Principal Optical Fiber Architect

Job Description

Job Title: Principal Optical Fiber Architect. Location: Milpitas, California, United States

Responsibilities:

• Lead the design and development of the optical distribution network for current and future quantum computing systems
• Define end-to-end fiber link architecture connecting subsystems, photonic integrated circuits (PICs), and control systems
• Design scalable fiber networks suitable for prototypes and production systems
• Establish design principles for ultra-low-loss fiber links, phase stability, polarization stability, and length stability
• Improve thermal, vibration, and mechanical stability across fiber networks;
• Define standards for fiber routing, splicing, connectorization, cleanliness, and handling
• Develop and document system-level design requirements
• Collaborate with quantum, electronics, mechanical, and thermal engineering teams to balance technical trade-offs
• Evaluate and qualify advanced fiber optic components for quantum computing applications
• Push technical boundaries to achieve demanding optical performance specifications
• Lead prototype builds, testing activities, and maintain bills of materials (BOM);
• Develop validation plans and support product development from proof of concept through production
• Develop Python scripts to control laboratory equipment and proprietary systems through software APIs
• Communicate effectively with cross-functional teams and external vendors

Qualifications:

• Master's or PhD in Physics, Optical Engineering, or Electrical Engineering
• At least 10 years of industry experience
• More than 5 years of experience designing, validating, and testing fiber optic networks and systems
• Strong expertise in fiber optics, including optical loss, dispersion, nonlinear effects, polarization, and phase stability
• Experience designing fiber optic systems and working with fiber splicing, handling, routing, and optimization
• Experience using optical testing equipment such as power meters, optical backscatter reflectometers (OBR), and optical spectrum analyzers (OSA)
• Experience with photonics or electronics laboratory instrumentation
• Experience programming with Python;
• Experience developing testing methods, optimization techniques, and tuning algorithms
• Experience transitioning products from research and development into manufacturing
• Excellent communication, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to lead projects in a fast-paced, collaborative environment

Benefits And Compensation:

• Annual base salary of $170,000 to $230,000 USD for most U.S. locations
• Annual base salary of $240,000 to $265,000 USD for Bay Area employees
• Equity package for eligible full-time employees;
• Comprehensive employee benefits
• Opportunity to contribute to large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computing systems

Other Information:

• Employment is based on qualifications, experience, location, and business needs
• The company only communicates with applicants through official company email addresses and never requests banking information during the hiring process
• Unsolicited resumes from recruitment agencies are not accepted;
• Equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive workplace