Optical Validation Engineer

Palo Alto, California, United States

We believe quantum computing will change everything.  It will have the power to transform the foundations of giant industries that rely on intensive computation.  PsiQuantum is on a mission to build the world’s first useful quantum computer, capable of delivering these transformative results.  We know that means it will need 1 million qubits, error correction, a scalable architecture and a data center footprint.

By harnessing the laws of quantum physics, quantum computers can provide exponential performance increases over today’s most powerful supercomputers, offering the potential for extraordinary advances across a broad range of industries including climate, energy, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, finance, agriculture, transportation, materials design, and many more. 

PsiQuantum is uniquely positioned to deliver on the promise of quantum computing years earlier than our competitors. Our architecture is based on photonics which gives us the ability to produce our components using existing high-volume semiconductor manufacturing processes, the same processes that are today producing billions of chips for telecom and consumer electronics applications. Since photons don’t feel heat, we can take advantage of existing cryogenic cooling systems, the kind that have been operating at facilities like the Stanford Linear Accelerator (SLAC).  And because photons are in fact light, they can move between subsystems at tremendous speed using standard fiber connectivity.

Our team is building a utility scale quantum computer and the software tools needed to build fault tolerant quantum applications. We’re a highly motivated and collaborative group focused on a singular goal - building the world’s first useful quantum computer on the fastest path possible. 

There’s much more work to be done and we are looking for exceptional talent to join us on this extraordinary journey! 

Job Summary:

The Optical validation engineer will be responsible for the development and implementation of methods and techniques to validate a broad range of optical subsystem at different stages, from prototype experimental characterization to production level automated testing.

Responsibilities:

  • Define figures of merit to trace the performance of optical modules.
  • Develop a standard validation process to characterize the performance of fiber-coupled photonic chip packages.
  • Collaborate with the design and experimental teams across the company to learn from current best known methods.
  • Review and provide feedback to the optical design.
  • Design and build laboratory setups comprised of light sources, detector, switches; function generators, oscilloscopes, etc. to validate design functionality of subsystems.
  • Participate in the development of softwares scripts to automatically drive the measurements setups and feed data into a database.
  • Development of algorithms to perform data analysis and extract key performance parameters.

Experience/Qualifications: 

  • Bachelor’s Degree or above in Engineering, Physics or Material Science.
  • Experience working with optical and/or electrical test equipment such as power meters, optical backscatter reflectometers (OBR), optical spectrum analyzer (OSA), Oscilloscopes, function generators (AWG), vector network analyzer (VNA).
  • Experience working with optical fibers, photonic integrated circuits.
  • Experience developing test methods and optimization, tuning/calibration algorithms.
  • Preferred is 4+ years of experience with optical measurements & characterization of on-chip photonic components.

PsiQuantum provides equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. PsiQuantum does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable laws.

Note: PsiQuantum will only reach out to you using an official PsiQuantum email address and will never ask you for bank account information as part of the interview process. Please report any suspicious activity to recruiting@psiquantum.com.

We are not accepting unsolicited resumes from employment agencies.

The range below reflects the minimum and maximum target range for new hire base salary across all US locations. Actual compensation may vary outside of this range and is dependent on various factors including but not limited to a candidate's qualifications including relevant education and training, competencies, experience, geographic location, and business needs. Base pay is only one part of the total compensation package. Full time roles are eligible for equity and benefits. Base pay is subject to change and may be modified in the future.

For a fully qualified candidate, the expected base pay range is: 

Base Pay Range

$120,000 - $165,000 USD

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