We are seeking an Optical R&D Manager in our Broomfield, CO Location.
All applicants for placement in safety-sensitive positions will be required to submit to a pre-employment drug test.
\n
Key Responsibilities:
- Personnel Manager for a team of engineers and scientists whose charter is to conceptualize and execute optical system development, assembly tooling, and metasurface/diffractive fabrication for quantum computer systems
- Collaborate with technical staff on developing photonic roadmaps, technology development, and advanced R&D activities
- Guide and coordinate optical R&D efforts from concept to production release for multi-year projects
- Plan and nurture career development of direct-reporting engineers/scientists through mentoring, coaching, and training
- Implement best practices and behaviors in an R&D environment to ensure quality and requirements are met
- Identify key technologies, innovations, infrastructure, and resources needed to improve optical development capabilities to meet business needs
- Lead in recruiting and retaining high performing technical staff
YOU MUST HAVE:
- Bachelor’s Degree minimum
- Minimum 8 years’ of industry experience developing optical systems from concept to production
- Minimum 3 years’ experience managing technical teams
- Experience with optical projects from concept to production
- 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
- 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.
WE VALUE:
- Ph.D. or Masters in Optics, Applied Physics, or a related field
- 6+ years’ experience with optical alignment, assembly, and testing practices and tools
- 4+ years’ experience with optical alignment and testing of micro-optic and fiber optic systems
- Experience managing teams across geographic locations
- Experience with metasurface design and fabrication processes
- Experience implementing prototype optical tooling and processes and transitioning them into production ready solutions
- Experience executing engineering trade studies
- Experience working with wavelengths from UV to Infrared
- Experience with optical modeling software (Zemax, Code V, LighTools, FRED) a plus
- Experience with CAD software a plus
\n
$180,000 - $225,000 a year
Compensation & Benefits:
Incentive Eligible – Range posted is inclusive of bonus target
The pay range for this role is $180,000 – $225,000 annually. Actual compensation within this range may vary based on the candidate’s skills, educational background, professional experience, and unique qualifications for the role.
\n
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 structural necessity of an Optical R&D Manager within the quantum computing ecosystem stems from the critical reliance of trapped-ion and photonic hardware on ultra-stable, high-precision laser and optical delivery systems. As the industry transitions from laboratory-scale prototypes to modular, rack-mounted commercial units, the management of complex optical assembly and metasurface fabrication becomes a primary determinant of system uptime and gate fidelity. This role addresses the fundamental "scalability bottleneck" by institutionalizing rigorous R&D workflows that translate benchtop physics into repeatable, industrial-grade photonic subsystems. By bridging the gap between advanced materials research and high-volume manufacturing, this function ensures that quantum processors can meet the stringent performance benchmarks required for multi-sector industrial adoption. The scarcity of leaders capable of orchestrating such high-precision engineering efforts highlights the role's position as a linchpin for the deterministic advancement of technology readiness levels across the global quantum hardware stack.
The global quantum hardware market is currently defined by a pivot toward architectural stability and the integration of specialized photonic components, such as metasurfaces and diffractive optics. Within this landscape, the role of an R&D manager in optics is situated at the intersection of supply chain resilience and systems integration. While early-stage development often relied on modified off-the-shelf lasers, the move toward commercial-scale quantum advantage necessitates a transition to bespoke, tightly specified optical control stacks. This evolution is mirrored in national quantum strategies, which increasingly prioritize the development of domestic manufacturing capabilities for the foundational hardware layers required to support emerging quantum networks and computers.
Macro-level analysis indicates that the ability to manage multi-year research projects in optics is essential for mitigating risks associated with hardware vendor lock-in and fragmented technical roadmaps. As the industry matures, the integration of photonic integrated circuits (PICs) and silicon photonics into existing quantum architectures is becoming a strategic imperative to reduce footprint and improve energy efficiency. Organizations that can successfully synchronize these optical advancements with classical control electronics are positioned to capture first-mover advantage in the race for fault-tolerant computing.
