{"id":49029,"url":"https://alion.io/job/planqc-quantum-hardware-engineer-optical-systems","title":"Quantum Hardware Engineer - Optical Systems","company":{"id":9437,"name":"planqc","domain":"planqc.eu","url":"https://alion.io/company/planqc","size_band":"201-500","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Personio","truth_index":{"grade":"D","score":52,"open_postings":15,"ghost_share":0.8,"stale_share":0,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":null,"computed_at":"2026-10-16T05:45:00Z"}},"role":"Hardware","role_family":"Hardware","seniority":null,"employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"hybrid","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Garching bei München, Germany"],"countries":["DE"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":65000,"max_usd":129000,"period":"year","method":"role_country_seniority_unknown","sample_n":34},"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":true,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-07-10T13:25:27Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-07-10","last_verified_at":"2026-10-15T18:58:25Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":98,"trust":{"level":"ghost","repost_count":0,"flags":["stale","company_stale"],"days_open":98},"description":"Your mission\nAt planqc, we are building scalable quantum computers based on neutral atoms, one of the most promising platforms for achieving real-world quantum advantage. The performance of our quantum processors depend critically on the precision, stability and reliability of their optical subsystems. From trapping and transporting atoms to qubit control and state detection, almost every key function relies on carefully engineered optics.\nAs a Quantum Hardware Engineer - Optical Systems, you will take ownership of the optical systems that enable our quantum computers. You will translate system requirements into robust optical solutions and drive them through their complete engineering lifecycle: from concept development through design, realization, integration and verification. Your work will span areas such as beam delivery and shaping, imaging, optical metrology, and optical integration, In close collaboration with experts for quantum physics, laser systems, mechanics, electronics and software.\nThis role is ideal for hands-on optical engineers who enjoy combining optical design with practical laboratory work, take pride in building reliable and well-characterized systems, and want to help industrialize cutting-edge optical technology for large-scale quantum computing.\nYour responsibilities\nOwn the engineering lifecycle of optical systems, from system requirements and concept development through design, integration, verification, and continuous improvement.\nDesign and realize precision optical systems for applications including beam delivery, beam shaping, beam steering, imaging, and optical metrology.\nEstablish and apply methods for optical design, characterization, and performance verification using optical simulation and metrology tools.\n Specify, evaluate, and qualify optical components and assemblies in collaboration with external development and manufacturing partners.\nDevelop standardized assembly, alignment, characterization, and acceptance procedures to ensure robust, scalable, and maintainable optical systems.\nInvestigate, troubleshoot, and resolve optical system issues throughout development, integration, and operation.\nCollaborate closely with quantum engineering and hardware engineering teams to realize integrated optical solutions.\nWhat you bring\nDegree (M.Sc. or Ph.D.) in Optical Engineering, Experimental Physics, Mechanical Engineering (with an optics focus), or a related discipline.\nExperience designing, realizing, and verifying precision optical systems in an industrial or research environment.\nExperience with optical design and engineering methods, including tolerancing, simulation, CAD, and optical metrology.\nStrong hands-on laboratory skills, including optical assembly, alignment, cleaning, and testing.\nExcellent analytical, documentation, and communication skills.\nWorking knowledge in one or more of the following areas:Free-space laser optics\nFiber optics and fiber coupling\nImaging optics\nElectro-optic and acousto-optic technologies\n\nNice to have\nExperience taking optical systems from concept to production.\nBackground in stability engineering, including the mitigation of thermal, mechanical, or optical drift.\nExperience developing precision optical systems or instrumentation, for example in the semiconductor, optical metrology, microscopy, or laser industries.\nExperience with neutral-atom, ion-trap, or other quantum computing or quantum sensing platforms.\nExperience working in a dynamic startup or other fast-paced engineering environment.\nWhat characterizes you\nYou enjoy solving challenging engineering problems in the lab and turning complexity into simple, effective solutions.\nYou don't stop when something works, you want to understand why it works.\nYou enjoy working at the interface between physics and engineering.\nYou are excited to help make scalable quantum computing a reality.\nWhy join planqc\nAt planqc, you will work on one of the most promising quantum computing architectures alongside a highly driven and collaborative team spanning physics, engineering, and software.We combine deep-tech research with an engineering mindset, turning scientific breakthroughs into scalable quantum systems.\nJoining us means:\nWorking on cutting-edge neutral atom quantum hardware\nTaking ownership of quantum systems from day one\nCollaborating with an exceptional, international team across disciplines\nContributing to a fast-growing quantum startup at a pivotal stage\nBenefits at planqcFlexible working. Flexible hours and hybrid work where the role allows.\nCompany pension. Betriebliche Altersvorsorge with an employer contribution.\nHealth and fitness. EGYM Wellpass for gyms, pools and studios, plus regular Health Days.\nJob bike. Lease a bike through planqc.\nLearning and development. Trainings and conference participation, including international conferences. Plus regular internal learning sessions where colleagues share their knowledge.\nRelocation and visa support. Practical support for international hires and their move to Germany or Austria.\nFour locations. Headquarters in Garching, an office in central Munich, plus sites in Ulm and Innsbruck.\nTeam culture. Regular team and company events throughout the year, from after work socials to our summer and Christmas parties.\nIf you’re excited about building the optical heart of next-generation neutral-atom quantum computers, we’d love to hear from you.","description_format":"text","description_chars":5403,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":null,"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"Germany","iso":"DE","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Quantum Science & Computing","Quantum Computing Hardware"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-07-10T13:25:27Z"},{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-05T13:20:00Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":6,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":1,"p_active":0.182,"p_room":0.35,"age_days":97,"expected_fill_days":28,"reasons":["conf:10","stale_co","ghost","win:tail"],"computed_at":"2026-10-16T05:45:00Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/planqc-quantum-hardware-engineer-optical-systems","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/planqc-quantum-hardware-engineer-optical-systems.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-17T05:26:09Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":7344,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-18T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":9437},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=9437"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fplanqc-quantum-hardware-engineer-optical-systems"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fplanqc-quantum-hardware-engineer-optical-systems"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fplanqc-quantum-hardware-engineer-optical-systems"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/planqc-quantum-hardware-engineer-optical-systems\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fplanqc-quantum-hardware-engineer-optical-systems"}]}