We are seeking an Optics Technician in our Broomfield, CO location to join our engineering and manufacturing team. In this role, you will be responsible for assembling, aligning, testing, and maintaining optical and opto‑mechanical components and subassemblies. This role supports R&D and manufacturing activities, including precision optical alignment, prototype builds, documentation development, and production support. You will ensure that products meet both technical specifications and quality standards. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in optical assembly and alignment, mechanical assembly, optical systems integration, and an understanding of precision tools and equipment.
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Key Responsibilities:
- Assemble and integrate opto-mechanical devices, including optical components, mechanical housing, and associated hardware and cabling.
- Perform precision optical alignment of opto-mechanical assemblies to specified tolerances, including free‑space and fiber‑coupled systems.
- Maintain accurate assembly records, including inspection and test reports and assembly logs. Provide feedback on design or process improvements.
- Write test reports, identify gaps in documentation and work with product engineers to create needed documentation.
- Perform prototype assembly and rework in collaboration with engineers; assist in developing, refining, and documenting assembly instructions, travelers, and alignment procedures for R&D and production use.
- Work closely with engineering teams to resolve optical or mechanically related issues and provide insights into product design or process optimization.
- Inspect optical components and assemblies for cosmetic and functional quality per specification (scratches, digs, cleanliness, alignment performance).
- Identify and source COTS parts needed for assemblies and place purchase requests.
- Monitor and maintain tools & supplies at lab workstations.
- Pack completed optical assemblies for shipping.
- Occasional lifting of up to 25 pounds may be required.
- Follow all safety protocols, equipment guidelines, and environmental regulations in the execution of daily tasks.
YOU MUST HAVE:
- High school diploma or equivalent required
- Minimum 2+ years of experience in a high precision optical/opto-mechanical manufacturing/production environment
- Minimum 2+ years of experience with methods of handling and cleaning optical fibers and elements
- Due to national security requirements imposed by the U.S. Government, candidates for this position must not be a People's Republic of China national or Russian national unless the candidate is also a U.S. citizen.
- Due to Contractual requirements, must be a U.S. Person. defined as, U.S. citizen permanent resident or green card holder, workers granted asylum or refugee status
WE VALUE:
- Certification in optical systems assembly or mechanical assembly
- Associate or bachelor’s degree in physics, Optical Engineering, or closely related field
- Basic electronic test equipment knowledge; skills in soldering may be useful but not required
- Experience with optical alignment tools and techniques (including specialized tools as needed for assembly)
- Mechanical CAD experience (e.g., SolidWorks, Onshape)
- Knowledge of quality improvement tools and techniques, e.g. Six Sigma, 5S
- Experience in using precision hand tools, measurement devices such as calipers and micrometers
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and follow procedures
- Strong attention to detail with the ability to identify and correct defects or inconsistencies
- Effective communication skills, both verbal and written, to collaborate with engineering and other team members
- Fluency in using Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel)
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$53,000 - $66,000 a year
Compensation & Benefits:
The pay range for this role is $53,000 – $66,000 annually. Actual compensation within this range may vary based on the candidate’s skills, educational background, professional experience, and unique qualifications for the role.
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Quantinuum is the world leader in quantum computing. The company’s quantum systems deliver the highest performance across all industry benchmarks. Quantinuum’s over 650 employees, including 400+ scientists and engineers, across the US, UK, Germany, and Japan, are driving the quantum computing revolution.
By uniting best-in-class software with high-fidelity hardware, our integrated full-stack approach is accelerating the path to practical quantum computing and scaling its impact across multiple industries.
By joining Quantinuum, you’ll be at the forefront of this transformative revolution, shaping the future of quantum computing, pushing the limits of technology, and making the impossible possible.
What’s in it for you?
A competitive salary and innovative, game-changing work
Flexible work schedule
Employer subsidized health, dental, and vision insurance
401(k) match for student loan repayment benefit
Equity, 401k retirement savings plan + 12 Paid holidays and generous vacation + sick time
Paid parental leave
Employee discounts
Quantinuum is an equal opportunity employer. You will be considered without regard to age, race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, nationality, sex, or veteran status. Know Your Rights: Workplace discrimination is illegal
TECHNICAL & MARKET ANALYSIS | Appended by Quantum.Jobs
The emergence of industrial-grade trapped-ion and photonic quantum computing platforms has elevated the optics technician from a laboratory support function to a critical pillar of hardware scalability. As the sector transitions from experimental prototypes toward fault-tolerant systems, the physical stability of laser-qubit interfaces and the precision of opto-mechanical integration have become primary determinants of system fidelity and operational uptime. This role type is structurally necessary to bridge the gap between high-level architectural design and the rigorous tolerances of cleanroom-based production. By institutionalizing the maintenance of precision optical paths and fiber-coupled subassemblies, these technical experts mitigate the systemic risks of decoherence and mechanical drift. Market signals indicate that as quantum hardware foundries scale, the ability to replicate high-precision alignments at volume will dictate the pace of commercial deployment and ecosystem-wide technology readiness.
