R&D Engineer Exploratory Technologies

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:

We are looking for an exceptional experimental research engineer or physicist with hands-on experience working with single-photon emitters to join our R&D team. In the role you will operate, and assess the performance of, single photon emitters when they are interfaced with photonic integrated circuits, fast optical switching and single photon detectors. You will collaborate with a diverse team of expertise. The role joins the exploratory technologies division, as part of the company’s future-orientated R&D and it is located at PsiQuantum’s experimental R&D effort at Daresbury in the northwest of the UK. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and career paths who are excited to work in a fast-evolving interdisciplinary environment to build useful quantum computers.

Responsibilities:

Technical individual contribution

Perform systems characterization of photon sources

Data analysis

Model experimental performance and compare to measured data

Collaborate with colleagues in integrating experimental modules into increasingly complex modular experiments

Design high performance experimental setups

Build and maintain neat & professional high performance experimental setups

Work with operations colleagues to efficiently procure necessary consumables and capital equipment, with appropriate forecasting of experimental needs to mitigate delivery lead times

Participate in the authoring of technical reports — ranging from concise to exhaustive in full detail

Technical leadership

Anticipate testing and operational needs for team learnings of single photon emitters

Maintain a clear up to date list of priorities

Facilitate IP protection

Personnel

Participate in hiring to fill open positions in the team

Project leadership

Track mission progress

Contribute to project planning

Budget for experimental builds

Attend project meetings

Cross-team interaction

Keep a strong communication with other teams related to your work

Experience/Qualifications:

Minimum PhD level experience in experimental quantum optics.

2+ years of relevant hands-on experimental work in quantum optics & light matter interaction.

Proven skill in characterization of quantum light sources (e.g. atom-cavity or colour centres or semiconductor quantum dots or similar) and optimizing their performance

Proven skill in planning and conducting quantum optics experiments

Proven skill in modelling experiments and analyzing data — ideally in Python/Mathematica

Experience leading technical projects

Experience working with cryogenics

Proven skill in Applied Physics.

Experience working with leading edge technologies, including custom/one-off/protype equipment built by third parties.

Experience working with external parties (vendors, collaborators etc) to expedite achieving technical results.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Subject Matter Expertise

Imaging, microscopy, spectroscopy, fibre optics

Laser optics (physics, operation and safety), work with pulsed lasers

Single photon measurements, statistics, coincidences, correlation

Quantum optics theory — light matter interaction

Operation of cryogenic equipment and handling cryogens (e.g. liquid nitrogen)

Core skills

Attention to detail

Experimental confidence

Flexibility to change

Deduction

Prioritization

Commitment to only deliver high quality work

Performance in team environment:

Open listening

Curiosity

Openness to share and ask for advice

Learning while collaborating

Fast learning

Assisting colleagues to gain knowledge

Leadership:

Drive to engage others

Delegation

Planning and Organization:

High level picture

Focus on getting things closed

People Management:

Empathy

Ability to ask useful questions

Interpersonal Skills / Communications

Ability to explain clearly

Proven skill in efficient technical presentation to colleagues

Project management

Commitment to deliver on time

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.

We are not accepting unsolicited resumes from employment agencies.