Laser Engineer - Manufacturing
Atom Computing · Boulder, CO · onsite
USD 120,000 to 150,000 · period not stated
Responsibilities:
- Install, align, and commission laser sources, amplifiers, and associated stabilization hardware from approved designs; verify optical, electrical, cooling, and control interfaces.
- Set up and tune frequency and intensity stabilization; verify lock acquisition, stability, and recovery using approved methods.
- Measure optical power, frequency stability, linewidth and noise where required, beam quality, and polarization; compare results with agreed laser acceptance and SI&T handoff criteria.
- Diagnose loss of lock, power drift, coupling degradation, thermal sensitivity, and interface faults; work with Laser Engineering, controls, and subsystem teams on approved corrections.
- Develop acceptance tests and controlled work instructions with Manufacturing Engineering for setup, alignment, calibration, and routine maintenance; use test automation where practical.
- Maintain serial-number, configuration, calibration, and test records; document non-conformance and corrective actions.
- Support system integration and laser hardware corrections during QE testing. QEs own verification with atoms and final technical acceptance.
- Follow laser-safety, interlock, and contamination-control practices; coordinate technical support and repairs with laser suppliers.
Experience & Education:
- BS in physics, optical engineering, electrical engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience; advanced degree preferred.
- 3+ years of hands-on experience commissioning, stabilizing, characterizing, and troubleshooting precision laser systems.
- Experience transferring precision optical or scientific hardware from development into repeat builds preferred.
Qualifications:
- Practical experience with laser frequency or intensity stabilization, feedback control, and fault diagnosis.
- Hands-on free-space alignment, polarization control, fiber coupling, and handling of precision optical components.
- Proficiency with laser diagnostics such as wavemeters, photodiodes, optical power meters, oscilloscopes, and optical or RF spectrum analyzers.
- Ability to interpret optical layouts, electrical schematics, control interfaces, and test data; careful documentation and clear communication with engineers, physicists, and technicians.
- Experience with diode or fiber lasers, optical amplifiers, nonlinear frequency conversion, or atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) or neutral-atom hardware preferred.
- Python or equivalent tools for instrument control and data analysis preferred.