The quantum hardware value chain is currently undergoing a shift from research-grade bespoke assembly toward standardized, production-grade manufacturing. Within this context, the optics technician occupies a vital position at the intersection of systems integration and enabling hardware. While the industry frequently highlights the need for PhD-level quantum physicists, recent workforce intelligence reports identify a growing bottleneck in the technical enablement tier. This shortage of specialized personnel capable of managing complex opto-mechanical architectures threatens the scalability of regional deep-tech hubs as they attempt to move from low-volume R&D to pilot-scale production.
Macro-level ecosystem dynamics, including the convergence of quantum sensing and high-performance computing, demand increasingly sophisticated environmental control and signal conversion. Hardware modalities like trapped ions rely on highly stable, multi-wavelength laser systems where even nanometric misalignments can lead to total system failure. Consequently, the maturation of the supply chain depends on the ability of technicians to translate engineering specifications into repeatable physical configurations. This technical stewardship is essential for maintaining the integrity of the "physical layer" of the quantum stack, which remains the most volatile component of the emerging compute infrastructure.
Furthermore, as public and private investment cycles move toward evidence-based outcomes, the role of precision assembly in ensuring hardware reproducibility becomes a strategic advantage. Ongoing industry focus lies on bridging classical and quantum capabilities at scale, necessitating a workforce that can harmonize traditional opto-electronics with the unique requirements of quantum-grade components. By reducing the iteration friction between prototype design and functional subassembly, these technical roles accelerate the progression of Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) across the global quantum landscape.
The capability architecture for this role type centers on a sophisticated integration of precision alignment, opto-mechanical assembly, and high-fidelity component validation. At the foundational layer, mastery of free-space and fiber-coupled optical systems is required to maintain the tight tolerances essential for qubit control and readout. This technical expertise extends into the domain of opto-mechanical housing and associated hardware, where structural stability directly influences the reliability of the entire quantum processor. These capabilities are critical for ensuring the structural throughput of hardware development, as they enable the consistent performance of sensitive subsystems in real-world operating environments.
Beyond physical assembly, the role facilitates a cross-functional coupling between engineering design and manufacturing documentation. By providing feedback on design manufacturability and developing standardized alignment procedures, technicians enable a level of operational reliability that allows research teams to focus on algorithmic breakthroughs. This interface between physical execution and process optimization is fundamental to the industrialization of quantum systems, ensuring that advanced technical assets are managed according to the stringent quality standards required for fault-tolerant operation.
Stabilizes the physical infrastructure necessary for high-fidelity quantum state manipulation and qubit control
Mitigates systemic risks associated with mechanical drift and environmental interference in optical subassemblies
Facilitates the transition from experimental laboratory setups to standardized quantum hardware production modules
Reduces integration friction by ensuring the precision alignment of mission-critical opto-mechanical components
Strengthens the reliability of trapped-ion and photonic hardware through rigorous assembly and testing protocols
Harmonizes manufacturing workflows with advanced engineering specifications to improve hardware reproducibility
Optimizes the lifecycle of specialized optical assets through proactive maintenance and precision calibration
Supports the scaling of quantum processing units by industrializing the assembly of fiber-coupled systems
Shortens the iteration cycle for hardware prototypes by providing expert feedback on design manufacturability
Improves the uptime of commercial quantum platforms by reducing the probability of physical layer failures
Protects capital-intensive R\&D investments by maintaining the integrity of high-precision laboratory utilities
Enables the deterministic progression of technology readiness levels through standardized manufacturing and assembly
Industry Tags: Quantum Hardware Manufacturing, Opto-Mechanical Engineering, Precision Optical Alignment, Trapped Ion Systems, Laser Control Electronics, Deep Tech Production, Systems Integration, Quantum Supply Chain, Photonics Infrastructure
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