Laser Systems Engineer

Summary Laser Systems is QuEra’s laser infrastructure program, owning the full lifecycle of QPU laser systems — architect, design, build, integrate, and sustain — across all machine generations and global sites spanning the US, Japan, and the UK. The team also owns fleet-level infrastructure for management of laser systems at scale. We are seeking a Laser Systems Engineer to join this team in Boston. Depending on focus area, the role may sit in platform development and RD, system integration and deployment, or operational reliability — or span all three. In all cases, you will work directly with the laser systems that power our neutral atom QPUs across multiple active laser families, collaborate across internal teams and with external co-development partners, and contribute to a program that is central to QuEra’s technical roadmap. Responsibilities Depending on focus area, responsibilities may include: Laser Platform Development RD Design and develop infrastructure-grade laser systems built for repeatability, modularity, and field serviceability — programmable optical engines with calibration-friendly architectures, integrated modulators, co-packaging approaches, and well-defined interfaces compatible with automated control and monitoring infrastructure Evaluate emerging laser technologies and co-development partner systems for technical performance, integration readiness, and long-term scalability System Integration Deployment Contribute to architecting the hosting infrastructure for quantum laser systems — meeting stringent requirements for vibration isolation, thermal stability, noise, and QPU integrability — and own build, integration, and validation across optical, electrical, and mechanical interface standards Own physical installation and commissioning of laser systems within QPU platforms; manage technical handoffs with build, operations, and development teams Prepare and ship laser subsystems to domestic and international sites, ensuring systems arrive integration-ready Operational Reliability Support Design and implement laser stabilization systems covering intensity, frequency, and phase noise — including servo loop design, locking architectures, and performance characterization Monitor and sustain uptime for production and development laser systems; lead triage and root-cause analysis for unplanned downtime Perform precision fiber alignment and implement automated fiber coupling systems Maintain SOPs, QA documentation, and integration records; coordinate vendor service and RMA processes as needed Contribute to shaping how laser management scales with fleet growth — reducing per-system overhead through novel automation approaches including AI-powered control agents and LLM-assisted workflows for complex tasks such as autonomous laser locking and heterogeneous hardware orchestration Cross-Functional Collaboration Partner with Hardware, Software, Systems Engineering, Build, and Operations teams to ensure seamless integration, manufacturability, and field readiness of laser systems Contribute to laser system technology roadmaps and platform decisions that span multiple QPU generations Deliver technical transfer packages and engineering documentation to support productization and new platform design Qualifications B.S. or M.S. in Optical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field; equivalent hands-on experience will be considered Experience with laser systems, optical subsystems, or opto-mechanical integration in a precision or scientific instrumentation context Strong experimental and troubleshooting skills, with a hands-on approach to engineering challenges in a fast-paced environment Ability to work independently and collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams, with clear written and verbal communication Preferred Qualifications Deep expertise in nonlinear optics, frequency conversion techniques, or high-power photonic systems Experience wi ... (truncated, view full listing at source)