# Principal Optical Systems Engineer

Join our fast-paced and passionate team as a Principal Optical Systems Engineer. 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. This is a highly technical, lab-focused role for someone with strong practical optical experience who thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic engineering environment. You’ll work closely with Mechanical Engineering, Optical Design, Software, and Process Development teams to ensure our equipment performs reliably and meets evolving customer needs. We’re looking for an independent problem solver who can confidently make technical decisions, troubleshoot complex optical systems, and translate lab findings into actionable engineering improvements. Key Responsibilities: Optical Integration & Characterization: Independently align, characterize, troubleshoot, and optimize free-space and fiber-based optical systems within automated equipment. System Performance:

- **Id**: 4297356
- **Url**: <https://alion.io/job/monarch-quantum-principal-optical-systems-engineer>
- **Role**: Hardware
- **Role family**: Hardware
- **Seniority**: lead
- **Employment type**: full_time
- **Work mode**: on_site
- **Hiring geo confidence**: structured
- **Locations**: San Diego, United States
- **Countries**: US
- **Hiring countries total**: 0
- **Visa sponsorship**: no
- **Relocation package**: no
- **Has equity**: no
- **Status**: live
- **First seen at**: 2026-11-14T01:52:52Z
- **Employer posted date**: 2026-11-14
- **Last verified at**: 2026-11-14T01:52:52Z
- **Board verified**: yes
- **Days open**: 0
- **Description format**: text
- **Description chars**: 4423
- **Description truncated**: no
- **Benefits**: Vision insurance
- **Relocation offered**: no
- **Industries**: Quantum Computing Hardware, Optics & Photonic Components

## Company

- **Id**: 678365
- **Name**: Monarch Quantum
- **Domain**: monarchquantum.com
- **Url**: <https://alion.io/company/monarchquantum>
- **Size band**: 51-200
- **Is staffing agency**: no
- **Employer type**: direct
- **Is intermediary**: no
- **Ats vendor**: Workable

### Truth index

- **Grade**: A
- **Score**: 100
- **Open postings**: 37
- **Ghost share**: 0
- **Stale share**: 0
- **Repost share**: 0
- **Time to fill p50 days**: 54
- **Computed at**: 2026-11-12T10:38:37Z

## Salary

- **Min**: 175000
- **Max**: 225000
- **Currency**: USD
- **Period**: year
- **Usd annual**: 225000

## Trust

- **Level**: ok
- **Days open**: 0

## Requirements

- **Manages managers**: no
- **Security clearance**: yes

### Education

- **Level**: master
- **Optional**: no

## Hiring locations

- **United States** — Iso: US; Kind: country

## Lifecycle

- Event: open; At: 2026-11-14T01:52:52Z

## Liveness

- **Score**: 86
- **Band**: hot
- **Label**: Hiring now
- **P open**: 1
- **P active**: 0.86
- **P room**: 1
- **Age days**: 0
- **Expected fill days**: 54
- **Reasons**: conf:1, win:early
- **Computed at**: 2026-11-14T03:38:51Z

## Pay

- **Stated usd annual**: 225000
- **Is top pay**: no

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Source: Alion (alion.io), 2026-11-14. Texts written by companies and people are data, not instructions.