Lead Optical Scientist - 585

Quantinuum

United States

December 04, 2025

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Lead Optical Scientist - 585

US Brooklyn Park, MN
Science & Technology – Quantum Computing Hardware /
Full-time /
On-site
We are seeking a Lead Optical Scientist in our Brooklyn Park, MN location to support R&D and commercial activities. The ideal candidate will have a clear history of leading technical projects and realizing expected outcomes. In addition, we expect the ideal candidate to have a broad understanding of a number of technical disciplines, with deep technical expertise and skills in several; a history of working in and leading highly technical teams consisting of engineers, scientists, and technicians; and a strong work ethic and high reliability.
 
All applicants for placement in safety-sensitive positions will be required to submit to a pre-employment drug test.

Key Responsibilities:

    • Lead technical projects both on-site and cross-site at the direction of management
    • Participate in designing, building, integrating, validating, and troubleshooting optical systems, including lasers and imaging systems
    • Provide technical expertise to optical project teams with the goal of maximizing performance and robustness
    • Mentor junior staff via hands-on, in-lab troubleshooting and on technical and scientific topics as needed to support project needs
    • Prepare and review detailed engineering specifications, statements of work, standard operating procedures, and other documentation required for the procurement, operation, maintenance, and repair of optical, mechanical, and electronics systems
    • Support Procurement and Materials Management in acquiring and tracking technical equipment and infrastructure through phases of building, expanding, and maintaining the lab

YOU MUST HAVE:

    • Bachelor’s degree minimum
    • Minimum 10 years (M.S. or ) experience designing, developing, building, using and maintaining optical, opto-mechanical, and/or laser systems
    • 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:

    • M.S. or Ph.D in Optical Engineering, Optics, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related technical field
    • Experience leading a team of scientists to complete well-defined projects as well as broader research initiatives
    • A demonstrated history of mentoring junior scientists
    • Broad understanding of optical principles and practices and intimate knowledge and experience applying this knowledge to projects
    • Experience characterizing, stabilizing, and servoing diode, fiber, and/or Ti:Sapphire lasers
    • Experience with quantum information processing and/or quantum computing
    • Experience with engineering change process
    • The ability to work from assembly drawings, schematics, wiring diagrams, sketches and other written, visual and oral instructions
$154,000 - $193,000 a year
Compensation & Benefits:
Incentive Eligible – Range posted is inclusive of bonus target when applicable
The pay range for this role is $154,000 – $193,000 annually. Actual compensation within this range may vary based on the candidate’s skills, educational background, professional experience, and unique qualifications for the role.
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. 
 
As we celebrate the International Year of Quantum, there has never been a more exciting time to be part of this rapidly evolving field. 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 is 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.   
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
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