Senior Optical Engineer — Quantum Hardware (Equity, Unlimited PTO)

Infleqtion; Louisville (CO); On-site; USD 155,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% company‑paid health/dental/vision

Unlimited PTO

401(k) match

Equity package

Flexible Spending Account

Life and AD&D insurance

Employer‑funded Health Savings Account

Student loan repayment

Job summary

Infleqtion is seeking a Senior Optical Engineer to design, implement, and validate complex optical subsystems for neutral‑atom quantum computing platforms. You will work hands‑on in the lab, translating experimental requirements into robust optical designs while mentoring junior engineers.

The role emphasizes collaboration with physicists and engineers across optics, mechanics, software, and systems teams to push experiments from demonstrations to scalable, commercial hardware.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in optical engineering, physics, or related field; 4+ years of relevant experience (Master's/PhD preferred).
• Strong foundation in geometrical, Fourier, and physical optics.
• Proficiency with Zemax (OpticStudio) for optical system design and analysis.
• Proficiency in Python for Zemax automation and data analysis.
• Working knowledge of SolidWorks for opto‑mechanical layouts.
• Experience designing laser‑based optics for microscopy, lithography, or quantum systems.
• Experience with SLMs, beam shaping, and integration into quantum optical systems.
• Experience in beam delivery, Gaussian beam modeling, and 4‑f optical systems.
• Hands‑on experience with optical components (filters, fibers, polarizers, waveplates, etc.).
• Experience with laboratory electronics and instrumentation (photodetectors, scopes, spectrum analyzers).
• Git or similar version control for design artifacts.

Responsibilities

• Designing, modeling, and validating optical and laser subsystems for neutral‑atom platforms.
• Integrating and testing scalable atom addressing and control technologies (DMDs, SLMs, AODs, EOMs).
• Collaborating with physicists and engineers across disciplines to support full hardware lifecycle.
• Leading hands‑on lab efforts: optical assembly, alignment, debugging, and performance characterization.
• Developing high‑fidelity optical models and tolerance analyses in Zemax.
• Transitioning research configurations to commercial, repeatable hardware.
• Providing technical guidance and informal mentorship to optical engineers.

Skills

Optical design

Zemax OpticStudio

Python for automation

Geometrical/physical optics

Lab alignment troubleshooting

Git/version control

Multi‑channel optical systems

AOD/EOM/SLM/Laser optics

Education

Bachelor's in optical engineering/physics

Master's degree or PhD preferred

Tools

Zemax (OpticStudio)

SolidWorks

Python

Job description

Infleqtion is seeking a Senior Optical Engineer to design, implement, and validate complex optical subsystems for neutral‑atom quantum computing platforms. You will work hands‑on in the lab, translating experimental requirements into robust optical designs while mentoring junior engineers.

The role emphasizes collaboration with physicists and engineers across optics, mechanics, software, and systems teams to push experiments from demonstrations to scalable, commercial hardware.