STEM OPT Photonics Engineer Jobs

INTRODUCTION

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

PsiQuantum is seeking a Senior High-Speed Photonics Engineer to help develop active components and circuits for the world’s first fault-tolerant quantum computer. The candidate will independently own the design, modeling, testing, and data analysis of active photonic devices and circuits. The Senior Active Photonics Engineer will collaborate closely with teams across PsiQuantum—including electronics, manufacturing, test, packaging, and system validation—to achieve these goals. A successful candidate is expected to have hands-on experience and knowledge in active photonic technologies such as electro-optic phase shifters, switches, modulators, and related components.

Responsibilities

- Design, simulate, and optimize novel integrated photonic devices and photonic integrated circuits for quantum computing.
- Take a leading role in photonic tapeouts, including hands-on layout, DOE and circuit design, planning, and interfacing with stakeholders (e.g., packaging teams or electronic driver designers).
- Collaborate with our dedicated test team to
- Plan and execute automated high-volume tests
- Develop new test methods when needed
- Work with assembly test engineers to help plan and execute assembly-level characterization.
- Analyze measurement data and interpret analysis results to understand and improve components and circuits.
- Develop and implement new analysis methods as necessary.
- Collaborate with photonic engineers, test engineers, materials scientists, electronic engineers, process engineers, and packaging engineers to build and characterize high-performance photonic chips and assemblies.
- Mentor junior staff members.

EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS

- MS or PhD in electrical engineering, applied physics, optical engineering, or related discipline.
- Minimum 3+ years of industrial experience (this does not include academic experience) in integrated photonics technologies, including
- Deep expertise in integrated photonic devices—including both passive and active components—with a strong focus on electro-optic phase shifters and modulators (e.g., in thin-film lithium niobate, BTO, doped silicon, or III-V materials such as InP, GaAs, AlGaAs, InGaAsP); experience with high-speed operation (10 GHz bandwidth and beyond) is a strong plus
- Experience in the design and modeling of photonic and electro-optic components using industry-standard tools such as Ansys Lumerical, Tidy3D, COMSOL Multi-physics, Meep, etc.
- Knowledge in modeling of photonic circuits (e.g using Lumerical Interconnect or SAX) is a plus.
- Knowledge RF concepts, signal integrity and experience with simulation tools such as HFSS and ADS is a plus.
- Experience leading photonic tapeouts and understanding of the foundry process.
- Photonic layout experience (using e.g. IPKISS, GDSFactory, etc.)
- Understanding or hands-on experience with photonic packaging is a plus.
- Understanding of photonic-electronic interfaces (drivers, TIAs, etc.) is a plus.
- This role does not involve hands-on experimental work, but it does require deep expertise in the characterization of integrated passive and active photonic components. Familiarity with high-speed characterization techniques—such as S-parameter measurements and large-signal time-domain analysis of active photonic devices—is a strong plus.
- Proficient in programming language such as Python and Matlab.
- Strong data analysis skills, including visualization and making data-driven design decisions.
- Collaborative in a multi-disciplinary startup environment.
- Ability to work independently with limited direction.
- Experience in project planning and management.
- Proven team player with an ability to work with local and remote team members.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills with an ability to communicate effectively to various audiences.
- Strong critical thinking, creative, innovative, analytical, and detail-oriented problem-solving skills.

[We are open to adjusting the compensation to experience level]

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 recruiting@psiquantum.com. 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 $150,000—$185,000 USD
Bay Area Pay Range $170,000—$202,000 USD