Principal Optical Engineer

Entangled Future; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity grants

Job summary

QuEra Computing in Boston, MA is seeking a Principal Optical Engineer to join the QPU Hardware Engineering team as a senior individual contributor. This full-time role focuses on building state-of-the-art neutral atom quantum computers by integrating optics, engineering, and product development.

You will lead optical module design, collaborate with physicists to specify subsystems, guide an interdisciplinary team from concept through production, and advance engineering practices through research

Qualifications

• Master's degree in optics, optical engineering, applied physics, or a closely related field.
• 10–15 years non-academic work experience in enterprise scale or startup environments.
• Deep experience and knowledge of free-space optics, lens design, fiber optics.
• Optical system characterization and testing; opto-mechanics.
• Experience bringing complex optical systems from concept to production.
• Proficiency with CAD software (Inventor, Solidworks) and PDM/PLM tools.

Responsibilities

• Optical module design and development.
• Architect optical systems with physicists for full lifecycle support.
• Technically lead an interdisciplinary team through product development.
• Advance state-of-the-art engineering practices through research and improvement.
• Coordinate with R&D/science to translate advances into products.
• Troubleshoot issues at headquarters and customer sites.

Skills

Free-space optics

Lens design

Fiber optics

Optical system characterization and测试

Opto-mechanics

Concept to production

CAD software (Inventor/SolidWorks)

PDM/PLM familiarity

Education

Master's degree in optics / optical engineering / applied physics

Tools

Inventor

Solidworks

PDM

PLM

Job description

Principal Optical Engineer at QuEra Computing, Boston, MA, USA. A lead-level full time position in the QPU Hardware Engineering team, listed under hardware engineering.

The Hardware Engineering Group at QuEra Computing is seeking strong candidates for a Principal Optical Engineer to serve as a senior individual contributor to the company’s mission of building state-of-the-art, manufacturable, and deployable neutral atom quantum computers. The Hardware Engineering Group plays a crucial role in accelerating the company’s technology leadership and translating the company’s scientific breakthroughs into products delivered to customers. To accomplish this mission, we are looking to hire a candidate with graduate-level education in optics, optical engineering, or applied physics with industry experience in an enterprise engineering environment. The ideal candidate will combine a deep, fundamental understanding of several areas of optics, design, and engineering. Although candidates with a Ph.D. in physics may be considered, applicants should ensure they have sufficient professional experience beyond academia in an enterprise engineering environment to establish themselves independently as a Principal-level engineer.

The approximate base salary range for this position is $180,000 - $220,000.

We consistently monitor external market data and update base salary ranges accordingly. We determine base compensation decisions on several factors, including as geographic placement, role-specific knowledge, skills, and/or experience. In addition to our base salary offerings, we also provide equity grants for all new hires.

Responsibilities

• Optical module design and development
• Work with physicists to understand requirements and architect optical systems, sub-systems, modules, and components to support QuEra’s neutral atom computers through the full development lifecycle (R&D, productization, maintenance, and beyond).
• Technically lead an interdisciplinary team of engineers (optical, electronic, mechanical, etc.) through the product development process to take an optical module from early phase concept through to implementation and production.
• Advance state-of-the-art engineering practices at QuEra through independent research, problem-solving, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Coordinate closely with the R&D/science team to enable cutting-edge R&D and translate scientific advances into the next generation of products.
• Troubleshoot technical issues at company headquarters and off-site installations at customer locations (in coordination with local support team).

Requirements

• Master's degree in optics, optical engineering, applied physics, or a closely related field.
• 10-15 years non-academic work experience. Experience at an enterprise scale as well as startup preferred.
• Deep experience and knowledge of
• Free-space optics
• Lens design
• Fiber optics
• Optical system characterization and testingOpto-mechanics
• Experience bringing complex optical systems from concept to production
• Expertise with using Mechanical CAD software (e.g. Inventor, Solidworks), Product Data Management (PDM) software, Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software

Nice to Have

• Experience with quantum computing, especially neutral atom
• Professional work experience in commercial product development and off-site product deployment at customer premises.