Manager - Optics and Photonics Development

Job Description

Job Title: Senior Manager, Optics and Photonics Development. Location: Broomfield, Colorado, United States

The role reports to the Director of Photonics and works closely with architecture, fabrication, and product engineering teams.

Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage a distributed team of optics engineers, photonics designers, and physicists
• Deliver high-performance optics and photonics solutions on schedule
• Identify technology gaps between current capabilities and future quantum system needs
• Develop and execute plans to close performance and functionality gaps;
• Drive development of photonic integrated circuits, metasurface optics, and photodetector arrays
• Guide technical pathfinding for future quantum computer generations
• Build and scale team structure for a group growing from 15 to 20+ members
• Partner with architecture and microfabrication teams on short-loop experiments
• Own execution plans including timelines, budgets, risks, and resource allocation
• Track progress and report status in collaboration with program management
• Improve team productivity and engineering excellence;
• Hire, mentor, train, and coach managers and individual contributors
• Lead succession planning and conduct skip-level meetings

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree minimum
• At least 1 year of experience in the quantum technology industry
• 8+ years of industry experience in optics or photonics;
• 6+ years of leadership experience as a manager or director
• U.S. person status required due to contractual requirements

Preferred:

• Master’s degree in optics, photonics, or a closely related field
• 10+ years of experience in optics or photonics
• Experience with new product introduction cycles;
• Recent experience with photonic integrated circuits
• Recent experience with metasurface optics
• Recent experience with photodetector systems
• Background in atomic, molecular, and optical physics or quantum computing
• Experience managing distributed and remote teams;
• Strong project management skills across cost, schedule, and risk
• Excellent communication and leadership abilities
• Strategic mindset with strong execution skills

Compensation:

• Salary range: $224,000 to $280,000 per year
• Bonus eligible
• Equity and retirement benefits included

Benefits:

• Competitive salary and cutting-edge work
• Flexible work schedule;
• Employer-subsidized health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) plan with student loan repayment match
• Equity and retirement savings plan;
• 12 paid holidays plus generous vacation and sick time
• Paid parental leave
• Employee discounts