Laser Engineer - Manufacturing
About The Position
Atom Computing is seeking a Laser Engineer to join its Manufacturing organization. The role helps translate first-build experience into reliable, repeatable manufacturing processes while working alongside the engineers and physicists developing the company’s neutral-atom quantum-computing hardware. In this hands-on System Integration & Test (SI&T) role, the engineer integrates, stabilizes, characterizes, and troubleshoots laser systems used in neutral-atom quantum computers. The position develops setup, test, and recovery procedures, completes laser-system checkout before atom operations, and prepares documentation for handoff to Quantum Engineers (QEs). QEs own verification with atoms and final technical acceptance.
Requirements
- BS in physics, optical engineering, electrical engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
- 3+ years of hands-on experience commissioning, stabilizing, characterizing, and troubleshooting precision laser systems.
- Practical experience with laser frequency or intensity stabilization, feedback control, and fault diagnosis.
- Hands-on free-space alignment, polarization control, fiber coupling, and handling of precision optical components.
- Proficiency with laser diagnostics such as wavemeters, photodiodes, optical power meters, oscilloscopes, and optical or RF spectrum analyzers.
- Ability to interpret optical layouts, electrical schematics, control interfaces, and test data.
- Careful documentation and clear communication with engineers, physicists, and technicians.
Nice To Haves
- Advanced degree.
- Experience transferring precision optical or scientific hardware from development into repeat builds.
- Experience with diode or fiber lasers, optical amplifiers, nonlinear frequency conversion, or atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) or neutral-atom hardware.
- Python or equivalent tools for instrument control and data analysis.
Responsibilities
- Install, align, and commission laser sources, amplifiers, and associated stabilization hardware from approved designs; verify optical, electrical, cooling, and control interfaces.
- Set up and tune frequency and intensity stabilization; verify lock acquisition, stability, and recovery using approved methods.
- Measure optical power, frequency stability, linewidth and noise where required, beam quality, and polarization; compare results with agreed laser acceptance and SI&T handoff criteria.
- Diagnose loss of lock, power drift, coupling degradation, thermal sensitivity, and interface faults; work with Laser Engineering, controls, and subsystem teams on approved corrections.
- Develop acceptance tests and controlled work instructions with Manufacturing Engineering for setup, alignment, calibration, and routine maintenance; use test automation where practical.
- Maintain serial-number, configuration, calibration, and test records; document non-conformance and corrective actions.
- Support system integration and laser hardware corrections during QE testing. QEs own verification with atoms and final technical acceptance.
- Follow laser-safety, interlock, and contamination-control practices; coordinate technical support and repairs with laser suppliers.
Benefits
- Fully paid medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their dependents.
- Unlimited paid time off.
- 401K company matching.
- Short- and long-term disability.
- FSA.
- Dependent care benefits.
- Life insurance.
- Drinks, snacks, and catered team lunches in the offices every day.
- Annual bonus.
- Equity in the company.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
