In this paper, we present our recent progress towards the realization of short wavelength intersubband devices with wide band gap II–VI selenide semiconductors. Intersubband electroluminescence at 4.8μm was observed in a ZnCdSe/ZnCdMgSe quantum cascade structure at temperatures up to room temperature. We also developed a new ZnCdSe/MgSe quantum structure with metastable MgSe barriers. Intersubband absorption in the 3–5μm range was observed. Calculations suggest that with this structure intersubband transitions as short as 1.55μm may be achieved.