Principal Software Systems Architect

Monarch Quantum•San Diego, CA

About The Position

Join Monarch Quantum’s Systems Engineering, Integration, and Test team as a Principal Software Systems Architect. This hands-on role bridges photonic systems architecture and software, translating optical and laser system requirements into clear, testable software requirements and owning delivery of the customer-facing GUI and SDK. The role involves close work with leadership and cross-functional engineering teams in a fast-paced startup environment, while establishing software systems engineering practices to support company growth. The architect develops a working understanding of the photonic system architecture—including laser control, frequency stabilization, power distribution, and system monitoring—and defines software architecture for system control, data acquisition, monitoring, and user interaction. The role owns the GUI and SDK as project engineer, from scope and schedule through priorities and releases, and establishes software verification and development practices. It also leads system-level integration, troubleshooting, technical reviews, and mentorship of engineers. This position requires access to export-controlled information. Employment is contingent upon the applicant being a U.S. person as defined by 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3).

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
At least 10 years of experience in software development for hardware-centric systems.
At least 5 years in an architecture or technical lead role.
Demonstrated expertise in software architecture for instrument control, test and measurement, or embedded hardware systems.
Experience with requirements development, flow-down, and verification for software.
Experience defining hardware/software and firmware/software interfaces.
Experience designing APIs and SDKs for external users.
Experience developing GUIs for complex technical systems.
Track record of delivering production software for complex electro-optical, scientific, or precision hardware.
Experience leading software projects end to end, including scope, schedule, and release management.
Proficiency in languages common to instrument control, such as Python, C/C++, or C#.
Ability to learn deep technical domains quickly and communicate with physicists and hardware engineers in their language.
Excellent communication and leadership skills, with the ability to drive technical decisions across teams.
Must be a U.S. person as defined by 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3), because the position requires access to export-controlled information.
Creative, flexible, eager to wear multiple hats, passionate about building systems from the ground up, and comfortable with ambiguity and change.

Nice To Haves

An advanced degree.
Experience with laser systems, photonics, quantum systems, or precision metrology.
Experience with communication protocols and control systems, such as Ethernet, USB, serial, or PID loops.

Responsibilities

Develop a working command of the photonic system architecture, including laser control, frequency stabilization, power distribution, and system monitoring, to translate system behavior into software requirements.
Partner with the Photonic Systems Architect to decompose and flow down system requirements into software requirements, use cases, and acceptance criteria.
Define software architecture for system control, data acquisition, monitoring, and user interaction, including layers between firmware, device drivers, control logic, SDK, and GUI.
Define and control software interfaces through interface control documents (ICDs), API specifications, and data models, working with electrical and firmware engineers on hardware/software interfaces.
Serve as project engineer for the GUI and SDK; own scope, schedule, priorities, and release plans, and drive the software team to delivery.
Establish software verification strategies, including test plans, requirements traceability, and system-level integration testing on real hardware.
Lead system-level troubleshooting across hardware, firmware, and software, and drive root cause analysis and corrective action.
Define customer-facing SDK and GUI functionality with product and applications teams, balancing usability, performance, and system protection.
Present and defend software architecture and maturity at technical reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR) to leadership and customers.
Establish scalable software development practices, including version control, code review, configuration management, and release processes.
Mentor engineers and foster technical rigor, ownership, and cross-functional collaboration.