Postdoc: Quantum Device Microfabrication and Sensing Technologies

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

2d • Onsite

About The Position

New ideas are all around us, but only a few will change the world. That’s our focus at JPL. We ask the biggest questions, then search the universe for answers—literally. We build upon ideas that have guided generations, then share our discoveries to inspire generations to come. Your mission—your opportunity—is to seek out the answers that bring us one step closer. If you’re driven to discover, create, and inspire something that lasts a lifetime and beyond, you’re ready for JPL. Located in Pasadena, California, JPL has a campus-like environment situated on 177 acres in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and offers a work environment unlike any other: we inspire passion, foster innovation, build collaboration, and reward excellence. JPL is unique among NASA Centers in that its staff are Caltech employees, yet can access NASA technical resources. Cross-discipline teamwork is standard here: colleagues across JPL's science and engineering organizations and on Caltech's academic campus often work together. Learning to speak and understand other disciplines' languages is a doorway to the creativity needed to do what has not been done before. JPL staff are encouraged to create mission concepts that address humanity's core questions through a combination of science and technology. They are supported in developing ideas into proposals and hardware, and in communicating funded missions' results to the scientific community and the broader public. JPL seeks to employ scientists and engineers who are passionate about lifelong learning and excited to both contribute to and lead team efforts. We emphasize the importance of partnering across discipline boundaries and creating a friendly, constructive work environment to overcome space exploration's challenges. The Postdoctoral scholars at JPL benefit from an informal mentoring network, an annual conference showcasing their results, a dedicated seminar series, exposure to diverse career paths, and social connections across the JPL and Caltech community for advice on housing, childcare, and other aspects of living in southern California. This position supports research within advanced component development efforts, including superconducting circuit-based quantum technologies and detector systems. The selected candidate will conduct research involving the fabrication, integration, and testing of quantum computing circuits and thermopile-based detector technologies within JPL’s Microdevices Laboratory (MDL). The work emphasizes hands-on experimental development, including iterative design, fabrication process optimization, and device characterization. This research is structured as a postdoctoral-level effort focused on advancing emerging technologies through experimental investigation and innovation. The appointee will contribute to early-stage device development, working in a collaborative environment alongside engineers and scientists to refine fabrication techniques and improve device performance.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, Materials Science, or a related field
• Hands-on experience with microfabrication techniques (e.g., lithography, thin-film deposition, etching)
• Experience with device integration and experimental testing of microfabricated systems
• Strong background in experimental research and data analysis
• Demonstrated ability to publish in peer-reviewed journals

Responsibilities

• Design, fabricate, and test microfabricated devices for quantum and sensing applications
• Develop and optimize fabrication processes within a cleanroom/MDL environment
• Perform device characterization and analysis to inform iterative design improvements
• Contribute to the development of novel approaches for quantum circuit and detector technologies
• Document methodologies and publish findings in peer-reviewed journals
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across JPL and Caltech

Benefits

• health
• dental
• vision
• wellbeing
• retirement plans
• paid time off
• learning
• rideshare
• childcare
• flexible schedule
• parental leave

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree