Optical Engineer

Staff Optical Engineer

Within Infleqtion's Quantum Computing Product Group, the Hardware Engineering Team is seeking a Staff Optical Engineer to provide deep technical contribution and subsystem-level leadership in advanced optical systems for neutral-atom quantum computing.

The successful candidate will independently own complex optical subsystems, working closely with physicists and cross-disciplinary engineering teams to translate experimental requirements into robust, high-performance optical designs. This role is hands-on and laboratory-focused, with responsibility for driving designs from research-grade implementations toward reliable, scalable hardware solutions.

Typically, you will be entrusted with:

• Leading the design, modeling, and validation of complex optical and laser-based subsystems supporting neutral-atom quantum computing platforms.
• Developing and integrating scalable atom addressing and control technologies. This includes but is not limited to digital micromirror devices (DMDs), spatial light modulators (SLMs), acousto-optic deflectors (AODs), electro-optic modulators (EOMs), metasurface-based optics, and fast multi-beam steering architectures.
• Designing and implementing (at a subsystem level) atom-resolved detection and feedback systems using state-of-the-art sensors such as SPAD/EMCCD/sCMOS cameras, and high-speed photodetectors, with consideration for scaling readout bandwidth, latency, and data throughput.
• Collaborating closely with physicists and optical, mechanical, electrical, software, and systems engineers to support the full experimental and hardware development lifecycle, from early research demonstrations to integrated, scalable systems.
• Leading hands-on laboratory efforts, including optical assembly, precision alignment, debugging, and performance characterization of complex, multi-channel optical systems.
• Developing and maintaining high-fidelity optical models using Zemax (Optic Studio), including tolerance analysis, sensitivity studies, and performance optimization informed by experimental data and system-level requirements.
• Defining and executing experimental strategies to characterize optical stability, drift, noise sources, and scaling limits, and using those results to inform design tradeoffs.
• Leading the transition within a defined architecture of optical subsystems from research-grade configurations to repeatable, maintainable, and scalable hardware suitable for larger atom counts.
• Providing technical guidance, and mentorship to optical engineers through design reviews, hands-on coaching, and identifying professional development opportunities.
• Establishing and improving best practices for optical design workflows, laboratory procedures, documentation, and version control.
• Supporting technical troubleshooting and cross-functional design reviews as needed to resolve complex system-level issues.