Optical Engineer (Quantum Computing)

Location: Haywards Heath, England, United Kingdom. On-site role.

Company

hirify.global engineers commercial quantum computers designed to address previously impossible problems across healthcare, materials, aerospace, and other industries.

What you will do

• Provide optical engineering support for scientists and engineers developing commercial trapped-ion quantum computing systems.
• Design, specify, assemble, align, troubleshoot, and characterize optical and laser subsystems.
• Integrate optical, fibre-optic, and opto-mechanical assemblies into higher-level systems and maintain reliable operation.
• Develop optical test methods, collect and analyze performance data, and improve robustness, alignment stability, throughput, and optical performance.
• Support electro-optical controls, beam delivery, laser alignment, and optical diagnostic systems.
• Collaborate with electronics, mechanical, physics, and quantum engineering specialists.

Requirements

• Degree or higher in Optical Engineering, Physics, Photonics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• Approximately 10 years of hands-on optical engineering experience in R&D, product development, precision instrumentation, photonics, lasers, imaging, semiconductor equipment, quantum technologies, or a similar environment.
• Strong knowledge of geometrical optics, Gaussian beams, polarization, diffraction, interference, optical coatings, beam shaping, and stray-light control.
• Experience with free-space optical alignment, fibre-optic components, beam delivery, optical mounts, lenses, mirrors, filters, waveplates, polarizers, and opto-mechanical assemblies.
• Hands-on experience operating and maintaining laser systems and laboratory equipment such as beam profilers, wavemeters, interferometers, power meters, photodetectors, electro-optic modulators, oscilloscopes, and spectrum analyzers.
• Ability to define optical requirements, create test plans, document results, perform root-cause analysis, and communicate technical findings clearly while working independently and collaboratively.

Nice to have

• Experience transferring optical systems from prototype builds into robust operational or manufacturing environments.

Culture & Benefits

• Competitive salary and meaningful equity participation.
• Flexible holiday allowance with a minimum of 28 days and flexible working.
• 10% matching pension contribution.
• Generous parental support policy.
• Private health and dental insurance plus group life insurance.
• £2,000 annual personal development budget and relocation support.