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.
Requirements
Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Optics, or a related field (advanced degree preferred).
- Minimum 5 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
- Experimental design, execution, and troubleshooting
- Data processing and analysis
- Optical and electronic laboratory test equipment and metrology
- 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 $165,000-$200,000.
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 related field
- Advanced degree (MS/PhD) in relevant field
- Minimum 5 years designing and testing complex photonic or laser-based systems
- Experience with narrow linewidth and frequency-stabilized laser systems
- Expertise in low-noise electronic controls and servo systems
- Optical system modeling, alignment, and noise analysis experience
- Experimental design, execution, and troubleshooting skills
- Data processing and analysis experience
- Familiarity with optical and electronic laboratory test equipment and metrology
- Excellent communication and leadership skills, ability to drive technical decisions
- Experience in quantum systems or precision metrology
- Startup mindset: adaptability and willingness to wear multiple hats
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.
Why Work With Us
We’re looking for curious, driven individuals inspired by the intersection of physics, engineering, and imagination. Here, you’ll collaborate with world-class experts to scale transformative quantum solutions, see measurable impact from your work, and grow through mentorship and cross-disciplinary collaboration while benefiting from a flexible,
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