Research Scientist Jobs

About us:

Hedgefog Research (HFR) is a fast-growing R&D/Manufacturing company located in the Los Angeles Metropolitan area (San Pedro, CA). Focusing on developing technologies for scientific, industrial, and medical applications, we have an array of exciting projects that involve developing, building and testing laboratory prototypes of our future commercial products. As a small company with heavy R&D emphasis, we offer a highly dynamic, informal work environment and career paths to grow.

Who we are looking for:

We are seeking a highly motivated individual to fulfill the role of Research Scientist in our R&D lab. An ideal candidate will be a skilled experimental physicist with extensive fundamental scientific background in atomic, molecular, and optical physics and spectroscopy. The candidate will have a demonstrated record of scientific and engineering achievement. Expertise in laser spectroscopy, atom-based sensing and related fields such as light-atom interaction, atom interferometry, atomic clocks and magnetometers, quantum sensing, laser system development, etc., is highly desirable for this position. We expect a successful candidate to eventually become a technical lead in ongoing atom and laser-based sensing projects and to originate new R&D projects and create new opportunities in developing closely related technologies.

Responsibilities:

-Be a member of a cross-functional team of scientists and engineers in optics-based sensor development.

-Generate new ideas and create proposals for new commercial and government projects.

-Design and build laboratory prototypes containing following system modules/components: lasers, atomic vapor cells, optical and/or photonic components, RF and microwave devices, control electronics, optical/microwave diagnostics tools, mass spectrometers, vacuum systems.

-Run experiments and collect/analyze data.

-Identify and solve technical problems to achieve project goals.

-Work closely with scientists and engineers to develop a technology and deliver an integrated product.

-Present research results and write technical proposals/reports.

Minimum qualifications and Nice-to-haves:

-Ph.D. in experimental atomic, molecular, optical physics or spectroscopy is required. Previous experience in laser and mass-spectroscopy-based sensor development is a plus.

-Proficiency with experimental research techniques in spectroscopy as well as laser, atomic, molecular, or optical physics. (Required)

-Intimate familiarity with free-space and fiber-optics as well as common laboratory instrumentation and data acquisition/processing. (Required)

-Experience in writing grant proposals is a plus.

-Good inter-personal communication skills are required: you will be a part of a team of highly skilled professionals and ability to get along with people in a high-pace R&D environment is essential.

What we offer:

The new Research Scientist will join a small, tightly knit team of engineers and scientists and will be expected to function well in a rapidly evolving small-company R&D environment. At HFR, we pride ourselves on offering our team members a work environment that is highly professional, informal, and fun at the same time. The new employee will discover an intellectually stimulating job that offers daily technical challenges and enables the individual to seek and find solutions while avoiding excessive bureaucracy overhead of larger corporations.

As part of the job package, we also offer:

-Retirement plan with employer matching

-Paid Personal Time Off

-Paid holidays

-Flexible medical benefits (i.e., you pick your insurance, we pay for it)

This position requires U.S. Citizenship. No exceptions.