Meet Cody Googin from AOSense

Meet Cody Googin, a recent college graduate creating exciting laser systems at AOSense, Inc. in Fremont, CA. 

June 5, 2024

Tell us about yourself. What is your background and what were you doing before this?

CG: I’m from Park City, Utah and graduated from The University of Chicago in June 2023 with a B.S. in Molecular Engineering (Quantum Track). Coming into undergrad I knew I was interested in science but had never heard of quantum engineering and didn’t realize it could be a career path. I learned more about the subject/field through my undergraduate studies, on-campus research, and various internships that led me to my current position at AOSense, Inc. in Fremont, CA.

When did you first learn about quantum science and engineering and what about it excites you? 

CG: I first learned about quantum science from a Youtube video a friend showed me after my freshman year of college. It was a video that didn't get into math but introduced really cool concepts that made me curious to learn more. 

I find quantum science exciting because it defies our perception of the world and forces us to take a closer look at the phenomena that make up the world we live in. I also find myself excited about the prospect of using these concepts to engineer new, impactful technology!

Tell us about your company! What problem is AOSense trying to solve, or what need are they trying to address? 

CG: AOSense, Inc. develops and manufactures atom-optic sensors for inertial navigation, time and frequency standards, and gravity measurement. Our goal is to transition atom-optic sensing from large lab experiments to real-world use cases. This typically requires scaling down table-size experiments to smaller, portable devices that meet the challenging size, weight, and power requirements of our customers. 

What is your current job? What does your day-to-day look like? 

CG: I’m currently the lasers product line manager at AOSense, Inc. This involves managing and building external cavity diode lasers (ECDLs) and injection-locked laser systems. My day-to-day at work varies a lot depending on our order volume. Some days I spend all day in the lab building a laser while others I am at my desk working on tooling or design improvements or emailing customers to understand their experimental constraints and how our laser systems may be able to meet their needs. 

What do you like most about your job?

CG: My favorite part about my current position is translating our customer’s experimental needs into tangible laser specifications. By understanding the goals of the experiment, I can determine what power, mode hop free tuning range, etc. that the laser needs to hit and then build the laser. 

What challenges do you face in your job? 

CG: One of the largest challenges is working with manufacturers to develop custom optics or parts for our laser systems. This involves understanding the manufacturer's capabilities and successfully communicating our component specifications. While this process is challenging, it is also very exciting and satisfying to send out a new or improved product!

How did you find out about your job? 

CG: I found my job by looking for “Optical Engineer” jobs in the Bay Area. I applied to a Research and Development Engineering job at my company and got the position! There are open opportunities at AOSense, Inc. that can be found here: https://aosense.com/careers/. 

What makes for a successful career in quantum industries? What kind of skills have you learned in your career journey?  

CG: Since the quantum industry is extremely multidisciplinary and one could find themselves working with optics, in a nanofabrication facility, writing code, or doing any number of other activities, I think a successful career is one where you're always learning. While this sounds cheesy, I have found myself happiest and most engaged in my work when I am learning something new and interesting. In my career journey, I have learned how to work with optics, design electronics, perform simulation and modeling, work with ultra-high vacuum equipment, and a variety of other somewhat random skills. 

Anything else you would like to share?

CG: When I was looking for jobs out of undergrad, I found it very difficult to even find job titles that I felt fit what I wanted to do. I wanted to continue learning about quantum science but didn't see any “Quantum Engineer – Entry Level” type positions. Since “Quantum” encompasses such a wide range of disciplines, it helps to narrow down your search to a few that you find especially interesting (for example: optics or nanofabrication) and then search for roles in those fields with companies who are engaged in quantum science.