Optical engineer Jobs in Ottawa, ON

Location: Ottawa, ON (on-site)

Employment type: Full-time

Salary range: $120,000–$160,000 CAD per year

About Q-Block Computing: Q-Block Computing builds quantum systems that operate in the real world. The company develops quantum timing, quantum-secure communications, and quantum computing platforms engineered for the performance, reliability, and environmental resilience that mission-critical applications demand. These are systems designed to be deployed, maintained, and trusted.

The long-term vision is deeper than any single platform. Q-Block is pursuing a mission to decode Nature's foundational model — to build instruments of sufficient precision and coherence that they become tools for understanding the physical universe at its most fundamental level. Every system engineered to sustain quantum coherence under real-world conditions is also an advance in what becomes scientifically possible next. The commercialization and the science reinforce each other by design.

About this role: The Senior Quantum Engineer will serve as a technical leader in Q-Block's R&D engineering organization, with responsibility for driving the development, integration, and productization of quantum hardware systems from prototype to deployed capability. This role requires deep hardware expertise, sound engineering judgment, and the ability to work across subsystem boundaries — optics, photonics, electronics, control systems, and mechanical design — to bring complex quantum systems to the performance and reliability standards that operational deployment demands.

The Senior Quantum Engineer will own engineering decisions within their domain, mentor junior engineers, and operate as a bridge between experimental capability and deployable system. This is a role for an engineer who thrives on hard problems, holds themselves to an uncompromising standard of technical honesty, and finds satisfaction in building things that actually work in the real world under real conditions.

Responsibilities

• Lead the engineering design, integration, and qualification of quantum hardware subsystems — optical, photonic, electronic, control, and mechanical — across Q-Block's platform programs, from prototype through field-deployable system.
• Own subsystem-level performance: define specifications, plan verification and validation campaigns, analyze failure modes, and drive technical closure on engineering issues with clear, documented reasoning.
• Drive productization and design-for-reliability efforts, including ruggedization, thermal management, environmental qualification, and manufacturing-readiness transitions for quantum system components.
• Develop and improve fabrication, assembly, alignment, and calibration procedures for precision optical and electronic subsystems, with attention to repeatability, yield, and operator-independent performance.
• Collaborate with scientists and systems architects to translate performance requirements and physical constraints into engineering design specifications.
• Lead design reviews, establish engineering standards and documentation practices, and provide technical mentorship to junior engineers on the team.
• Identify and retire technical risks proactively; lead root-cause analysis for subsystem failures and implement robust corrective actions.
• Contribute to technical proposals, engineering documentation, and IP capture processes as appropriate.
• Stay current with developments in quantum hardware, photonics, precision electronics, and related engineering domains.

Required qualifications

• PhD degree in Engineering Physics, Electrical Engineering, Photonics, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related field.
• 5+ years of professional engineering experience in quantum hardware, scientific instrumentation, photonics, precision electronics, or a related deep-tech hardware domain.
• Demonstrated ownership of subsystem-level engineering deliverables: specification, design, build, test, and documentation through the full development cycle.
• Strong hands-on capability in at least one of: optical systems engineering, laser hardware and stabilization, photonic integration, precision analog electronics, or quantum control systems.
• Experience in a productization or reliability engineering context: transitioning prototype hardware to robust, repeatable, fielded systems.
• Clear, disciplined technical communication: architecture documents, verification plans, test reports, and engineering specifications written for a demanding technical audience.

Preferred qualifications

• Hands-on experience with one or more of: UHV systems, neutral-atom or ion trap hardware, optical frequency metrology, fiber-optic network components, quantum key distribution hardware, or FPGA-based real-time control.
• Experience with precision timing systems, synchronization architectures, or PNT-related hardware.
• Track record of system-level integration across optics, electronics, and software in a quantum or precision instrumentation context.
• Experience working in or alongside defense, national security, or high-assurance systems environments.
• Familiarity with relevant standards and compliance frameworks for defense or regulated hardware programs.

Security and Compliance Requirements

• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain Government of Canada security clearance, if required for assigned projects.
• Must be eligible to comply with requirements of the Controlled Goods Program, if required for assigned projects.
• Must be willing to participate in background screening, documentation, and compliance processes associated with security-sensitive work.
• Ability to work effectively within security, export-control, and compliance-sensitive technical environments is an asset.

Benefits

• Extended health care (including dental and vision)
• Life insurance

Equal Opportunity

Q-Block Computing is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to treating all employees and applicants with respect and dignity. Accommodations are available on request during the application and recruiting process.

Canadian citizens and permanent residents are strongly encouraged to apply. All interested candidates are encouraged to apply.