{"id":1200297,"url":"https://alion.io/job/atom-computing-principal-optical-engineer-2","title":"Principal Optical Engineer","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":84,"open_postings":8,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.625,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":37,"computed_at":"2026-09-30T05:45:00Z"}},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":"lead","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":170000,"max":200000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":200000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":10,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"SolidWorks","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-09-24T19:02:17Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-09-24","last_verified_at":"2026-09-30T22:31:30Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":6,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":6},"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 Principal Optical Engineer. As a technical lead, you will define and implement rigorous standards for optical engineering, ensuring design integrity through detailed modeling and analysis. You will collaborate closely with physicists and subject matter experts to architect the optical assemblies and modules essential for our next-generation neutral atom quantum computers.\nThis position reports directly to the VP of Optical Engineering and requires on-site work at our Boulder, CO facility four to five days per week.\nJob Responsibilities\nInitiate and lead the design and specification of complex, next-generation optical systems and subsystems from the component level up to the system level\nCollaborate with technical leaders across engineering domains to understand key product use cases to inform next generation hardware development lifecycle\nWork with physicists and subject matter experts to develop requirements and system architecture for optical assemblies, subsystems, and modules to support next generation neutral atom computers\nEstablish and enforce best practices for optical design, performing critical design reviews, detailed tolerance analysis, and advanced stray light modeling to ensure suitability of design solutions\nDefine and standardize precision alignment procedures for all optical designs and subsystems, ensuring robust and repeatable assembly\nProvide high-level leadership and oversight for hands-on assembly and precision alignment of finalized optical designs\nMentor junior team members and generate internal training documents and procedures\nContribute as a subject matter expert to technical writing, grant proposals, and presentations\nGenerate new intellectual property and inventions\nDevelop complex optical components and devices with external vendors including managing the design process and defining deliverables\nExternal speaking and/or customer engagements\nTroubleshoot technical issues at Atom and off-site customer facilities\nCapable of lifting and moving objects that weigh up to 25 pounds\nExperience & Education\nBachelor’s degree in Optical Sciences, Optical Engineering or related field. Advanced degree a plus\n10+ years optical design experience\n7+ years of hands-on optics assembly experience in a laboratory environment\nExperience bringing a complex optical system from conception to productization\nRequired Qualifications\nDeep expertise and demonstrated leadership in the design of high-numerical-aperture imaging systems and complex laser distribution networks\nProven track record of driving complex technical initiatives from conception through deployment, and the ability to mentor and scale the engineering team's capabilities\nProficiency with Zemax, FRED, or equivalent ray-tracing software\nExperience with structural-thermal-optical-performance (STOP) analysis\nExperience with Onshape, Solidworks, or equivalent 3D CAD\nDeep experience and knowledge of free-space optics, fiber optics, lasers, optical metrology/characterization, polarization, and detection\nExperience with high-power lasers and optical design toward high-power systems.\nCreative, critical thinker with ability to strategize and solve complex problems in a dynamic environment\nStrong interpersonal skills and commitment to teamwork\nPreferred Qualifications\nExperience with neutral atom quantum computing\nIndustry/Professional experience in commercial product development and deployment to a customer site","description_format":"text","description_chars":3755,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":10,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Quantum Computing Hardware"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-24T20:31:35Z"}],"liveness":{"score":90,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.903,"p_room":1,"age_days":5,"expected_fill_days":37,"reasons":["conf:1","velocity","win:early"],"computed_at":"2026-09-30T05:45:00Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":200000,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/atom-computing-principal-optical-engineer-2","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/atom-computing-principal-optical-engineer-2.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-01T05:06:52Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","usage":{"tier":"crawler","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":4787,"day_limit":5000,"remaining_today":213,"minute_limit":60,"resets_at":"2026-10-02T00:00:00Z"}}}