Senior Systems Design Engineer

PsiQuantum • Milpitas, CA

11h

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: The Senior Systems Design Engineer is a hands-on role which drives and supports design and execution of electro-optic systems. This engineer will work in the System Design team and collaborate cross-functionally to design and deliver working boxes.

Requirements

• M.S. or PhD in Physics, Optical or Electrical Engineering with 5+ years industry experience.
• 5+ years industry experience designing, validating and testing electro-optic systems.
• Expertise in cross-functional product development.
• Experience designing fiber optic systems, working with photonic integrated circuits (PICs) and fiber networking.
• Successful delivery of electro-optic products to production.
• Successful integration of products into complex systems.
• Experience working with optical test equipment including power meters, optical backscatter reflectometers (OBR), optical spectrum analyzer (OSA).
• Strong organizational skills, excellent communication skills, attention to detail and ability to multitask.
• Strong critical thinking, creative, innovative, analytical, and detail oriented problem-solving skill.
• Ability to work independently with limited direction.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with vacuum systems.
• Optical simulations.

Responsibilities

• Define design requirements for boxes to meet System Architecture system specifications.
• Lead the design, development, and qualification of boxes to meet these requirements. Work with cross-functional teams to execute designs.
• Work as both the box design lead and TPM to deliver working box designs - requires excellent interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Develop a deep understanding of system functionality, PIC and EIC functionality, thermal requirements, fiber network requirements in current and future systems.
• Define test specifications and work closely with Build Process and Validation teams.
• Python scripting, calling Controls SW APIs / drivers to control lab equipment and proprietary systems.
• Adapt to new challenges and develop new skills to suit the task at hand.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees