Senior Optical Engineer

About us

Founded in 2017, Q-CTRL has grown to become the global leader in quantum. We're using control to solve the hardest problems facing quantum technology, improving hardware performance and accelerating pathways to useful quantum computers and other technologies. As a product-led company, we bring together diverse teams such as product, design, engineering and research to help achieve our mission of making quantum technology useful. Join us to help shape the quantum future.

As one of the fastest growing companies in the quantum sector, we've had a number of key milestones:

- In November 2023, we announced an industry-first partnership with IBM Quantum Services, natively integrating our performance management software with all IBM quantum computers. Building off of this relationship, in September 2024 we started offering two services via IBM's new Qiskit Functions Catalog as an inaugural partner.

- Designed and moved our Global HQ offices and lab space into the first purpose-built (and award winning) commercial and research facility for a quantum technology company in Australia.

- Continued to deliver real world outcomes across the quantum sectors, with our work with Australian Defence on software-ruggedized quantum sensing for navigation without GPS, as featured in the New York Times.

- In October 2024, we announced our record breaking expansion of our Series B funding round to USD $113M, with $59M USD of new capital.

- Grew our global presence to include Los Angeles, Berlin, and Oxford - as well as the recently announced office in San Francisco.

From educating the workforce on how quantum computing works, to building the next generation of quantum sensors, to delivering massive performance gains for end-users, it all starts with hiring the right talent. If you want to help us build the Quantum future, read on.

About the role

We are seeking a Senior Optical Engineer to develop the optical systems for our quantum sensors. Together with the rest of the engineering and research teams, you will develop free-space and fibre-optical systems for our quantum sensors. You'll work in close collaboration with our research scientists to assist scientific advancement and to make our technology work robustly in the field.

You will join a growing team focused on quantum sensing for defence and aerospace, and work with experts in fields such as cold-atom interferometry, magnetometry, and inertial navigation to develop state-of-the-art technology.

• Be responsible for modelling, designing, constructing, and testing ruggedised and miniaturised optical systems for onboard deployment
• Work with physicists, engineers and stakeholders to design the highest-precision measurement systems in the world
• Be part of the team responsible for integration, test and validation of newly commissioned sensors.
• Work on critical quantum sensing field trials with key industry partners.
• Understand and apply industry standards when needed.

• Bachelor's degree or higher in physics or related field
• Track record of delivering high-precision free-space optical designs including analysis, tolerancing, alignment and validation etc.
• Demonstrated experience designing with ZEMAX
• Experience with design, tolerancing and precise optical alignment

• Experience using Inventor or similar CAD software
• Experience with ZEMAX API and python
• Experience with design and alignment procedures of micro optics
• Experience with fiber optics
• Work in a research environment

Why Q-CTRL?

Flexibility:We embrace workplace flexibility so you worry more about your impact vs a rigid work schedule.

Attractive salary:You'll get to have the start-up impact without the start-up wages.

Equity:We want people to have a sense of ownership in what they do and offer the potential for equity share and annual bonuses.

Cash bonus: We recognize exceptional performance and impact by offering annual discretionary cash bonuses.

Resources:We are well funded by the world's best technology investors, letting us chase our ambitions with minimal constraints.

Parental support:We offer paid parental leave to support you and your loved ones.

Diversity:We're an equal opportunity employer and actively support initiatives like the 'Global Women in Quantum' program to help expand the quantum workforce.

Unique culture:You'll be surrounded by some of the world's leading physicists, engineers, product, marketing and design people (to name a few) with a strong desire to learn and transfer knowledge.

Meaningful values:You'll work with an incredibly supportive team who work consistently to deliver our core values to be real, be trusted, be just and to be revered.

Personal development:We provide you with a personal development and wellness budget.

Make a dent: Last but not least you'll have the unique opportunity to help set the direction for this revolutionary technology and truly make an impact that matters

Q-CTRL aims to bring together cross-functional teams from many different backgrounds to help achieve our goals - we strongly encourage you to apply even if you do not meet all of the requirements mentioned in the job posting.

Please be advised that our communications will only come from the @q-ctrl.comdomain. All our active job postings are available on ourcompany website.

To recruitment agencies, we do not accept unsolicited branded profiles and are not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.