaluation of sophisticated photonic components utilized in high-performance optical systems. As we scale, you will be instrumental in building our manufacturing foundation from the ground up. This is a dynamic, hands‑on role for a highly self‑directed engineer who thrives in an ambiguous, fast‑moving environment.

This position necessitates a solid foundation in optics, photonics packaging, and precise opto‑mechanical integration. The engineer will collaborate closely with manufacturing, reliability, and supply chain teams to facilitate the transition of designs from prototype stage to high‑volume production. Key responsibilities include:

Component Design & Development

• Design and create photonic components, which include, but are not limited to:

  • Optical isolators
  • Optical switches
  • High-power fiber optic connectors
  • Packaged acousto‑optic modulators

• Conduct optical design and modeling for both free-space and fiber‑coupled optical systems.

• Develop opto‑mechanical designs to ensure stable and consistent optical alignment.

• Choose and integrate essential optical components such as lenses, crystals, fibers, polarizers, and coatings.

• Perform optical tolerance assessments and conduct performance modeling.

Optical Packaging & Integration

• Design high‑precision photonic packaging solutions that encompass:

  • Fiber coupling assemblies
  • Optical benches and mounts
  • Thermal management structures

• Implement alignment methods, including active alignment, passive alignment, welding, soldering, and adhesive bonding.

• Develop automated or semi‑automated assembly procedures.

Testing & Characterization

• Establish and characterize optical testing setups for component validation.

• Measure critical optical parameters such as:

  • Insertion loss
  • Isolation
  • Return loss
  • Power handling capacity
  • Switching speed
  • Thermal stability

• Conduct environmental testing and evaluate performance under various temperature, vibration, and lifespan conditions.

Reliability & Failure Analysis

• Assist with component reliability qualification and conduct accelerated life testing.
• Examine optical performance degradation and investigate failure modes.
• Carry out root cause analyses and implement corrective measures.
• Contribute to reliability modeling for materials, adhesives, fibers, and optical assemblies.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with:

  • Mechanical engineering
  • Manufacturing engineering
  • Supply chain
  • Quality and reliability teams

• Support the transition of designs into manufacturing and the scaling of production.

• Engage with external suppliers for specialized optical components and materials.

• This position requires access to export‑controlled information. Employment is contingent upon the applicant being a U.S. person as defined by 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3).

Experience:

• BS, MS, or PhD in Optical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or related field.

• 5–10+ years of experience developing photonic or optical hardware.

• Experience designing or integrating optical components and assemblies.

• Hands‑on laboratory experience with optical alignment and characterization.

• Familiarity with optical modeling tools such as Zemax, Code V, or equivalent.

• Experience with precision opto‑mechanical design and packaging.

Startup Mindset:

• Comfortable operating in an evolving environment with changing priorities
• Motivated by building new capabilities and infrastructure from the ground up
• Willing to take ownership across multiple technical domains
• Hands‑on and resourceful, with a strong bias toward execution

The expected annual salary range for this position is $125,000-$175,000.

As a full‑time employee, you will be eligible for Monarch’s comprehensive benefits package, which includes:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
• Fidelity 401(k) plan with 4% employer matching
• 20 paid time off (PTO) days per year
• 13 paid company holidays
• 9/80 work schedule (every other Friday off)

Monarch Quantum is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, citizenship status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, veteran status or any other characteristics protected under applicable federal, state and local laws.