QA Engineer – Quantum Computing (m/w/d)

eleQtron GmbH; Hamburg; Hybrid; EUR 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Flexible working hours

Team events

Needs-based training

Wellness package

Job summary

eleQtron GmbH in Hamburg (Germany) is seeking a QA Engineer to own quality across the software platform, from compilation services to operator interfaces. This is a build-from-scratch role with responsibility for defining testing strategy and developing automation directly in code.

You will collaborate with backend, platform, and hardware teams to ensure robust test coverage, while designing risk-based concepts and contributing to a strong quality culture across the engineering organization.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in software quality assurance with ownership of test strategy.
• Ability to design test concepts for unfamiliar systems.
• Proficiency in Python to build automation.
• Hands-on experience with pytest, Playwright, Selenium.
• Strong grounding in test design, API testing, and the test pyramid.
• Generalist, tool-agnostic mindset with fast learning.
• Ability to collaborate with experimental physicists and engineers.
• Strong English proficiency.

Responsibilities

• Define testing approach end-to-end for the platform and why.
• Write test concepts from scratch — risk-based, covering unit, integration, system, and end-to-end levels, and turn them into running automation.
• Build and own our test automation frameworks in code, integrated into CI/CD pipelines.
• Do the exploratory and manual testing that automation can’t cover, and know where that line sits.
• Establish quality gates, coverage expectations, and clear bug-reporting practices the whole team can work with.
• Work closely with backend, platform, and hardware teams to test at the boundaries where software meets the machine.
• Raise the testing literacy of the engineering team, so quality is a shared habit.

Skills

Test strategy ownership

Test concept design

Python programming

Automation development

CI/CD integration

Manual & exploratory testing

Quality assurance fundamentals

Collaborative teamwork

English language skills

Tools

pytest

Playwright

Selenium

CI/CD tooling

Job description

eleQtron develops and operates full-stack quantum computers based on trapped-ion technology. Quantum computing is a new computing paradigm rapidly approaching commercial viability. Our unique approach combines laser-cooled trapped ions with microwave control and tailored magnetic fields. Our next-generation computing machines under development will be able to find solutions to problems that are out of reach today, thus enabling new innovative products and services for a brighter future.

We are looking for a QA Engineer (m/f/d) to join us in Hamburg or Siegen.

You will take ownership of quality across our software platform, from compilation services and the public API to the interfaces used by our operators and customers.

This is a build-from-scratch role: there is no ready-made test suite waiting for you, and no expensive tool that does the thinking for you. You define what good testing looks like here, and then you build it.

You are as comfortable writing a test strategy on a blank page as you are writing the automation that implements it in code.

Responsibilities:

Own the testing approach for our platform end-to-end: define what to test, at which level, and why

Write test concepts from scratch — risk-based, covering unit, integration, system, and end-to-end levels, and turn them into running, maintained automation

Build and own our test automation frameworks in code, integrated directly into our CI/CD pipelines, using your defined tooling

Do the exploratory and manual testing that automation can’t cover, and know where that line sits

Establish quality gates, coverage expectations, and clear bug-reporting practices the whole team can work with

Work closely with backend, platform, and hardware teams to test at the boundaries where software meets the machine

Raise the testing literacy of the engineering team, so quality is a shared habit rather than a gate at the end

Required Skills:

3+ years in software quality assurance, with real ownership of test strategy, not only executing predefined test scripts

Ability to design a test concept for an unfamiliar system: choosing the right test levels, techniques, and priorities from first principles

Confident programming ability (Python preferred), enough to build and maintain automation yourself rather than depend on record-and-playback tools

Hands-on experience with open-source testing frameworks (e.g. pytest, Playwright, Selenium) and integrating tests into CI/CD

Solid grounding in testing fundamentals: test design techniques, the test pyramid, API testing, and when to automate versus test manually

A generalist, tool-agnostic mindset, you pick the right approach for the problem, not the one tool you already know

Ability to collaborate effectively with experimental physicists and engineers

Strong adaptability and a quick learning mindset

Good proficiency in English (written and spoken)

Nice to have (Bonus)

Experience setting up a QA function or test strategy in an early-stage or greenfield environment

Performance, load, or security testing experience

Exposure to hardware-in-the-loop or lab/control-software testing

ISTQB certification, or an equivalent grounding in test theory you actually apply

Prior exposure to quantum computing or other deep-tech domains

What you can expect from eleQtron:

Competitive salary: We value our team members and therefore provide remuneration that reflects this, additionally rewarding achievements

Flexible working hours : We offer personal freedom through a variety of flexible work schedules

Team spirit: In our international and diverse team, and with our regular team events, having fun at work is simply part of the culture

Further development: We want to grow together, and so we offer our team members needs-based, individualised further training as well as plenty of room for personal development

Wellness Package : We offer health-promoting benefits such as fitness programs like UrbanSportsClub to support your well-being

Bike Leasing: Stay Mobile and Sustainable with Our Company Bike Leasing Program

Moving Benefits: A warm welcome! We are happy to support employees who move for us with a bonus

At the forefront : Work at the forefront of technology, where academic research meets commercial applications

Modern workplace: We have a high-quality infrastructure with laboratory space, offices and meeting rooms