Manufacturing Engineer

Vector Atomic, an IonQ company, is building quantum technology to transform navigation, timing, geophysical exploration, and telecommunications. Our team of engineers, scientists, software developers, and operations professionals works together to solve complex challenges and turn bold ideas into real-world solutions. We value collaboration, curiosity, and diverse perspectives, and we give every team member the opportunity to make an immediate impact while growing their skills. If you’re excited to work on breakthrough technology in a fast-paced, hands-on environment, we’d love to hear from you.

We are looking for a  Manufacturing Engineer to play a critical role in transitioning our quantum optical clock systems from prototype to scalable production. You will own key portions of the manufacturing process for highly sensitive photonic and opto-mechanical assemblies, with a strong emphasis on automation, repeatability, and yield.

This is a highly cross-functional, hands-on role where you will work closely with physicists, optical engineers, and hardware teams to help turn cutting-edge lab systems into robust, manufacturable products.

Requirements

What You'll Do:

• Develop and scale manufacturing processes for quantum photonics systems, including lasers, fiber assemblies, and precision opto-mechanical subsystems
• Design and implement automated assembly, test, and inspection processes for high-precision optical systems.
• Drive Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) in collaboration with R&D and physics teams
• Lead new product introduction (NPI), transitioning lab prototypes into repeatable production builds
• Build and maintain production tooling, fixtures, and automated test platforms
• Identify and reduce process variability in critical optical alignment and packaging steps.
• Implement data-driven process control (SPC) and continuous improvement methodologies
• Troubleshoot complex integration issues spanning optics, electronics, vacuum systems, and controls
• Develop clear documentation (SOPs, travelers, work instructions) in a rapidly evolving environment
• Evaluate and qualify vendors for precision components and subassemblies, in collaboration with engineering and operations. 

What We're Looking For:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Applied Physics, or related field
• 3+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering or hardware development in a deep-tech environment (photonics, quantum, semiconductors, aerospace, etc.)