Laser Engineer

Job Responsibilities

Align, tune, and troubleshoot optical and laser systems — including diode- and fiber-based lasers/amplifiers and nonlinear optical systems — to keep quantum computing hardware running reliably
Characterize, phase-lock, and optimize laser and nonlinear optical systems to improve performance and stability
Design and model nonlinear optical and laser/amplifier systems for new hardware builds and system upgrades
Provide technical expertise to laser and optical projects across the team, with the goal of maximizing performance and robustness
Take, plot, analyze, fit, and interpret data from optical testing experiments to guide design and troubleshooting decisions
Gather project requirements from stakeholders, turn them into action plans, and keep the team on schedule with proper prioritization
Create and maintain engineering change documentation; work from assembly drawings, schematics, wiring diagrams, and other written, visual, and oral instructions
Collaborate day-to-day with experimental physicists, hardware engineers, and software engineers to integrate laser systems into the broader quantum computing platform
Report progress, risks, and technical findings to the Laser Engineering Manager, and contribute to the team's roadmap for scaling laser systems

Experience & Education

Bachelor's degree in Physics, Optics, Chemistry, Engineering, or a related field
Minimum 2+ years of experience (advanced degree inclusive) using and maintaining optical, opto-mechanical, and/or laser systems

Required Qualifications

Temperamentally suited to work at a fast-growing startup: self-motivated, humble, driven, collaborative, and comfortable with ambiguity
Ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with a diverse team of experimental physicists, hardware engineers, and software engineers
Hands-on experience aligning optical elements in accordance with documented designs
Experience with current state-of-the-art lasers/amplifiers (e.g., diode and fiber-based) and nonlinear optical materials, including characterization, phase-locking, and optimization of laser and nonlinear optical systems, plus design and modeling experience for nonlinear optical and laser/amplifier systems
Experience with data analysis: taking, plotting, analyzing, fitting, and interpreting data from optical testing experiments
Experience with engineering change documentation; ability to work from assembly drawings, schematics, wiring diagrams, sketches, and other written, visual, and oral instructions

Preferred Qualifications

Familiarity with Python and Git software version control
Familiarity with Zemax, Onshape, and/or SolidWorks/CAD for designing optical and optomechanical systems