Physicist & Optical Scientist - Q

Summary

Our team is new, growing, and evolving quickly, and we are hiring across multiple disciplines. We work at the intersection of machine learning, hardware, and software, creating technologies that reshape how people communicate and experience the world around them in everyday life.

Description

We are an innovative, growing physics and engineering team working at the intersection of breakthrough scientific exploration and real-world product feasibility. We are seeking an exceptional Scientist, specializing in optics and non linear optics, to lead the conceptualization, design, and experimental validation of novel and unique optical architectures. In this role, you will investigate uncharted concepts, explore first-of-their-kind ideas, and turn exploratory physics into viable system-level solutions with the potential to reshape technology.

Explore, architect, and validate early-stage optical concepts and architectures where final specifications and solutions are yet to be defined

Design, model, and simulate advanced optical systems, focusing on ultrafast laser optics, nonlinear optical phenomena, and optical scanning mechanisms

Build, align, and operate experimental lab setups to prototype ideas, evaluate feasibility, and characterize novel optical phenomena

Partner with external vendors and specialized component suppliers from initial technical engagement through fabrication, testing, and delivery

Investigate physical limitations, identify fundamental trade-offs, and define requirements for next-generation systems

Translate complex experimental and theoretical findings into clear engineering insights for multidisciplinary hardware, software, and systems teams

Responsibilities

• Lead optical concept exploration: de-risk high-uncertainty ideas through rigorous modeling and hands-on lab experimentation
• Design and implement optical systems involving ultrafast lasers, nonlinear optics, and beam-scanning systems
• Establish and drive external vendor relationships, including optical specification drafting, design reviews, and vendor deliverables qualification
• Develop custom experimental benches and test procedures to validate system-level performance against physical limits
• Analyze complex experimental datasets and communicate actionable recommendations to cross-functional engineering teams

Minimum Qualifications

• M.Sc. or Ph.D. in Physics, Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related field
• 10+ years of hands-on experience in experimental optics and/or optical design (academic research and/or industry experience)
• Proven track record in optical design and modeling of ultrafast (short-pulse) laser systems
• Deep expertise in nonlinear optical processes and light-matter interaction
• Hands-on experience designing or implementing optical scanning systems (e.g., galvo, resonant, MEMS, or polygon scanners)
• Strong laboratory background: experience setting up, aligning, and troubleshooting complex free-space and fiber optical setups

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience collaborating with and managing domestic/international optical vendors and fabricators (custom optics, coatings, laser sources)
• Proficiency with standard optical simulation and modeling tools (e.g., Zemax OpticStudio, Code V, FRED, or LightTools) and numerical analysis (Python, MATLAB)
• Proven capability to operate in ambiguous, exploratory environments, defining the problem statement, testing hypotheses, and pivoting based on empirical results
• Excellent cross-functional communication skills, with the ability to articulate trade-offs across physics, mechanical constraints, and system engineering