Senior Optical Design Engineer (f/m/d)

Description We are looking for an experienced (Senior) Optical Design Engineer to take technical ownership of the imaging and illumination systems at the heart of our quantum sensing platform. You will design optical systems from first principles and own their development from simulation and tolerancing through bench validation and production. This is a hands-on role with significant technical ownership and strong opportunities for career growth as our technology and organization scale, shaped by your skills, strengths, and preferred career direction. Who we are Founded in 2022 as a spin-off of TU Munich, QD leverages quantum sensors to rapidly capture three-dimensional current maps within multi-layer chips. Our strong, international team of over 70, including physicists, engineers, data scientists, and other experts, works side by side with major semiconductor manufacturers, supporting chip debugging and accelerating yield analysis. Backed by top-tier deep tech investors, semiconductor experts, and strategic public programs, we have ensured long-term stability, shifting from breakthrough to scale - and shaping the next chapter in chip testing. Why join Quantum Diamonds? Picture this: • Quantum sensors that see inside the most advanced chips on Earth, right where two frontier fields collide. • Nobel-Prize physics aimed at real customers with real problems, in production now, not someday. • Physicists, data scientists, and engineers building side by side, turning deep science into tools the industry actually runs on. • An international team that runs at hard problems for fun, where knowledge moves fast and so do you. Still unsure about why joining us? • You'll get to build a company together with a brilliant and welcoming team on a product that has never been done before. • From Day 1, you'll own your own topics end to end and see the direct impact of your work on how the world sees QuantumDiamonds. • Our technology is the cutting edge of tomorrow, starting today and not in 10 years. • You’ll be part of a high-growth company backed by top-tier investors. Let’s make the invisible visible! What will you do • Own the optical design of key imaging and illumination systems at the heart of our NV-diamond sensors, from excitation through fluorescence collection and detection. • Design custom optical systems from first principles, including high-NA, wide-field, and long-working-distance objectives, balancing optical performance, mechanical constraints, manufacturability, and cost. • Take optical subsystems from concept to production: translate system requirements into specifications, develop and optimize designs, define tolerances, validate prototypes, and support manufacturing transfer. • Model and optimize imaging and illumination systems in Zemax OpticStudio (sequential and non-sequential), covering imaging performance, illumination uniformity, stray light, ghosting, and artifact mitigation. • Develop illumination concepts, tolerance analyses, and error budgets, including source selection, radiometry, etendue, beam shaping, power budgeting, and realistic manufacturing and alignment tolerances. • Build, align, and characterize prototypes on the bench, define optical test methods, qualify components and suppliers, and use Python or similar tools to analyze measurement data. • Work closely with mechanical, hardware, quantum sensing, software, and production engineers to make system-level trade-offs and help shape scalable optical design standards as our products and team grow. What is expected of you • Strong optical-design ability. We hire for demonstrated skill rather than a specific degree; a background in optics, photonics, or physics is typical. • 5+ years designing real optical systems, not just coursework. • Fluency in ZEMAX, sequential and non-sequential. • Solid fundamentals: radiometry, etendue and brightness, aberrations, MTF, tolerancing. • You model in Python (or similar) and trust the bench over any single tool. • Hands-on lab skills: alignment, metrology (interferometer, collimator, test bench), characterization. • Clear, concise technical writing. Working language is English. Bonus points • High-power illumination sources and laser safety. • Quantum sensing, NV centers, or ODMR. • Semiconductor inspection, metrology, or failure analysis. Our benefits • Mission: At QD, we’re driven by more than just building great products - we aim to make a lasting difference. Joining us means contributing to meaningful work that goes beyond business as usual. • Impact & growth: This is an exciting stage of our journey, and your voice matters. You’ll have the chance to shape our culture, influence key decisions, and grow alongside a company that’s scaling fast. • Health & fitness: With a company-sponsored Wellpass membership, you’ll have access to countless gyms, classes, and wellness offers across Germany to stay healthy and active. • Team & culture: We believe the best ideas come when we connect outside the office. From regular off-sites to team events, you’ll be part of a collaborative and supportive environment. • Well-being & balance: We value rest and recovery. That’s why you’ll enjoy 30 vacation days plus public holidays to recharge and return inspired. • Learning & development: Your growth is our priority. We provide an annual budget dedicated to courses, conferences, or any resources that help you expand your skills. • Ownership & participation: As part of our equity program, you’ll directly share in our success and the value we create together. About us QuantumDiamonds GmbH, headquartered in Munich, Germany, develops and manufactures semiconductor inspection systems based on quantum sensing. Spun out of the Technical University of Munich in 2022, the company uses nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond to map electrical current with micrometer precision inside advanced 2.5D and 3D chip architectures. Nine of the world's ten largest semiconductor manufacturers are engaged with QuantumDiamonds, with systems deployed across Europe, the United States, and Asia. The company is investing €152 million to build the world's first production facility for quantum sensing-based semiconductor inspection tools, supported under the European Chips Act. 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