Optical Engineer Level 2

Optical Engineer Level 2

Monarch Quantum · San Diego, United States · Full-time · Posted 2026-09-29

Salary: USD 100,000–150,000

Workplace: on_site

Department: Optical Engineering

Description

Join our fast-paced and passionate team as an Optical Engineer 2. 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:

• Work independently and in a team while overcommunicating with the manager, project engineer, and the teammates. Will mentor junior engineers.
• Execute complex engineering tasks involving planning, preparation, data/information collection, and analysis and decision-making in a process involving peer reviews and documentation of the results.
• Use tenacity, patience, self-discipline, and passion for excellence to assure accuracy of execution schedule, data quality/integrity, conformance to company best practices, clarity in communication, and documentation.
• Use every opportunity to grow competency through mentorship, curiosity, communication, exposure, and initiative.

Requirements

• This position requires access to export-controlled information. Employment is contingent upon the applicant being a U.S. person as defined by 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3).

Experience:

• A bachelor’s degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
• Minimum of 2 years of relevant experience, ideally within a startup or technology company.

Skills:

• In-depth knowledge of various optical engineering topics along with a strong grasp of a standard optical engineering degree curriculum.
• Comprehensive understanding of optical modeling techniques including ray tracing, wave propagation, and electromagnetic solvers.
• Insight into laser beam propagation, including how the movement and rotation of optics influence a beam's near-field, far-field, beam quality, and fiber coupling efficiency.
• Ability to design according to specifications by planning design processes that address a range of innovative requirements, identifying the most efficient analysis methods for each, and developing and validating new design and analysis approaches.
• Capability to assess optical layouts for optimal performance, manufacturability, and risk evaluation.
• Familiarity with arranging laser modules within optical design software.
• Extensive knowledge of how to quantitatively characterize an optic, including its material properties, surface specifications, surface irregularities, roughness, mechanical constraints, coatings, power handling, environmental considerations, testing, and inspection methods.
• Thorough understanding of tolerance analysis techniques for component fabrication.
• Knowledge of fiber optics as applied to high-power continuous wave (CW) laser systems, including multi-mode, single-mode, polarization-maintaining, step index, photonic crystal, and endcap variants.
• Proven ability to successfully complete engineering tasks involving design software (preferably Ansys Zemax OpticStudio, Photon Engineering FRED, and/or Lambda Research OSLO), quantitative analysis/programming tools (such as Python), instrumentation and measurement, part fabrication or procurement, integration and testing, data collection, and documentation.

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 $100,000-$150,000.

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 Quantum 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.

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