Senior Photonic Circuit Quantum Engineer

Applied Materials•Santa Clara, CA

About The Position

Applied Materials’ CTO group develops enabling technologies for quantum information applications, including superconducting qubits and optical quantum computing. The group collaborates with system companies and universities to develop quantum devices with lower error rates, leveraging materials engineering and semiconductor processing to improve device performance. The Senior Photonic Circuit Quantum Engineer will connect quantum-system needs with advanced materials, photonic device engineering, and scalable semiconductor manufacturing. The role focuses on translating system-level quantum computing and control requirements into scalable photonic device solutions, including photonic integrated circuits (PICs) and metasurfaces. It will use advanced CMOS materials, processes, and manufacturing capabilities to develop next-generation photonic integrated circuits and meta-optics. Experience across device design, fabrication, and characterization is highly desirable. The role calls for depth in quantum photonics and atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) physics, along with collaboration across physics, photonics, materials, process engineering, packaging, and quantum-system teams. The position may lead functional teams or projects with moderate resource requirements, risk, or complexity, and impacts customer, operational, project, or service objectives.

Requirements

Strong background in quantum photonics.
Background in atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) physics.
Ability to translate system-level quantum computing and control requirements into scalable photonic device solutions.

Nice To Haves

Experience across photonic device design, fabrication, and characterization.

Responsibilities

Translate quantum-system requirements into photonic device specifications, including wavelength, optical power, loss, phase, polarization, beam shaping, stability, and optical interfaces.
Design and develop quantum photonic devices for quantum computing and control applications.
Develop and optimize fabrication processes for quantum photonic devices, including materials, deposition, lithography, etch, interfaces, and heterogeneous integration.
Perform optical and electrical characterization of photonic devices and correlate performance with design, materials, and fabrication.
Work with quantum physicists and system engineers to translate system-level requirements into scalable photonic solutions.
Design experiments, analyze data, troubleshoot complex device and process issues, and drive improvements in performance, yield, and reproducibility.
Evaluate new photonic materials, integration technologies, packaging approaches, and characterization techniques.
Collaborate across physics, photonics, materials, process engineering, packaging, and quantum-system teams.
Interpret internal and external business challenges and recommend best practices to improve products, processes, or services.
Lead others in solving complex problems using sophisticated analytical thought to exercise judgment and identify innovative solutions.
Communicate difficult concepts and negotiate with others to adopt a different point of view.