Senior Embedded Software Engineer

Airbus Ventures; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Q-CTRL is seeking an Embedded Software Engineer to develop firmware for quantum sensing and navigation systems. You’ll build applications for SoC platforms, addressing real-time data acquisition, signal processing, and hardware/FPGA interfaces in collaboration with researchers.

The role involves cross-functional collaboration with scientists and engineers to advance quantum sensing technologies for defence and aerospace, with field trials and hardware-in-the-loop testing as part of the work.

Qualifications

• Experience in a research environment collaborating with engineering teams.
• Algorithm development for control systems and autonomous sensor operation.
• Proficient in C, C++, or Rust.
• Experience with Verilog or VHDL.
• Experience creating embedded Linux distributions with Buildroot/Yocto/Petalinux.
• Experience RTOS for microcontroller firmware.
• Exposure to FPGA interfacing (JESD204, AXI).
• Preference for candidates with aircraft qualification/deployment experience.

Responsibilities

• Own the development, integration, and support of embedded systems for Q-CTRL’s quantum sensing magnetometry controller targeting AMD SoC Platforms.
• Responsible for the design, implementation, and testing of control, sensing, and data acquisition firmware needed to autonomously operate next generation quantum sensors.
• Work in cross-functional teams of scientists and engineers to solve novel issues in research & development and product-focused environments.
• Contribute to the success of field trials with industry partners.
• Create test and simulation setups including hardware-in-the-loop test fixtures.

Skills

C

C++

Rust

RTOS

Tools

Verilog

VHDL

Buildroot

Yocto

Petalinux

JESD204

AXI

Job description

About the team

Q-CTRL’s Quantum Sensing Research team performs basic and applied research in quantum sensing and quantum-enabled navigation. It is a highly dynamic team comprising approximately 30 specialists in theoretical and experimental atomic physics, cold-atom interferometry, navigation modeling, and modern Bayesian estimation and signal processing techniques.

The Quantum Sensing Research and Quantum Sensing R&D teams work closely together, translating novel quantum sensing research into a useful capability and product. We are focussed on pushing the boundary of what is possible in quantum sensing and ensuring our R&D has real-world impact.

About the role

We are seeking an Embedded Software Engineer to develop firmware for our control, sensing, and actuation systems that automate the operation of our quantum sensors. You’ll primarily be developing new applications for our SoC platforms based on requirements developed in collaboration with our research scientists to assist scientific advancement and to demonstrate our technology in the field. Our firmware is characterised by real-time constraints, data acquisition, signal processing, sequence execution, network communication, and hardware/FPGA interfacing.

You will join a growing team focused on quantum sensing for defence and aerospace, and work with experts in fields such as magnetometry, and inertial navigation to develop state-of-the-art technology.

What you'll be doing:

• Own the development, integration, and support of embedded systems employed in Q-CTRL’s quantum sensing magnetometry controller targeting AMD SoC Platforms
• Responsible for the design, implementation, and testing of control, sensing, and data acquisition firmware needed to autonomously operate next generation quantum sensors.
• Work in cross-functional teams of scientists and engineers to solve novel issues in research & development and product-focused environments.
• Contribute to the success of field trials with industry partners
• Create test and simulation setups including hardware-in-the-loop test fixtures.

Ideally you'll have:

• Experience working in a research environment whilst collaborating with established engineering teams and research scientists.
• Experience in algorithm development for control systems and autonomous sensor operation.
• Proficiency with a systems programming language such as C, C++, or Rust.
• Experience with a hardware description language (Verilog/VHDL)
• Experience creating embedded linux distributions using tools such as Buildroot, Yocto, or Petalinux.
• Experience using an RTOS to develop microcontroller firmware.
• Desirable to have worked on embedded systems involving interfacing with FPGAs such as JESD204 and AXI interfaces.
• Preference will be given to candidates with experience qualifying or deploying systems for use in aircraft.

About Q-CTRL

Q-CTRL is the global leader in AI-powered quantum control infrastructure software. We build the tools that make quantum technology useful, solving the hardest challenges in quantum computing and quantum sensing to deliver real-world impact.

Founded in 2017, we operate globally with offices in Sydney, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Huntsville, Berlin, and Oxford. Our teams bring together technical and multi-disciplinary expertise across the product lifecycle, and we’re hiring talent to help scale every part of the business. We work quickly to turn cutting-edge science into deployable technology.

In 2024 we raised US$113 million in Series B funding, the largest aggregate investment for a quantum software company. Six months later we delivered the first commercial quantum advantage with Ironstone Opal, our field-validated quantum navigation solution for defense and industry.

At Q-CTRL, we prioritize outcomes over hours. We offer flexibility, equity potential, and competitive benefits that reflect our high-performance culture. If you’re ready to help shape the future of quantum, we’d love to hear from you!

Please be advised that our communications will only come from the @q-ctrl.comdomain. All our active job postings are available on ourcompany website.

To recruitment agencies, we do not accept unsolicited branded profiles and are not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.