Quantum Control Systems Engineer

Your mission At planqc, we are building scalable quantum computers based on neutral atoms. Operating these systems requires sophisticated software that connects experimental hardware, distributed control infrastructure, and higher-level quantum computing applications. As a Quantum Software Engineer – Control Systems , you will contribute to developing the software that operates and orchestrates planqc’s quantum computing systems. Your mission is to design and build robust control, monitoring, and analysis software that enables reliable operation of complex experimental hardware. Working at the intersection of software engineering and quantum hardware , you will help shape the architecture of our control platform, integrating distributed services, APIs, and system components into a cohesive framework. Your work will directly support the operation and scalability of our quantum computing systems, ensuring that our hardware can be controlled, monitored, and deployed reliably across multiple systems. This role is ideal for engineers who enjoy working on distributed systems, control software, and complex technical environments , and who are motivated by contributing to the software infrastructure behind next-generation quantum technologies. Your responsibilities Develop new features, tests, and improvements for the quantum control system and related software components ; Contribute to the architecture and design of the control platform , integrating different functionalities into a unified framework; Design, implement, and maintain APIs and services that connect system components and internal tools; Develop and deploy microservices using Python and Docker to support scalable and modular system architecture; Collaborate closely with hardware engineers and experimental physicists to integrate software with laboratory and control systems; Contribute to the development and maintenance of CI/CD pipelines to ensure reliable and reproducible software delivery; Improve code structure, performance, and reliability to maintain production-quality software standards; Document software components and features to support maintainability and internal knowledge sharing; Continuously expand your understanding of quantum computing systems and the technologies that support them . What you bring 3+ years of experience in software development for control systems, distributed systems, embedded devices, or experimental hardware environments. Strong experience in one or more of the following areas: Microservices architecture Software architecture and distributed or real-time systems Control and automation software in physics or optics laboratories Proficiency in one or more programming languages such as Python, Rust, C++, or C . Experience designing and maintaining RESTful or gRPC APIs . Familiarity with automated testing frameworks (e.g., pytest). Experience working with Git and CI/CD pipelines . Ability to produce clear technical documentation and user guides . Master’s or PhD in Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field . Strong collaboration skills and the ability to work closely with experimental physicists and engineers . Fluent in English . Nice to have Experience working in optics or quantum physics laboratories , including software control of experimental setups (e.g., lasers, vacuum systems, atom or ion experiments). Experience with message brokers or asynchronous communication systems such as ZeroMQ, RabbitMQ, or Kafka. Familiarity with observability and monitoring tools such as Prometheus, Grafana, or Jaeger. Experience with container orchestration tools such as Docker Compose or Kubernetes. Experience with hardware-in-the-loop testing and integration with laboratory or industrial hardware. Contributions to open-source projects or personal technical software projects . Experience working in agile or Scrum-based development environments . What characterises you You are a collaborative engineer who enjoys working closely with interdisciplinary teams. You take ownership of complex technical challenges and approach them with curiosity and persistence. You are comfortable working at the interface between software and experimental hardware . You are motivated to learn about quantum technologies and advanced experimental systems . You approach problems with pragmatism and strong engineering discipline , even in fast-moving R&D environments. You communicate clearly and value knowledge sharing and constructive feedback within a team. Why join planqc At planqc, we are building scalable quantum computers based on neutral atoms, one of the most promising approaches to realizing practical quantum advantage. Achieving this requires a team that combines deep expertise in quantum physics, engineering, software development, and business operations , working closely together to solve some of the most challenging problems in modern computing. Joining planqc means becoming part of a highly collaborative and interdisciplinary team where researchers and engineers work side by side to turn cutting-edge ideas into real technology. You will have the opportunity to take real ownership of your work , contribute to critical systems, and see your solutions directly impact the development of next-generation quantum computers. We aim to create an environment where people can grow, stay curious, and do their best work . This includes supporting professional development through trainings, conferences, and learning opportunities , offering health and wellbeing benefits , and providing the flexibility needed to balance focused work with personal life. As a growing deep-tech company, we also offer the chance to take on responsibility early and help shape both our technology and our culture . We believe that building breakthrough technology requires curiosity, openness, and strong collaboration and we are looking for people who are excited to grow with us while shaping the future of computing. If you’re excited about building software systems that operate cutting-edge quantum hardware , we’d love to hear from you. About us planqc builds neutral-atom quantum computers based on arrays of optically trapped atoms controlled with high-precision laser systems. Our platform combines technologies from optical lattice clocks, quantum gas microscopes and fast Rydberg gates into a scalable computing architecture. Founded in 2022 as a spin-off from MPQ and LMU Munich, we translate more than a decade of AMO research into deployable quantum systems. Our work spans vacuum and laser hardware, control electronics, firmware, system software and algorithm integration. We focus on turning complex experimental setups into stable, reproducible systems that operate in real computing environments. Behind this technology is a team that pushes technical boundaries, values open exchange and shared ownership. Physicists, engineers, software developers and business specialists work closely together, often across disciplinary limits. We believe progress comes from combining deep expertise with practical engineering and from giving people the responsibility and trust to shape their domain. As we grow across our locations in Garching, Ulm and Innsbruck, we continue to build an environment we continue to build a company where people take ownership, learn from each other, and directly shape the systems we bring into operation. #J-18808-Ljbffr The American Physical Society