Optical Engineering Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Photon Queue builds the world’s leading quantum memory devices – systems that store and release single photons. Using a unique free‑space storage architecture that achieves kilometer‑scale optical path lengths in a compact form factor, we sidestep the fundamental limitations of every competing approach and deliver storage fidelity and efficiency levels that no other technology can match in a device that can actually be deployed and integrated into real quantum systems.

We’re solving a critical infrastructure problem for the quantum ecosystem: without a reliable way to synchronize photons across a quantum network or photonic processor, the promise of quantum computing, sensing, and communications stalls. Photon Queue is the synchronization layer that makes progress possible. Our systems are already in use at Sandia National Laboratories and the University of Maryland, and demand is growing fast.

We’re an early‑stage, fast‑growing team of physicists and engineers turning two decades of laboratory research into the best commercial quantum memory platform. With strong institutional backing and commercial traction at leading national labs, we’re at an exciting breakout moment – the kind where the work you do today directly shapes the trajectory of the company tomorrow.

There’s no corporate bureaucracy here, just sharp people working on hard problems, with direct ownership over what they build and clear visibility into its impact. Every person on the team shapes the product and the company. If you thrive in an environment where your work matters from day one and where espresso, rigor, and curiosity are the culture, you’ll fit right in.

The Senior Optical Scientist executes the hands‑on R&D work that moves our technology forward, working alongside our CEO. You’ll be prototyping novel optical assemblies and validating against expected performance, owning the process end‑to‑end: sourcing and assembling components, working with vendors, running the experiment, analyzing the data, and reporting what you find. You’ll need to exercise real judgment filling in the details and adapting as you learn and get fluent fast with our tools and codebase. You will work at the intersection of optical design, precision experimental physics, and numerical modeling, serving as the technical validation layer for the systems and architectures that will define Photon Queue’s next generation of products.

Location: On‑site, fully embedded at Argonne National Laboratory

Candidates must have current US work authorization – we are unable to sponsor visas at this time.

This is a fully embedded, on‑site role, working day‑to‑day alongside our CEO at Argonne National Laboratory. We are an in‑office company, and our expectation is that employees primarily work from their Photon Queue office 5 days a week. However, we also recognize the importance of flexibility and trust our employees to manage their schedules responsibly. This may include occasional remote work, starting the day with morning meetings from home before heading to the office, or leaving earlier when needed to accommodate family commitments.

• Design, build, and iterate on precision optical assemblies, from concept through fabrication
• Work with vendors to procure custom optical components and assemblies
• Partner with metrology facilities to characterize assemblies (interferometric measurement of surface figure and roughness)
• Analyze measurement data and document results across iterations to converge on robust designs

• Contribute to our Python codebase for numerical modeling and optimization of optical systems
• Build and refine Gaussian beam models to guide design decisions before hardware is built

• Source and manage vendors for complex optical components
• Own the logistics of sending assemblies out for measurement and tracking results

Work closely with our product development engineers to hand off validated R&D prototypes for productization

• Salary: $130,000 – $150,000
• Equity: 0.25 – 0.4%

• Bachelor’s degree in optics, physics, engineering, or a related field

• 5+ years building and analyzing free‑space optical systems
• Proficiency with Python
• Proficiency with standard data analysis
• Precision hands‑on alignment experience with kinematic optical systems

• Master’s or PhD in optics, physics, engineering, or a related field
• Experience with numerical optimization
• Previous startup experience
• Expertise in Gaussian beam modeling
• Experience with electronic control systems
• Familiarity with optical metrology (interferometry, surface figure/roughness characterization)

We encourage you to apply even if you don't meet all of the qualifications stated above. We’re looking for the right candidate with the aptitude and drive to learn and grow with us. That may just be you!

• Health Insurance
  • Medical – 100% covered for Employee, 80% covered for dependents
  • Dental, Vision and Life – 100% covered for Employee and dependents
• Flexible time‑off
• 401(k) in the near future
• Parental leave
  • 6 weeks of paid Parental Bonding Leave for mothers and fathers of new children welcomed into their family (birthed or adopted).
  • For birthing mothers, an additional 6 weeks of paid Medical Recovery Leave to build back your health and strength before returning to solving the problems of storing photons.