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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Chief Architect - Optical Communication TerminalsNew - **Company:** IonQ, Inc. - **Location:** Broomfield, CO, United States - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $167,808.0 - $219,704.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Hardware Design, Python (Programming Language), MATLAB, Verification and Validation (Software), Systems Architecture, Visual Systems, Zemax, System-level Testing, Modeling and Simulation, Performance Monitor, Software Coding - **Published:** June 3, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=3cc500c6934cb791 ## About the Role The ideal candidate is an experienced Optical Communications engineer with strong analytical skills and hands-on free space optical communication expertise., * 10+ years of experience in Free Space Optical communication systems. Proven experience in optical system design, modeling, and validation. * Bachelor's, Master's, or Ph.D. degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering or a related field, or equivalent experience. * Practical experience with fiber optic and free-space optics laboratory setups * Familiarity with relevant communication standards and coding techniques * Strong understanding of wavefront errors, SNR, BER, and link budgets * Exhibit strong analytical skills for building models and solving complex problems. * Experience with optical simulation/modelling tools (e.g., Zemax, Code V, MATLAB, Python) * Knowledge of adaptive optics, beam steering, and pointing error impacts * Team player with strong problem-solving skills with the ability to work independently and as part of a team. * Knowledge in the development of space optical instruments, especially in the field of telescopes, spectrometers, and interferometers within an industrial or scientific environment. * Strong quantitative data analysis abilities using tools such as Matlab, Python, or equivalent. * To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, the candidate must be a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., a protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Preferred Experience * Space-flight industry experience * Laser Safety knowledge * Experience transitioning an optical product into production * Spanish speaking is a plus ## Description We are seeking a highly skilled and innovative Chief Architect to join our team. This position reports directly to Skyloom's VP of Engineering as a member of the Engineering & Operations leadership team. The Chief Architect will possess expertise in optical systems, optical communication technologies, and the development of optical communication solutions, preferably for laser communications and optical inter-satellite links (OISLs). This position is a key role in designing, simulating, and optimizing optical systems for high-performance laser communication networks for space-based systems. This role interfaces closely with the production, quality, and supply chain teams delivering a hardware design that is capable of cost-effective mass production. Chief Architect with Free Space Optical Communication Terminal Expertise As a Chief Architect, you will design, implement, and optimize free-space optical communication terminals across government and commercial customers. You will analyze and improve system performance metrics-such as wavefront error, SNR, and BER-while contributing to innovation in areas like atmospheric turbulence mitigation, adaptive optics, and laser propagation. This role also offers leadership opportunities, including guiding projects, collaborating across disciplines, and contributing to R&D shaping next-generation OCT products., * Lead engineering activities for an optical communications payload from concept through launch * Define, analyze, and validate system and subsystem requirements for space environments * Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop integrated communication solutions, focusing on system architecture, performance, and reliability. * Derive quantified requirements for optical communication terminals using analytical techniques, numerical modeling, and bench-top testing. * Conduct hardware/software validation of optical communication systems and subsystems * Provide technical support for integration and troubleshooting of optical systems and develop root cause analysis for products exhibiting non-conformances in the optics subsystem. * Analyze large amounts of laboratory data for validation and improvement purposes. * Provide clear and rigorous presentations/reports on the subjects listed above, effectively communicating with a broad range of cross-functional teams. Communication & Teamwork Skills * Own critical design review processes, ensuring quality, completeness, and compliance * Lead system-level test planning, verification, and compliance analysis * Collaborate across multidisciplinary teams (RF, software, FPGA, integration, quality, operations) * Present program updates and technical solutions to internal/external stakeholders * Mentor and support team members within a collaborative engineering environment * Possess excellent communication skills to convey technical concepts clearly and efficiently across a range of subject areas, engaging with management, peers, and suppliers. * Organize and deliver assigned projects independently according to the project schedule. * Demonstrate enthusiasm for working on multiple projects simultaneously in a self-directed manner, thriving in a fast-paced, multi-cultural startup environment. ## Related Videos - [Strange New Worlds: shaping the future of the digital age](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/677-strange-new-worlds-shaping-the-future-of-the-digital-age) - [Leveraging Large Language Models for Legacy Code Translation: Challenges and Solutions](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1157-leveraging-large-language-models-for-legacy-code-translation-challenges-and-solutions) - [Solving Architectural Entropy With Runnable Diagrams](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100144-solving-architectural-entropy-with-runnable-diagrams) - [Building a hypercar from scratch](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/607-building-a-hypercar-from-scratch) - [Exploring the Potential of Decentraland](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/583-exploring-the-potential-of-decentraland) - [Quantum Computing - The tiny and the big challenges](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/934-quantum-computing-the-tiny-and-the-big-challenges) ## Related Articles - [The Fastest-Growing Tech Sectors to Look Out for in 2025](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/373-the-fastest-growing-tech-sectors-to-look-out-for-in-2025) - [Dev Digest 121 - AI goes offline](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/456-dev-digest-121-ai-goes-offline) - [Fully Remote Software Engineer Jobs](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/447-fully-remote-software-engineer-jobs) - [Is Software Engineering Over-Saturated?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/418-is-software-engineering-over-saturated) - [Dev Digest 134 - Where pixels sing?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/477-dev-digest-134-where-pixels-sing) - [6 Emerging Technologies We’ll Learn About in 2025](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/381-6-emerging-technologies-we-ll-learn-about-in-2025)