Senior Laser Engineer

Entangled Future; Boulder (CO); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Unlimited PTO

401K matching

Short- and long-term disability

FSA

Dependent care benefits

Life insurance

Drinks, snacks, and catered team meals

Job summary

Atom Computing in Boulder, CO is seeking a Senior Laser Engineer to independently own the precision laser and optical systems, including diode and fiber lasers, and nonlinear frequency conversion. The role demands deep expertise and strong documentation standards, with collaboration across physics, hardware, and software engineers as we scale.

You will lead end-to-end projects, design and optimize laser systems for new hardware builds, analyze test data, and raise the bar for engineering

Qualifications

• BS in Physics, Optics, Engineering or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 5+ years designing, maintaining, and developing optical/laser systems.
• Mastery in at least one laser/optics domain with concrete project contributions.
• Experience leading laser/optical projects from requirements to completion.
• Experience designing or modeling nonlinear optical or laser/amplifier systems.
• Strong data analysis and ability to produce engineering docs (drawings, schematics).
• Excellent communication to a cross-functional team.

Responsibilities

• Own alignment, tuning, and troubleshooting of laser/optical systems with minimal supervision.
• Design, characterize, phase-lock, and optimize laser and nonlinear optical systems.
• Lead technical projects end-to-end from requirements to schedule.
• Analyze optical test data to guide design and troubleshooting decisions.
• Set the documentation and technical-writing standard for the team.
• Partner with physicists, hardware, and software engineers; report progress to Laser Engineering Manager.

Skills

Laser systems

Optics

Data analysis

Technical documentation

Python

Git

Zemax

CAD tools

Onshape

Education

BS in Physics/Optics/Engineering

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Zemax

Onshape

SolidWorks

Job description

Senior Laser Engineer at Atom Computing, Boulder, CO. A senior-level full time position in the Quantum Engineering team, listed under hardware engineering.

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.

Atom Computing provides a wide variety of perks and benefits, including fully paid medical, dental, and vision insurance for our employees and their dependents. Additionally, unlimited paid time off, 401K company matching, short- and long-term disability, FSA, dependent care benefits, and life insurance. We also offer drinks, snacks, and catered team lunches in our offices, every day!

The base salary range for this position is between $150,000 – $175,000, commensurate with experience. In addition to salary, we offer an annual bonus and equity in the company.

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

Requirements

• 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
• 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

Nice to Have

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