PIC Characterization Engineer

PIC Characterization Engineer

Palo Alto, California, United States

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:

• Lead characterization and validation of advanced integrated photonic systems for next-generation optical interconnects.
• Support photonic sub-assembly bring-up, system testing, calibration, and performance analysis from prototype through product maturation.
• Develop scalable automated test methodologies for active photonic devices and electro-photonic systems.
• Collaborate closely with photonic designers, electronics, packaging, firmware, and manufacturing teams to enable rapid development cycles.

Responsibilities:

• Perform optical and electro-photonic characterization of PICs and photonic sub-assemblies.
• Develop automated test frameworks for validation, calibration, and data collection.
• Characterize active photonic devices including switches, modulators, heaters, and monitor photodiodes.
• Analyze metrics including insertion loss, crosstalk, switching speed, bandwidth, and power consumption.
• Work with photonic designers to correlate silicon results with simulations and improve designs.
• Support hardware bring-up, debugging, and failure analysis.
• Document test procedures and summarize technical results for cross-functional teams.

Experience/Qualifications:

• Ph.D. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Photonics, or related field.
• 3+ years of experience in photonic characterization or integrated photonics development.
• Hands-on experience with optical lab equipment such as tunable lasers, OSAs, power meters, scopes, and probe stations.
• Experience characterizing active photonic and electro-photonic systems.
• Strong test automation and data analysis skills using Python.
• Familiarity with calibration methods, thermal tuning, and photonic control systems.
• Strong debugging and cross-functional collaboration skills.

PsiQuantum provides equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. PsiQuantum does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable laws.

Note: PsiQuantum will only reach out to you using an official PsiQuantum email address and will never ask you for bank account information as part of the interview process. Please report any suspicious activity to View email address on click.appcast.io.

We are not accepting unsolicited resumes from employment agencies.

The ranges below reflect the target ranges for a new hire base salary. One is for the Bay Area (within 50 miles of HQ, Palo Alto), the second one (if applicable) is for elsewhere in the US (beyond 50 miles of HQ, Palo Alto). If there is only one range, it is for the specific location of where the position will be located. Actual compensation may vary outside of these ranges and is dependent on various factors including but not limited to a candidate's qualifications including relevant education and training, competencies, experience, geographic location, and business needs. Base pay is only one part of the total compensation package. Full time roles are eligible for equity and benefits. Base pay is subject to change and may be modified in the future.

U.S. Base Pay Range

$110,000 - $145,000 USD

Bay Area Pay Range

$152,000 - $175,000 USD