Principal Laser & Optical Project Engineer - Photonic Modules

Monarch Quantum•San Diego, CA

20d•$175,000 - $225,000

About The Position

Monarch Quantum is seeking a Principal Laser & Optical Project Engineer to serve as the senior technical authority for the laser and photonic modules used in its quantum systems. The role owns module-level optical architecture and leads programs from concept through production, while shaping company-wide practices for designing, qualifying, and scaling optical hardware. It is a hands-on position in a fast-paced startup environment, with close collaboration with executive leadership. The engineer will set technical direction for the photonics module portfolio, own performance budgets, guide cross-domain trade-offs, and resolve difficult performance, yield, and reliability issues. The role will establish design-for-excellence practices, develop scalable assembly and alignment processes, improve production yield, cycle time, and cost, and lead technical strategies for key suppliers. The position also owns integrated program plans, phase-gate deliverables, and budgets; leads cross-functional teams; runs design and gate reviews; and reports program status and decisions to executive leadership. Access to export-controlled information is required, and employment is contingent on the applicant being a U.S. person as defined by 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3).

Requirements

MS or PhD in Optics, Photonics, Physics, or a closely related field, with deep expertise in laser physics or applied optics.
10+ years of industry experience developing laser, photonic, or optoelectronic hardware, including several years as the technical lead for modules or subsystems.
Experience shipping multiple laser-based or photonic products from prototype through qualification into sustained volume production.
Deep hands-on DfX experience, including DFM, DFA, DFT, DFR, and design-to-cost, applied to optical or opto-mechanical packaging.
Expertise in opto-mechanical design, including tolerancing, alignment sensitivity, thermal and CTE effects, and attach and packaging methods.
Track record of leading complex cross-functional programs while owning schedule, budget, and technical risk.
Demonstrated influence beyond individual projects, such as setting standards, mentoring engineers, or shaping product or technology roadmaps.
Must be a U.S. person as defined by 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3), because the position requires access to export-controlled information.

Nice To Haves

Experience with narrow-linewidth, frequency-stabilized, or NIR/visible/UV lasers.
Experience with fiber-coupled modules, free-space micro-optics, or hermetic packaging.
Experience with reliability qualification, such as Telcordia GR-468 or equivalent, and statistical process control.
Experience scaling hardware at a startup or early-stage company and building processes from scratch.
Patents, publications, or recognized technical contributions in lasers or photonic packaging.

Responsibilities

Set optical and opto-mechanical architecture for the photonics module portfolio, including source selection, beam shaping and delivery, fiber coupling, alignment strategy, and wavelength, power, and polarization stability.
Own optical, tolerance, thermal, and mechanical stability performance budgets that connect modules to system requirements.
Make and defend trade-offs across optical, mechanical, electrical, and thermal domains, and influence system architecture and build-versus-buy decisions.
Serve as the final technical escalation point for performance, yield, and reliability problems, from laser physics through assembly processes.
Establish manufacturability, assembly, test, reliability, and cost practices across photonic module programs from the concept stage.
Define scalable assembly and alignment processes, including active and passive alignment, attach methods, and hermetic or environmental sealing.
Lead design and process changes to improve first-pass yield, cycle time, and unit cost, and own the business case for those changes.
Lead strategies for critical laser, optical, and opto-mechanical suppliers, including qualification, second-sourcing, cost reduction, and joint technical development.
Own integrated program plans, phase-gate deliverables, and budgets; manage critical paths and raise risks early.
Lead cross-functional teams spanning optics, mechanical, electrical, process, test, quality, and supply chain, largely through influence.
Run design and gate reviews and drive decisions to closure with clear, documented rationale.
Report program status, metrics, and key decisions to executive leadership.