Sr. Manager - Optics and Photonics Development

We are seeking an exceptional Sr. Manager – Optics and Photonics Development in our Broomfield, Colorado location to lead a distributed group of optics engineers, photonics designers, and physicists in their cross‑disciplinary efforts to develop next‑generation optics and photonics solutions for trapped‑ion quantum computers. This position involves direct supervision of both front‑line technical individual contributors and managers of small teams of technical contributors.

The group of sub teams under this role’s leadership performs development and design of photonic integrated circuits (involving both waveguide‑optical and metasurface approaches), optical micro‑assemblies, and integrated photodetector arrays. It also performs technical pathfinding to guide the development of the optical systems needed for future quantum computer generations, in close collaboration with other technical teams responsible for architecture, fabrication, and product engineering.

This position will report to the Director of Photonics.

• Accountable for timely delivery of functional and performant optics and photonics solutions that meet the schedule and needs of the business
• Accountable for identifying technological gaps between the state of the art available and the performance and functionality needed by the company’s trapped‑ion quantum computing architectures
• Accountable for the delivery of optics and photonics solutions and approaches to close these technological gaps
• Instill a culture of excellence in scientific and engineering practices
• Identify and act on areas of improving team productivity
• From high‑level technical goals, synthesize strategic plans for the technical department, including technical scope, schedule, and budget
• Formulate and execute on a plan to structure a group of 15+ (growing quickly to 20+) into appropriate subteams
• Partner with architecture and microfabrication teams to develop and deliver on appropriate short‑loop experiments to de‑risk core components of a technical plan
• Own and manage execution of the above plans including:
  Tracking and reporting of progress against the plan (with Program Management), Department resource allocation and prioritization to meet the milestones, Risk/opportunity identification and management & Use of external partners and key suppliers to reduce design iteration times
• Identify department‑level staffing needs and fill key gaps via:
  Mentorship, training, and managing of first‑level managers, Hiring, Cross‑training, Real‑time coaching and feedback, Succession planning & Skip‑level meetings

• Master’s degree minimum
• Minimum 1+ year of experience working in the quantum technology industry
• Minimum 8+ years of industry experience in optics and/or photonics
• Minimum 6+ years of experience in a director, manager, or leadership role
• Due to Contractual requirements, must be a U.S. person (defined as, U.S. citizen permanent resident or green card holder, workers granted asylum or refugee status)

• Master’s degree minimum in optics, photonics, or closely related discipline preferred
• 10+ years of industry experience in optics and/or photonics strongly preferred
• Deep experience in new product introduction cycles involving optics and photonics
• Recent experience (within last 2 years) with photonic integrated circuit development
• Recent experience (within last 2 years) with metasurface optics development
• Recent experience (within last 2 years) with photodetector solutions
• Experience managing distributed teams with some direct reports working remotely or across distinct geographic sites
• Proven expertise in Atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) physics and/or quantum computing
• Experience in complex task management (cost, schedule, risk/opportunity, etc.)
• Strong organizational & leadership skills;
  Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• A calm temperament that keeps the conversation productive even in times of pressure and change
• Cross‑functional mentality: commitment to empowering and enabling all organizations within the business
• Strategic thinking: aptitude for aligning tactical activities with strategic business objectives
• Programmatic…