Research and Development Engineer
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: Fault tolerant Quantum Computing is a transformative technology, central to which is the development of single-photon and photon-number resolving detectors. We are seeking individuals with deep expertise in understanding, characterizing and designing superconducting thin films. The applicant will use their expertise of superconducting thin films to perform analysis, plan experiments, and collaborate between fabrication, characterization, and modeling teams to demonstrate high efficiency photon detectors.
Requirements
- Demonstrated ability to systematically and rigorously analyze data from thin-film characterization techniques, and to perform integrated analysis that connects thin-film materials data with superconducting device performance data.
- A strong foundation in condensed matter physics. Familiarity with Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer (BCS) theory and/or Ginzburg–Landau (GL) theory is highly desirable, particularly to enable effective collaboration with superconducting theorists.
- Some hands-on experience with characterization techniques such as Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (EELS), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and cryogenic Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (cryo-STM) would be extremely valuable, particularly in working closely with metrology teams.
- Experience in superconducting thin-film growth using Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD), Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE), or related techniques, with the ability to collaborate effectively with fabrication (Fab) teams to inform process optimization and materials development.
Responsibilities
- Performing data analysis at scale using models involving microscopic superconductivity.
- Implementing scalable analysis methods for large-scale deployment.
- Planning, co-ordinating and executing experiments to diagnose the properties of films, to understand device physics and optimize fabrication processes.
- Designing superconducting single-photon detectors using comprehensive electrothermal models.
- Collaborating with theoretical, numerical and data infrastructure personnel to optimize detector performance.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
Number of Employees
251-500 employees
