Photonics Engineering Technician Level 3

Monarch Quantum; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 85,962,000 - 128,943,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance

Fidelity 401(k) plan with 4% employer‑

4% employer matching

20 paid time off (PTO) days per year

13 paid company holidays

9/80 work schedule

Job summary

Monarch Quantum in San Diego, CA is seeking a Photonics Engineering Technician 3 to support development of optical modules for our photonic engines. You will collaborate with engineers to assemble, align, test, and prototype optical systems using both manual and automated methods in a clean laboratory setting.

This hands-on, highly collaborative role ensures products meet internal specifications, quality standards, and performance requirements.

Qualifications

• Associates degree in relevant technical field.
• 10+ years of relevant experience, preferably in startup, R&D, prototype manufacturing, or technology-focused environment.
• Strong ability to interpret technical requirements, specifications, and documentation.
• Experience working in laboratory, prototype, or low-volume manufacturing environments.

Responsibilities

• Align, collimate, and fiber couple a variety of optical components.
• Assemble compound optical and opto-mechanical subassemblies according to engineering direction.
• Inspect and monitor material and build quality throughout the assembly process.
• Collaborate with engineers to troubleshoot technical and build-related issues.
• Support problem analysis and contribute to process improvements.
• Work in both laboratory and cleanroom environments to ensure compliance with cleanliness standards.
• Train and mentor junior technicians as needed.

Skills

Fiber coupling

Optical alignment

Prototype manufacturing

Soldering

Education

Associate degree in relevant technical field

Tools

Calipers

Microscopes

Multimeters

Bake ovens

Lathes

Manual mills

Job description

As a Photonics Engineering Technician 3, you will work in a high-tech photonics laboratory environment, supporting development of complex optical modules for Monarch Quantum’s photonic “engines”. You will collaborate closely with engineers to assemble, align, test, and prototype optical systems using both manual and automated methods.

This is a hands-on, highly collaborative role focused on ensuring products meet internal specifications, quality standards, and performance requirements.

Key Responsibilities:

• Align, collimate, and fiber couple a variety of optical components.
• Assemble compound optical and opto-mechanical subassemblies according to engineering direction.
• Inspect and monitor material and build quality throughout the assembly process.
• Collaborate with engineers to troubleshoot technical and build-related issues.
• Support problem analysis and contribute to process improvements.
• Work in both laboratory and cleanroom environments to ensure compliance with cleanliness standards.
• Train and mentor junior technicians as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Experience:

• Associates degree in relevant technical field
• 10+ years of relevant experience, preferably in startup, R&D, prototype manufacturing, or technology-focused environment.
• Strong ability to interpret technical requirements, specifications, and documentation.
• Experience working in laboratory, prototype, or low-volume manufacturing environments.

Preferred Skills:

• Demonstrated experience aligning, collimating, and fiber-coupling optical components.
• Experience assembling compound optical and opto-mechanical assemblies
• Proficiency with common measurement and inspection tools (calipers, multimeters, microscopes, tape measures, hot plates, bake ovens).
• Experience soldering small, ESD-sensitive electronic components.
• Experience cleaning free-space and fiber-optic components.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Clear and effective communication skills when working with engineering teams.

Additional Skills:

• Experience with high-complexity assemblies (>200 unique mechanical and electronic parts)
• Willingness and ability to learn, evaluate, and help validate new processes and equipment
• Experience training technicians across processes at varying levels of maturity
• Ability to serve as a subject-matter expert for common lab equipment (e.g., bake ovens, plasma ovens)
• Experience with machining tools such as lathes, manual mills, band saws, taps, etc.

The anticipated hourly pay for this role ranges from $30.00 to $45.00.

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 discriminateon the basis ofrace, 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.