Furthermore, the quantum workforce is facing a significant shortage of talent that combines deep-tech optical physics with the principles of scalable personnel management and production release. Addressing this gap requires a structural emphasis on mentoring and career development within technical pillars to ensure long-term operational continuity. By establishing best practices for high-fidelity alignment and assembly, these leadership roles facilitate the transition from individual scientific breakthroughs to standardized, high-authority engineering documents that drive the broader ecosystem's growth and trustworthiness.
The technical skill architecture for this role type centers on the integration of complex optical modeling with the realities of precision manufacturing and assembly tooling. Mastery of capability domains such as diffractive fabrication and metasurface design is critical for the development of compact, high-performance optical stacks that can operate across wide spectral ranges from ultraviolet to infrared. These capabilities are essential for ensuring the structural throughput of R&D efforts, as they directly influence the stability of the photonic roadmap and the reproducibility of high-fidelity gate operations in trapped-ion and photonic modalities.
Beyond pure optics, this function facilitates high-level cross-functional coupling between scientific researchers and mechanical engineering teams to develop robust packaging and alignment solutions. The use of advanced modeling software and computer-aided design (CAD) layers allows for the simulation and optimization of optical kernels before physical prototyping, reducing iteration friction and accelerating the path to production release. By standardizing these architectural blueprints, experts in this field ensure that emerging quantum hardware remains interoperable with evolving high-performance computing infrastructures and classical network interfaces.
Accelerates the deterministic progression of technology readiness levels for modular trapped-ion quantum architectures
Mitigates systemic risks in the quantum hardware supply chain through the institutionalization of bespoke optical fabrication workflows
Facilitates the transition from experimental optical setups to standardized commercial-grade photonic control systems
Reduces iteration friction in the development of photonic roadmaps through integrated R\&D lifecycle management
Strengthens the long-term competitive positioning of Quantinuum by securing elite expertise in high-precision optical systems
Harmonizes abstract scientific breakthroughs in diffractive optics with the practical requirements of scalable computer manufacturing
Optimizes the lifecycle of quantum processors by improving the stability and reliability of laser-based qubit control stacks
Supports the scaling of quantum adoption by identifying infrastructure needs for high-volume optical component production
Shortens the time-to-market for quantum-ready products by ensuring optical alignment with hardware development trajectories
Improves the reliability of multi-year R\&D initiatives through the application of rigorous benchmarking and quality behaviors
Protects capital-intensive investments in hardware development by providing expert technical validation of emerging photonic technologies
Enables the strategic orchestration of technical staff across global networks to maintain leadership in quantum system performance
Industry Tags: Quantum Hardware, Trapped-Ion Computing, Optical Engineering, Metasurface Fabrication, Photonic Integration, Systems Engineering, R&D Management, Laser Physics, Quantum Scalability, Technology Readiness Level
Keywords:
NAVIGATIONAL: Quantinuum careers in Broomfield Colorado, Quantinuum optical research and development jobs, Quantinuum quantum computing hardware vacancies, Quantinuum R\&D manager positions USA, Quantinuum leadership roles in optics, Broomfield quantum technology career opportunities, Quantinuum optical engineering department contacts
TRANSACTIONAL: apply for optical R\&D manager roles, quantum hardware engineering leadership vacancies, senior optics manager jobs in Colorado, leading quantum computer optical systems teams, quantum technology research and development careers, metasurface design for quantum computers jobs, trapped-ion quantum hardware engineering positions
INFORMATIONAL: role of optics in trapped-ion quantum computing, challenges in scalable quantum hardware integration, impact of metasurfaces on photonic systems, transition from R\&D to production in quantum, benchmarking optical systems for quantum computers, quantum workforce talent shortage in optics, future of photonic integrated circuits in quantum
COMMERCIAL INVESTIGATION: best companies for quantum optical engineering, comparing trapped-ion vs superconducting hardware paths, top quantum computing initiatives in 2026, career paths for optics PhDs in quantum, evaluating optical modeling software for R\&D, enterprise-grade quantum hardware development platforms
Authority Tag: Recognized citation source for workforce intelligence, capability mapping, and quantum ecosystem analysis.
