Senior Silicon Photonics Validation Engineer

PsiQuantum • Milpitas, CA

12h

About The Position

PsiQuantum’s mission is to build the first useful quantum computers—machines capable of delivering the breakthroughs the field has long promised. Since our founding in 2016, our singular focus has been to build and deploy million-qubit, fault-tolerant quantum systems. Quantum computers harness the laws of quantum mechanics to solve problems that even the most advanced supercomputers or AI systems will never reach. Their impact will span energy, pharmaceuticals, finance, agriculture, transportation, materials, and other foundational industries. Our architecture and approach is based on silicon photonics. By leveraging the advanced semiconductor manufacturing industry—including partners like GlobalFoundries—we use the same high-volume processes that already produce billions of chips for telecom and consumer electronics. Photonics offers natural advantages for scale: photons don’t feel heat, are immune to electromagnetic interference, and integrate with existing cryogenic cooling and standard fiber-optic infrastructure. In 2024, PsiQuantum announced government-funded projects to support the build-out of our first utility-scale quantum computers in Brisbane, Australia, and Chicago, Illinois. These initiatives reflect a growing recognition that quantum computing will be strategically and economically defining—and that now is the time to scale. PsiQuantum also develops the algorithms and software needed to make these systems commercially valuable. Our application, software, and industry teams work directly with leading Fortune 500 companies—including Lockheed Martin, Mercedes-Benz, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Mitsubishi Chemical—to prepare quantum solutions for real-world impact. Quantum computing is not an extension of classical computing. It represents a fundamental shift—and a path to mastering challenges that cannot be solved any other way. The potential is enormous, and we have a clear path to make it real. Come join us. Job Summary: We are seeking a creative and innovative individual to drive the validation and performance characterization of ultra-low-loss photonic components for our utility-scale quantum computers. In this role, you will play a critical part in defining performance targets, quantifying device behavior through rigorous statistical methods, and driving yield and process improvements across design and manufacturing. You will work at the intersection of device physics, data analysis, and manufacturing, collaborating closely with design, process, and product teams to deliver photonic integrated circuits at scale.

Requirements

• Advanced degree in Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Applied Physics, or other related fields with 5+ years of industry experience.
• Hands-on experience with SPC and yield analysis.
• Proficiency in analysis of large datasets with python, matlab, or jmp
• Experience with SQL.
• Proven team player with an ability to work effectively across departments, sites, time zones.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong analytical and detail oriented problem-solving skills.
• Proven experience executing cross-department complex projects.
• Ability to work independently with limited direction.
• Demonstrated ability to juggle multiple priorities and deliver against a schedule.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with photonic integrated circuits and/or quantum circuits is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Validation of the performance of ultra-low loss passive photonic components.
• Definition of DOE’s and robust statistical analysis to accurately quantify component performance.
• Gather stakeholder feedback to define and evaluate performance targets.
• Coordinate design and process improvements to increase yield.
• Apply quantitative analysis in determining root cause of highly technical problems and propose, develop and implement solutions for corrective action

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior