Staff Scientist, Laser Systems Development – Vescent

Staff Scientist, Laser Systems Development – Vescent March 12, 2025

Staff Scientist - Laser Systems Development

About Vescent Photonics:

Vescent Photonics seeks a creative and highly driven laser scientist to join our Research & Development team in Golden, CO. The right candidate will work on the development of state-of-the-art laser and optoelectronic systems with a focus on the development, construction, and testing of integrated laser systems for cold-atom-based experiments and sensors. The candidate will be efficient in their work ethic, highly self-motivated, and enthusiastic about laboratory research in an industrial setting.

The candidate will manage research projects as a principal investigator and seek new funding opportunities for next-generation research and development. Approximately 60-80% of the candidate’s time will require on-site tasks with an opportunity for travel to conferences and customer site-visits. This position offers growth opportunities for career advancement in management, including promotion to Group Leader to oversee a small development team.

Vescent Photonics develops and manufactures high-performance electro-optics, tunable lasers, and electronics for precision laser control. Being a recognized leader in laser control systems and centrally located in the Denver area allows for frequent collaborations with nearby academic and private institutes to further Vescent’s product and technology development goals. R&D is a central part of Vescent’s mission, fueling technology innovations that turn into world-class products.

The work environment is fun, fast-paced, challenging, and interdisciplinary, involving a high degree of coordination between electrical, mechanical, and optical systems. The Vescent team takes pride in its work, is energetic and agile, and enjoys celebrating milestones.

Travel requirements:
Occasional (5-10% total) trips to conferences and/or customers

Duties:

• Conduct research both as an individual and in a team environment. This will include analyzing, modelling, designing, assembling, and testing lasers, electro-optical systems, and atomic and molecular physics packages for prototype cold-atom-based quantum sensor projects.
• Conduct in-laboratory research (estimated 25-50% of candidate's time on a monthly basis).
• Mentor and train research staff regarding laboratory, presentation, and report writing skills.
• Manage contract research projects to be on time and within budget, including effectively communicating with customers, industry/academic partners, and vendors.
• Write effective proposals to secure funding through government and commercial contracts.
• As part of a highly cross-functional product development team, work closely with other team members to capture product requirements, provide subject matter expertise, analyze designs, troubleshoot prototypes, and perform use case test validation.
• Transition assembly and testing of optical systems to production engineers and technicians as needed.

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. or M.S. in Physics, Optics, Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent degree in relevant field.
• At least 3 years performing hands-on R&D in an optics/laser laboratory.
• Expertise in cold-atom-based sensor systems, including their technical requirements, detailed design, construction, and testing.
• Demonstrated understanding of laser frequency stabilization and servo feedback control of electro-optical systems, including characterization and analysis of laser phase/frequency noise properties.
• Demonstrated technical writing experience, including providing relevant writing samples.
• In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.
• Proficiency in designing and troubleshooting electronic circuits, especially with opto-electronic components such as diode lasers and photodetectors.
• Expertise in photonic integrated circuits (PICs), fiber lasers, and semiconductor laser devices including design, fabrication, testing, and packaging.
• Experience with wavelength conversion via nonlinear optics.
• Demonstrated proficiency in computer programming (Python preferred), data analysis tools, and physical simulations (including, but not limited to, Zemax and Solidworks).

Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $ – $ per year
Benefits: