Quantinuum Is Building a Photonics Lab in Albuquerque: The Quantum Jobs Coming to Wilshire NE

ALBUQUERQUE, NM — Quantinuum, one of the biggest names in quantum computing, is turning a vacant building at 5501 Wilshire NE into an integrated photonics research lab, and the company is already posting Albuquerque jobs for the engineers, physicists and lab technicians who will work there. The first phase of the lab is slated to wrap up by the end of 2026, with a second lab to follow in 2027.

Roughly two dozen high-wage jobs, a $32.5 million build-out, and a hiring board that's open right now.

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📍 At a Glance

Business	Quantinuum (headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado)
Address	5501 Wilshire NE, Albuquerque
Size	About 13,000 square feet of labs and offices
Concept	Integrated photonics research and development for trapped-ion quantum computers
Timeline	Phase one by end of 2026; second lab in 2027
Industry	Quantum computing, optics and photonics
New jobs	About 25, averaging $150,000 a year (per state and city officials)

What Quantinuum Is Building on Wilshire

Quantinuum first planted a flag in Albuquerque last year with a 6,000-square-foot space near Balloon Fiesta Park. The Wilshire building is the step up: a roughly 13,000-square-foot research facility, now under construction, that will house advanced laboratories and office space.

The work inside is integrated photonics: tiny on-chip optical circuits that route laser light. Quantinuum's computers control trapped ions with lasers, so moving that optics onto chips is central to its next machines. Dr. Jennifer Strabley, who runs the company's Compute Platforms Group, called integrated photonics R&D "a critical part of our technology roadmap."

According to the City of Albuquerque's announcement, the city council approved $750,000 in Local Economic Development Act funds, and the state matched it through Economic Development New Mexico, for $1.5 million in public support. State and city officials told the Albuquerque Journal the company itself is putting $32.5 million into the expansion, with about 25 new jobs at average salaries near $150,000 and roughly $86.4 million in economic impact projected over 10 years. The official release itself says only "dozens" of careers.

💼 The Jobs Quantinuum Is Posting in Albuquerque

This is not a walk-in, hire-on-the-spot kind of employer. No hiring event has been announced, and every job runs through the company's official careers board. Albuquerque-based openings posted there this fall include:

Senior Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) Design
Sr. Optical Process Engineer
Sr. Advanced Physicist (AMO)
Director, Program Management
Optics R&D Technician Intern and PIC Design Intern
A general-interest application for the New Mexico location

Not every role needs a Ph.D. A senior integrated photonics and R&D technician posting for Albuquerque asks for a college certificate of program completion, prefers a bachelor's in optics, engineering, physics or a related field, and listed pay of $66,000 to $83,000. Postings change often, so check the board for what is live.

⚠️ Read This Before You Apply

The postings are on-site in Albuquerque, not remote. They also carry an export-control requirement: applicants must be U.S. persons, meaning citizens, green card holders, or people granted asylum or refugee status. If you don't meet that bar, these roles aren't open to you.

💪 Why It Matters for Albuquerque Tech Workers

Quantinuum joins a cluster that already leans on Sandia National Laboratories and the Air Force Research Laboratory at Kirtland. One more private employer competing for optics, laser and lab talent tends to lift pay and training across the field, not just for the people Quantinuum hires.

🔎 Start Searching Albuquerque Tech and Lab Jobs

Aiming at Quantinuum or the labs and manufacturers around it? These searches cover the roles this kind of expansion pulls in.

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Quantinuum Albuquerque Jobs: FAQ

Where is Quantinuum's new Albuquerque facility?

At 5501 Wilshire NE, in a previously vacant building being converted into labs and offices. The company also has an existing space near Balloon Fiesta Park.

How many jobs is Quantinuum adding in Albuquerque?

State and city officials have put it at about 25 high-wage jobs. The official announcement describes "dozens" of careers without a firm count.

How much do the jobs pay?

Officials cited an average salary around $150,000. Individual roles vary; one technician posting listed $66,000 to $83,000.

Is there a Quantinuum hiring event or job fair?

None has been announced. Apply through the company's careers board.

Get Ready for Albuquerque's Next Tech Hire

Quantum and photonics roles fill fast. Create your free LocalJobPage profile so employers can find you, and browse the Albuquerque Career Center for guides on growing fields.

Employers: Hiring engineers, technicians or lab staff in the metro? Post your openings on LocalJobPage and reach Albuquerque job seekers directly.