Join our fast-paced and passionate team as a Senior Principal Photonics Systems Engineer. As we scale, you will be instrumental in building our foundation from the ground up. This is a dynamic, hands-on role for a self-starter who thrives in a fluid startup environment. You'll have the opportunity to work on cutting edge technologies, work closely with leadership, and develop and implement engineering practices that support our mission and growth. Your key responsibilities are as follows:
- Provide technical leadership and system-level direction on the architecture, design, and integration of advanced laser systems for quantum technologies.
- Define and guide the development of core photonics and control technologies, including laser stabilization, narrow linewidth sources, and low-noise electronic control systems.
- Lead efforts to achieve ultra-low noise performance and exceptional reliability through rigorous design, modeling, and experimental validation.
- Collaborate closely with optical, electronic, firmware, and mechanical engineers
- Provide technical expertise to for the development of and maintenance system-level requirements, specifications, and performance validation protocols.
- Mentor junior engineers and foster a culture of technical excellence, innovation, and cross-functional collaboration.
- Contribute to strategic technology roadmaps and partner with leadership to align technical development with business goals.
Requirements
Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Optics, or a related field (advanced degree preferred).
- Minimum 15 years of experience designing and testing complex photonic or laser-based systems.
Skills:
Demonstrated expertise in:
- Narrow linewidth and frequency-stabilized laser systems
- Low-noise electronic controls and servo systems
- Optical system modeling, alignment, and noise analysis
- Proven track record of architecting and delivering high-reliability photonic systems.
- Excellent communication and leadership skills with demonstrated ability to drive technical decisions across teams.
- Experience in quantum systems, precision metrology, or related emerging technologies is a strong plus.
Startup Mindset:
- You're creative, flexible, and eager to wear multiple hats.
- You're passionate about building systems from the ground up and comfortable with ambiguity and change.
Benefits
The expected annual salary range for this position is $160,000-$240,000.
As a full-time employee, you will be eligible for Monarch’s comprehensive benefits package, which includes:
- Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
- Fidelity 401(k) plan with 4% employer matching
- 20 paid time off (PTO) days per year
- 13 paid company holidays
- 9/80 work schedule (every other Friday off)
Monarch is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, citizenship status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, veteran status or any other characteristics protected under applicable federal, state and local laws.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Optics, or a related field
- Minimum 15 years of experience designing and testing complex photonic or laser-based systems
- Demonstrated expertise in narrow linewidth and frequency-stabilized laser systems
- Proven track record of architecting and delivering high-reliability photonic systems
- Excellent communication and leadership skills
Monarch Quantum, Inc. Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Monarch Quantum, Inc. and has not been reviewed or approved by Monarch Quantum, Inc..
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time-off provisions include 20 PTO days and 13 paid holidays, indicating broad leave availability. A 9/80 schedule is also advertised, adding flexibility with every other Friday off.
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Retirement Support — Retirement benefits feature a Fidelity 401(k) with a 4% employer match and immediate vesting. This combination signals solid support for long-term savings.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Compensation is presented as competitive with larger San Diego tech employers, and job postings publish substantial salary ranges by role and level. This visibility indicates an intention to align pay with market benchmarks.
Monarch Quantum, Inc. Insights
What We Do
Monarch Quantum is a U.S.-based quantum photonics company that designs and manufactures integrated photonics systems, known as Quantum Light Engines™, for quantum computing, sensing, and communications.
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