{"id":2832847,"url":"https://alion.io/job/monarch-quantum-principal-laser-optical-project-engineer-photonic-modules","title":"Principal Laser & Optical Project Engineer - Photonic Modules","company":{"id":678365,"name":"Monarch Quantum","domain":"monarchquantum.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/monarchquantum","size_band":"501-1000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workable","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":95,"open_postings":39,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":64,"computed_at":"2026-10-31T05:58:55Z"}},"role":"Semiconductors","role_family":"Semiconductors","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":["San Diego, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":175000,"max":225000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":225000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Statistical Process Control","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-19T03:58:12Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-19","last_verified_at":"2026-10-31T19:53:14Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":12,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":12},"description":"Join our fast-paced and passionate team as a Principal Laser & Optical Project Engineer - Photonic Modules. As we scale, you will be instrumental in building our foundation from the ground up. This is a dynamic, hands-on role for a self-starter who thrives in a fluid startup environment. You'll have the opportunity to work on cutting edge technologies, work closely with leadership, and develop and implement engineering practices that support our mission and growth.\nAt Monarch Quantum, Project Engineers are the technical owners of their modules. You’ll set the optical architecture and lead the program that takes it to production. As our Principal Laser & Optical Project Engineer, you’ll be the senior technical authority for the laser and photonic modules that power our quantum systems, and you’ll shape how we design, qualify, and scale optical hardware across the company.\nWe’re looking for a laser physicist or optical engineer who has shipped laser-based products at volume, many times over, and wants to apply that experience to a frontier technology. You may come from telecom/datacom transceivers, lidar, industrial or medical lasers, semiconductor equipment, or a similar industry. You’ll work directly with executive leadership and build the engineering foundation that our hardware roadmap rests on.\nWhat you’ll own:\nTechnical direction\nSet the optical and opto-mechanical architecture for our photonics module portfolio, including source selection, beam shaping and delivery, fiber coupling, alignment strategy, and wavelength, power, and polarization stability. \nOwn the performance budgets that tie the modules to system requirements, including optical, tolerance, thermal, and mechanical stability budgets. \nMake and defend the critical trade-offs across optical, mechanical, electrical, and thermal domains, and influence system-level architecture and build-versus-buy decisions. \nServe as the final technical escalation point for difficult performance, yield, and reliability problems, from the laser physics down to the assembly process. \nDesign for production\nEstablish DfX (manufacturability, assembly, test, reliability, and cost) as a standard practice across photonic module programs, starting at concept. \nDefine scalable assembly and alignment processes, including active and passive alignment, attach methods, and hermetic or environmental sealing. \nDrive design and process changes that improve first-pass yield, cycle time, and unit cost, and own the business case for each. \nLead strategy for critical laser, optical, and opto-mechanical suppliers, including qualification, second-sourcing, cost reduction, and joint technical development. \nProgram leadership\nOwn the integrated plan, phase-gate deliverables, and budget for your module programs; manage the critical path and raise risks early. \nLead cross-functional teams spanning optics, mechanical, electrical, process, test, quality, and supply chain, largely through influence. \nRun design and gate reviews and drive decisions to closure with clear, documented rationale. \nReport program status, metrics, and key decisions to executive leadership. \nRequirements\nThis position requires access to export-controlled information. Employment is contingent upon the applicant being a U.S. person as defined by 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3).\nExperience:\nMS or PhD in Optics, Photonics, Physics, or a closely related field, with deep expertise in laser physics or applied optics. \n10+ years of industry experience developing laser, photonic, or optoelectronic hardware, including several years as the technical lead for modules or subsystems. \nSkills:\nShipped multiple laser-based or photonic products from prototype through qualification into sustained volume production. \nDeep hands-on DfX experience (DFM, DFA, DFT, DFR, design-to-cost) applied to optical or opto-mechanical packaging. \nExpertise in opto-mechanical design: tolerancing, alignment sensitivity, thermal and CTE effects, and attach and packaging methods. \nTrack record of leading complex cross-functional programs while owning schedule, budget, and technical risk. \nDemonstrated influence beyond your own projects, such as setting standards, mentoring engineers, or shaping product or technology roadmaps. \nThis position requires access to export-controlled information. Employment is contingent upon the applicant being a U.S. person as defined by 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3). \nPreferred:\nExperience with narrow-linewidth, frequency-stabilized, or NIR/ visible/UV lasers. \nExperience with fiber-coupled modules, free-space micro-optics, or hermetic packaging. \nExperience with reliability qualification (for example, Telcordia GR-468 or equivalent) and statistical process control. \nExperience scaling hardware at a startup or early-stage company, building processes from scratch. \nPatents, publications, or recognized technical contributions in lasers or photonic packaging. \nBenefits\nThe expected annual salary range for this position is $175,000-$225,000.\nAs a full-time employee, you will be eligible for Monarch’s comprehensive benefits package, which includes:\nMedical, Dental, and Vision insurance\nFidelity 401(k) plan with 4% employer matching\n20 paid time off (PTO) days per year\n13 paid company holidays\n9/80 work schedule (every other Friday off)\nMonarch Quantum is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, citizenship status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, veteran status or any other characteristics protected under applicable federal, state and local laws.","description_format":"text","description_chars":5676,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"master","optional":false},"security_clearance":true,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Vision insurance"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Quantum Computing Hardware","Optics & Photonic 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