{"id":2122824,"url":"https://alion.io/job/atom-computing-head-of-photonics","title":"Head of Photonics","company":{"id":1348,"name":"Atom Computing","domain":"atom-computing.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/atom-computing","size_band":"201-500","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Lever","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":81,"open_postings":4,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.75,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":44,"computed_at":"2026-10-12T06:55:09Z"}},"role":"Finance","role_family":"Finance","seniority":"head","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Boulder, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":230000,"max":275000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":275000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":8,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-08T22:51:53Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-08","last_verified_at":"2026-10-13T02:08:59Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":4,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":4},"description":"At Atom Computing, we build quantum computers using arrays of optically trapped neutral atoms that will empower customers to achieve unprecedented computational breakthroughs. Join a world-class team of scientists, engineers, and business professionals to advance the state-of-the-art in quantum computing.\nWe are seeking a Head of Photonics to establish and lead Atom Computing's integrated photonics program. Scaling neutral-atom quantum computers is a problem of controlling light: delivering fast, precise, independent optical control to very large numbers of qubits. Photonic integrated circuits (PICs) are central to our scaling roadmap, and we are investing in them for the long term.\nYou will own the company's photonics strategy: selecting material platforms and architectures, and leading development programs from concept to hardware running in our quantum computers. You will build an in-house team with design, test, and integration capability, and direct technical collaborations with foundries and photonics companies.\nYou will work closely with the physicists and engineers who translate qubit requirements into device specifications. Prior experience in atomic physics or quantum computing is not required.\nResponsibilities\nDefine and own the integrated photonics roadmap. Assess competing material platforms and architectures against system-level requirements, and make clear, well-reasoned downselect decisions.\nLead PIC development programs from specification through design, fabrication, test, packaging, and integration into our quantum computers.\nBuild and lead an in-house photonics team, and establish its design, simulation, test, and integration capabilities.\nServe as technical lead for external partnerships with foundries, materials suppliers, and photonics companies: scope development efforts, write and negotiate specifications, review designs, and hold partners to performance and schedule.\nScout and evaluate emerging photonic technologies that could open new approaches to qubit control.\nGenerate intellectual property and communicate results internally and, as appropriate, in publications and presentations.\nCapable of lifting and moving objects that weigh up to 25 pounds.\nExperience & Education\nPhD in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Optical Sciences, Applied Physics, or a related field.\n8+ years of post-PhD experience in integrated photonics in industry or a leading research group, including leading PIC programs from concept to fabricated, tested devices.\nDemonstrated experience building and leading technical teams.\nRequired Qualifications\nRecognized expertise in integrated photonics, with command of the full landscape: material platforms, foundry ecosystems, and the current state of the art in modulators, nonlinear devices, and large-scale photonic circuits.\nHands-on track record designing, taping out, and characterizing PICs through external foundries or internal fabs.\nDeep understanding of high-performance electro-optic modulation and/or integrated nonlinear optics.\nProven ability to manage external development partners, including writing specifications and driving multi-party programs to schedule.\nSound technical judgment: comfortable making high-stakes platform decisions with incomplete information, and defending them with data.\nAbility to communicate clearly with physicists, engineers, executives, and external partners.\nPreferred Qualifications\nExperience with visible or near-infrared integrated photonics.\nExperience across multiple material platforms, such as thin-film electro-optic materials, silicon nitride, and heterogeneous integration.\nExperience with large-scale photonic circuits and with interfacing PICs to free-space optics.\nExperience with high-speed RF drive, photonic packaging, and fiber and free-space coupling.\nEstablished relationships across photonics foundries, academic groups, and startups.\nExperience in a fast-paced hardware development or startup 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