Principal Optics Engineer (Group Lead)

Your skills, qualifications and experience

Contract Type: Full-time, Permanent

Location: Cambridge, UK

Visa Sponsorship available

Join Nu Quantum - Shaping the Future of Technology

Nu Quantum is at the forefront of quantum computing and advanced technology, driven by innovation, diversity, and a commitment to excellence. We're creating an environment where brilliant minds from all backgrounds collaborate to push the boundaries of what's possible.

Founded to commercialise research generated over the last decade at the Cavendish Laboratory, Nu Quantum is on a mission to shape the future of quantum information systems.

We're working on exciting technology that will improve the utility and accelerate the time-to-market of quantum computing systems. We integrate novel quantum photonic technology to form an efficient and scalable quantum networking infrastructure in partnership with world-leading companies and academic groups.

About The Role

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Optics Group Lead with a strong background in quantum optics and precision optical systems to lead the development of advanced optical systems for our qubit photon interfaces (QPI), and our quantum networking testbeds.

In this role, you will provide technical leadership for the testbed optics function, guiding the design, build, optimisation, automation, and characterisation of complex optical experiments and system platforms. You will work in a highly collaborative, multidisciplinary environment alongside experts in nanofabrication, electronics, mechanical engineering, software, and AMO Physicists.

The role requires both strong hands‑on experimental capability and the ability to lead, mentor, and coordinate an optics team. You will be responsible for setting technical direction, establishing best practice, improving experimental repeatability, and ensuring that optical systems are designed, built, and operated to a high standard.

Responsibilities - What You'll Be Doing

• Provide technical leadership for the Testbed Optics group, setting direction for the design, execution, and optimisation of advanced optical experiments and optical system builds across classical and quantum optics platforms
• Take ownership of optical system architecture, including free-space optics, fibre optics, laser systems, interferometry, optical alignment, stability, noise reduction, and system‑level performance optimisation
• Lead technical decision‑making within the optics function, ensuring that optical designs, experimental approaches, and system architectures are technically robust, reproducible, and suitable for long‑term system development.
• Mentor, coach, and develop optics team members, providing technical guidance, reviewing experimental plans, supporting problem‑solving, and helping engineers and researchers build deeper capability in quantum optics
• Establish and maintain best practices for optical design, experimental execution, alignment procedures, automation, documentation, data analysis, and knowledge transfer to improve reproducibility and team efficiency
• Review experimental results, identify technical risks and performance limitations, and guide the team towards clear, evidence‑based next steps
• Communicate complex technical information clearly through design reviews, technical reports, presentations, and cross‑functional discussions with both specialist and non‑specialist stakeholders
• Collaborate closely with nanofabrication, electronics, mechanical, software, and AMO teams to define integrated test plans, resolve system‑level trade‑offs, and ensure effective delivery of optical subsystems
• Contribute to the long‑term optics roadmap, including capability development, team structure, tooling, experimental infrastructure, and the scaling of the optics function as the technology matures

Requirements

Your skills, qualifications and experience

Essential

• PhD or equivalent industrial experience in quantum optics, experimental photonics, AMO physics, optical engineering, or a closely related field
• Demonstrated ability to provide technical leadership in optics, including setting technical direction, reviewing designs and experiments, making sound technical decisions, and guiding others through complex optical problems
• The ability to move seamlessly from optical simulation to laboratory implementation and iterative optimisation (including Integration with mechanics, electronics, and control software)
• A working knowledge of atomic and quantum physics sufficient to understand system‑level requirements
• Experience mentoring, coaching, or supervising, for example, engineers, scientists, PhD students, or technical team members
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly through reports, design reviews, presentations, and cross‑functional discussions
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary environment

Desirable — Nice To Have But Not Required

• Experience with adaptive optics, fourier optics, beam steering, and beam pointing stabilisation techniques
• Experience with low‑noise optical measurements, laser stabilisation, Pound‑Drever‑Hall locking
• Experience with optical modelling such as Zemax, tolerance analysis, Gaussian beam propagation, fibre coupling, or system‑level optical simulation
• Start‑up experience
• Familiarity with laser safety principles, laser risk assessments.
• Experience contributing to the setup or improvement of optics labs
• Experience with frequency combs
• Experience with ARTIQ
• Experience with ion‑trapping or neutral atoms
• Experience with HOM measurements

Benefits

Why work with us?

At Nu Quantum, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where people of all identities, orientations, backgrounds, and experiences are empowered. We value diverse perspectives as a source of creativity and innovation and encourage applications from all backgrounds, including those from underrepresented and marginalised communities. Joining Nu Quantum means joining a team where you can grow professionally and be part of an inspiring mission to shape the future of technology.

• Flexible working options
• Group DIS cover (4 x salary)
• 1 month paid Sabbatical after 4 years of service
• Generous Employee Referral Scheme
• Private Medical and Dental Cover (With Vitality and Bupa)
• On‑site gym membership
• Cycle scheme
• Refreshments, including fruit and beverages, are available in the office
• 28 days annual leave, including a 3‑day company shutdown period + Public Holidays in England and Wales
• Option to purchase up to 5 days holiday per year
• Enhanced paid family leave policies
• Access to the Cambridge Botanical Gardens

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