R&D Technician
About the job
- Demonstrated success in precision mechanical assembly of prototypes and products.
- Enthusiasm for developing expertise in new fabrication disciplines.
- Hands-on experience with test equipment.
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents for U.S. Government contracts.
- An associate degree in a relevant technical field or equivalent professional experience, with experience in an R&D environment.
- Collaborate with physicists and engineers to assemble and test complex quantum sensor and atomic clock hardware.
- Procure and track inventories of mechanical, optical, vacuum, and electrical components.
- Coordinate component and subsystem fabrication, assembly, and testing.
- Assemble precision mechanical systems.
- Align lasers through optical systems.
- Procure and maintain laboratory equipment and supplies.
- Collaborate with engineers to define and implement test plans.
- Bake out and leak test vacuum systems.
- Document and report validation testing results.
- Expertise aligning and securing micro-optical components.
- Hands-on experience with vacuum system assembly and testing.
- Adeptness in glovebox assembly work.
- Sensitivity to cleanliness requirements of vacuum and optical assemblies.
- Skill in mechanical prototyping, including basic machining and finishing operations.
- Practical experience with advanced bonding methods, including soldering, brazing, and adhesives.
- Proficiency with SolidWorks mechanical design software.
- Familiarity with electronics prototyping, including reading schematics, PCB fabrication, assembly, soldering, and rework.
- Experience testing low-noise analog, mixed-signal, and radio frequency electronics.
- Basic knowledge of data acquisition and analysis software such as LabVIEW, MATLAB, and Python.
About the company
AOSense develops high-performance quantum sensors using cold-atom technology for navigation, timekeeping, and gravity measurement. It designs, fabricates, and tests atom-optic devices that cool and manipulate atoms with frequency-stable lasers, enabling precision measurements through atom interferometry. The company differentiates itself with Stanford-based expertise, experienced leadership, and a track record of government SBIR contracts, delivering custom SWaP-optimized solutions for defense, aerospace, and scientific customers. Its goal is to turn advanced cold-atom research into deployable systems that enable resilient GPS-denied navigation, reliable timing, and geophysical surveying.
Company Size
11-50
Company Stage
Grant
Total Funding
$26.8M
Headquarters
Fremont, California
Founded
2004
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Lockheed Martin, Q-CTRL, and AOSense announced QuINS on March 12, 2025.
- NASA awarded AOSense a $149,914 SBIR on August 27, 2025 for Rydberg-sensor lasers.
- DoD awarded AOSense $1.7 million in April 2026 for low-power rubidium oscillators.
What critics are saying
- AOSense depends on U.S. government awards; federal contracts fund nearly all revenue.
- Lockheed’s QuINS program concentrates commercialization through primes, squeezing AOSense’s pricing power.
- No major non-defense customer base creates existential budget risk if DoD priorities shift by 2028.
What makes AOSense unique
- Stanford-born AOSense pioneered atom-interferometric sensors since 2004, unlike MEMS rivals.
- Boeing’s 2024 flight test validated AOSense’s quantum IMU in airborne GPS-denied navigation.
- AOSense builds clocks, gravimeters, and subcomponents, not just single-navigation payloads.
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Benefits
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance