Quantum Systems Engineer

Monarch Quantum, Inc.; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 165,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision

401(k) match

PTO 20 days

Holidays 13

9/80 schedule

Job summary

Monarch Quantum, Inc. in San Diego, CA, seeks a Quantum Systems Engineer to own advanced optical systems from design to deployment. You will design, align, and characterize laser setups across UV to NIR, develop stabilization schemes, and collaborate with AMO physicists to translate experimental needs into engineering solutions.

The role is bench‑focused with strong emphasis on documentation, laser safety, and close lab collaboration, enabling impactful contributions to core research initiatives.

Qualifications

• PhD in Physics, Optical Engineering, or closely related field with AMO laser systems experience.
• 2+ years building and maintaining laser systems in AMO labs (atom trapping, ion traps, clocks, sensing).
• Strong free-space optical alignment, beam diagnostics and interferometry expertise.
• Experience with laser frequency stabilization and servo/feedback control concepts.
• Familiarity with fiber optics delivery and power handling; solid documentation practices.

Responsibilities

• Design, assemble, align, and characterize laser systems across UV, visible, and NIR.
• Develop laser frequency stabilization and locking schemes; tune servo systems for long-term operation.
• Architect optical subsystems for beam conditioning, delivery, switching, and control.
• Architect opto-electronic subsystems for frequency up-conversion with high-speed servo loops.
• Translate experimental requirements into optical specifications and engineering designs.

Skills

AMO laser systems

Free-space optical alignment

Laser frequency stabilization

Interferometric techniques

Servo control theory

Documentation practices

Education

PhD in Physics

Optical Engineering

Tools

AOMs

EOMs

Interferometers

Fiber couplers

Job description

Join our fast-paced and passionate team as a Quantum Systems Engineer. As we scale, you will be instrumental in building our foundation from the ground up. This is a dynamic, hands‑on role for a self‑starter who thrives in a fluid startup environment. You'll have the opportunity to work on cutting edge technologies, work closely with leadership, and develop and implement engineering practices that support our mission and growth.

The successful candidate will take end‑to‑end ownership of complex optical systems while working closely with a multidisciplinary team of engineers designing light engines for neutral atom, trapped ion, and quantum sensing applications. The background in AMO laboratory laser systems is beneficial.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, assemble, align, and characterize free‑space and fiber‑coupled laser systems across UV, visible, and NIR wavelengths in support of AMO experiments.
• Develop laser frequency stabilization and locking schemes — PDH, modulation transfer, saturated absorption, offset locking — and tune servo systems for robust, long‑term operation.
• Architect optical subsystems for beam conditioning, delivery, switching, and control including AOMs, EOMs, isolators, and polarization management.
• Architect opto‑electronic subsystems for frequency up‑conversion using various techniques, from single‑pass to resonant‑cavity with high‑speed servo control loops.
• Translate experimental requirements from physics teams into optical system specifications and engineering designs.
• Produce and maintain clear engineering documentation: optical layouts, alignment and checkout procedures, component specifications, and characterization reports.
• Specify and procure optical components; evaluate vendors and qualify new hardware against performance requirements.
• Collaborate daily with AMO physicists and quantum engineers — participate in experimental planning and feed optical system constraints upstream into research decisions.
• Support laser safety compliance in accordance with IEC 60825‑1 and institutional requirements.

Note: 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 and Skills

• Ph.D. in Physics, Optical Engineering, or a closely related field, with hands‑on thesis or postdoctoral work involving AMO laser systems.
• 2+ years of direct experience building and maintaining laser systems in an AMO laboratory context — atom trapping and cooling, trapped ions, optical clocks, or quantum sensing.
• Strong proficiency in free‑space optical alignment, beam diagnostics, and interferometric techniques.
• Experience implementing laser frequency stabilization and understanding of the underlying servo and feedback control theory.
• Familiarity with fiber optics, including coupling, delivery, and power handling.
• Ability to produce clean, complete engineering documentation alongside laboratory work.
• Laser safety awareness; comfort working within a formal laser safety program.

Startup Mindset

• You're creative, flexible, and eager to wear multiple hats.
• You're passionate about building systems from the ground up and comfortable with ambiguity and change.

This is a laboratory‑dominant role. The Quantum Systems Engineer will spend bulk of their time on the bench executing hardware bring‑up, alignment, and characterization. Complementary system engineering, design, and analysis responsibilities — including optical layout design, component specification and procurement, and performance analysis — are an integral part of the role and directly inform laboratory work. The position carries full technical ownership of assigned systems and close collaboration with the research teams that depend on them.

The expected annual salary range for this position is $165,000-$200,000.

Benefits

• 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 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.