Senior Laser Engineer

Lever, Inc.; Boulder (CO); On-site; USD 150,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Unlimited PTO

401(k) matching

Equity

Free meals

Job summary

Atom Computing is seeking a Senior Laser Engineer to own and advance precision laser and optical systems. You will work with diode and fiber lasers, nonlinear optics, and phase-locking to support quantum computer hardware upgrades.

You will design, test, and document systems, lead projects end-to-end, and collaborate closely with physicists, hardware, and software teams to scale our quantum hardware. Experience in laser/optics and strong communication are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Physics, Optics, Chemistry, Engineering, or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Own alignment, tuning, and troubleshooting of laser and optical systems — diode and fiber lasers/amplifiers, nonlinear optical systems — with minimal supervision
• Design, characterize, phase‑lock, and optimize laser and nonlinear optical systems for new hardware builds and upgrades
• Lead technical projects end-to-end: gather requirements, build action plans, and drive prioritization and schedule
• Analyze optical test data — plotting, fitting, interpreting — to guide design and troubleshooting decisions
• Set the documentation and technical‑writing standard for the team, and review the work of other engineers
• Partner with experimental physicists, hardware, and software engineers, and report progress to the Laser Engineering Manager

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Data analysis

Documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Physics/Optics/Engineering

Advanced degree a plus

Tools

Diode lasers

Fiber lasers

Nonlinear optical systems

Phase-locking

Opto-mechanical design

Python

Git

Zemax

Onshape

SolidWorks CAD

Job description

At Atom Computing, we build quantum computers using arrays of optically trapped neutral atoms that will empower customers to achieve unprecedented computational breakthroughs. Join a world‑class team of scientists, engineers, and business professionals to advance the state‑of‑the‑art in quantum computing.

As a Senior Laser Engineer, you'll independently own the precision laser and optical systems — diode and fiber lasers, nonlinear optical frequency conversion — that keep our quantum computers running reliably. You'll bring deep expertise in one or more laser/optics domains to our hardest technical problems, set the bar for documentation and technical rigor, and partner closely with physicists, hardware, and software engineers as we scale.

Job Responsibilities

• Own alignment, tuning, and troubleshooting of laser and optical systems — diode and fiber lasers/amplifiers, nonlinear optical systems — with minimal supervision
• Design, characterize, phase‑lock, and optimize laser and nonlinear optical systems for new hardware builds and upgrades
• Lead technical projects end-to-end: gather requirements, build action plans, and drive prioritization and schedule
• Analyze optical test data — plotting, fitting, interpreting — to guide design and troubleshooting decisions
• Set the documentation and technical‑writing standard for the team, and review the work of other engineers
• Partner with experimental physicists, hardware, and software engineers, and report progress to the Laser Engineering Manager

Experience & Education

• Bachelor's degree in Physics, Optics, Chemistry, Engineering, or a related field; advanced degree a plus
• 5+ years of experience using, maintaining, and independently developing optical, opto‑mechanical, and/or laser systems

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated mastery in at least one laser/optics domain (e.g., diode/fiber lasers and amplifiers, nonlinear optical systems, phase‑locking), evidenced by concrete project contributions
• Track record of leading laser/optical projects independently, from requirements through completion
• Experience designing and modeling nonlinear optical or laser/amplifier systems
• Strong data analysis skills, and comfort producing and working from engineering documentation (change orders, assembly drawings, schematics, wiring diagrams)
• Excellent communicator, able to set the documentation and technical‑writing bar for a cross‑functional team of physicists and engineers

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience mentoring or reviewing the work of junior engineers
• Proficiency with Python and Git
• Proficiency with Zemax, Onshape, and/or SolidWorks/CAD

Salary

$150,000 - $175,000 a year

The base salary range for this position is between $150,000 – $175,000, commensurate with experience.

Benefits

• fully paid medical, dental, and vision insurance for our employees and their dependents.
• unlimited paid time off, 401K company matching, short- and long-term disability, FSA, dependent care benefits, and life insurance.
• drinks, snacks, and catered team lunches in our offices, every day!
• annual bonus and equity in the company.