Senior Optical Engineer - Quantum Hardware Subsystems

Infleqtion; Boulder (CO); Hybrid; USD 155,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company-paid medical, dental, vision

Employer-funded Health Savings Account

Unlimited PTO

401(k) match

Equity Package

Job summary

Infleqtion is seeking a Senior Optical Engineer to design, implement, and validate complex optical subsystems for neutral‑atom quantum computing platforms. The role is hands‑on, lab‑focused, with mentorship responsibilities and close collaboration with physicists and engineers.

You will build and test optical assemblies, advance high‑fidelity models in Zemax, and drive optics performance from research to scalable hardware. Strong optics experience, Python, and SolidWorks are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in optical engineering, physics, or related field with 4+ years’ experience; MS/PhD preferred.
• Proficiency with Zemax for optical design, sequential modeling, aberration analysis, tolerancing.
• Proficiency in Python for Zemax automation and data analysis.
• Experience with SolidWorks for opto‑mechanical layouts and design reviews.
• Experience designing laser‑based optics for microscopy, lithography, atomic physics, or quantum applications.
• Experience with spatial light modulators (SLMs) and beam shaping.

Responsibilities

• Designing, modeling, and validating optical and laser‑based subsystems for neutral‑atom quantum computing platforms.
• Integrating and testing scalable atom addressing and control technologies (DMDs, SLMs, AODs, EOMs, metasurfaces).
• Collaborating with physicists and engineers to support the full lifecycle from research demos to integrated systems.
• Leading hands‑on lab efforts: optical assembly, alignment, debugging, and performance characterization.
• Developing high‑fidelity optical models using Zemax, including tolerance analysis and optimization.
• Transitioning architectures from research to commercial ready hardware.
• Providing technical guidance and informal mentorship during design reviews.
• Establishing best practices for optical design workflows, procedures, and version control.

Skills

Optical design

Lab troubleshooting

Mentorship

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in optical engineering, physics, or related field

Master's degree or PhD preferred

Tools

Zemax (OpticStudio)

Python

SolidWorks

Git

Job description

Infleqtion is seeking a Senior Optical Engineer to design, implement, and validate complex optical subsystems for neutral‑atom quantum computing platforms. The role is hands‑on, lab‑focused, with mentorship responsibilities and close collaboration with physicists and engineers.

You will build and test optical assemblies, advance high‑fidelity models in Zemax, and drive optics performance from research to scalable hardware. Strong optics experience, Python, and SolidWorks are required.