Senior Experimental AMO Physicist

planqc; München; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working hours

Betriebliche Altersvorsorge

Health Days

Job bike

Conferences & training

Relocation & visa support

Multiple locations

Team events

Job summary

planqc is seeking a senior experimental AMO physicist in Germany to lead architectural decisions for our neutral-atom quantum processing unit. You will design, build, and optimize state-of-the-art quantum hardware while mentoring colleagues and guiding cross-disciplinary teams.

With a PhD and 5+ years in experimental AMO, you will drive noise analysis, system characterization, and performance improvements, staying at the frontier of AMO physics and quantum information science.

Qualifications

• PhD in experimental AMO physics or a closely related field with 5+ years of postdoctoral or industry experience.
• Proven track record independently designing, building, and improving complex neutral-atom systems.
• Hands-on experience in optical tweezer arrays / optical lattices, Rydberg atoms, or related AMO areas.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, characterize, and optimize state-of-the-art neutral-atom quantum computers.
• Develop and execute measuring campaigns on the quantum processor and monitor performance.
• Diagnose sources of noise, decoherence, and infidelity; implement mitigation strategies.
• Analyze experimental data to extract insights and guide improvements.
• Stay current with advances in AMO physics and quantum information science.

Skills

AMO physics

Experimental design

Mentoring

Grant writing

Noise analysis

Education

PhD in experimental AMO physics or related field

Tools

None

Job description

Your mission

At planqc, we are building scalable quantum computers based on neutral atoms - one of the most promising platforms for achieving useful, fault-tolerant quantum computation. This role is made for experimental AMO physicists who want to build state-of-the-art quantum computers.

For this senior role, we expect the independence to drive architectural decisions on the quantum processing unit, and the experience to set technical direction for others and mentoring colleagues along the way.

You will bring your deep AMO expertise and several years of hands-on experience to the design, construction, characterization, and continuous improvement of our neutral-atom quantum processing unit.

You will be part of a large, diverse team, working shoulder to shoulder with hardware engineers, software developers, electronics specialists, and quantum algorithm researchers.

Your responsibilities

• Design, build, characterize, and optimize state-of-the-art neutral-atom quantum computers
• Develop and execute measuring campaigns on the quantum processor, track system performance, and maintain stable operating conditions
• Investigate sources of noise, decoherence, and infidelity: systematically diagnose the limiting factors, propose and implement mitigation strategies
• Analyze experimental data rigorously to extract physical insight and guide system improvements
• Stay current with advances in AMO physics and quantum information science and bring relevant developments into the team's work
• Drive system architecture decisions with physics-grounded input, shaping the technical developments at a senior level

What you bring

• PhD in experimental AMO physics or a closely related field, with 5+ years of postdoctoral or industry experience
• Proven track record of independently designing, building, and improving complex experimental neutral atom systems
• You have deep hands-on-experience in one or more of the following research areas:
  • Optical tweezer arrays / optical lattices
  • Rydberg atoms
  • Two-valence-electron atoms
  • Atomic clocks or atomic interferometers
  • Quantum gates and quantum computation with atoms
• Experience in mentoring and training scientists or engineers
• Experience writing grant proposals and project reports is an asset

What characterizes you

• You are passionate about pushing the frontiers of experimental AMO physics
• You take ownership and drive complex physical systems forward independently
• You are rigorous and detail-oriented, and enjoy systematically diagnosing sources of noise and error
• You thrive in a collaborative, interdisciplinary team environment
• You are motivated by turning fundamental physics into real, working quantum hardware

Why join planqc

At planqc, you will work on one of the most promising quantum computing architectures alongside a highly driven and collaborative team spanning physics, engineering, and software.

We combine deep-tech research with an engineering mindset, turning scientific breakthroughs into scalable quantum systems.

Joining Us Means

• Working on cutting-edge neutral atom quantum hardware
• Taking ownership of quantum systems from day one
• Collaborating with an exceptional, international team across disciplines
• Contributing to a fast-growing quantum startup at a pivotal stage

Benefits at planqc

• Flexible working. Flexible hours and hybrid work where the role allows.
• Company pension. Betriebliche Altersvorsorge with an employer contribution.
• Health and fitness. EGYM Wellpass for gyms, pools and studios, plus regular Health Days.
• Job bike. Lease a bike through planqc.
• Learning and development. Trainings and conference participation, including international conferences. Plus regular internal learning sessions where colleagues share their knowledge.
• Relocation and visa support. Practical support for international hires and their move to Germany or Austria.
• Four locations. Headquarters in Garching, an office in central Munich, plus sites in Ulm and Innsbruck.
• Team culture. Regular team and company events throughout the year, from after work socials to our summer and Christmas parties.

About Us

planqc builds neutral-atom quantum computers based on arrays of optically trapped atoms controlled with high-precision laser systems. Our platform combines technologies from optical lattice clocks, quantum gas microscopes and fast Rydberg gates into a scalable computing architecture.

Founded in 2022 as a spin-off from MPQ and LMU Munich, we translate more than a decade of AMO research into deployable quantum systems. Our work spans vacuum and laser hardware, control electronics, firmware, system software and algorithm integration. We focus on turning complex experimental setups into stable, reproducible systems that operate in real computing environments.

Behind this technology is a team that pushes technical boundaries, values open exchange and shared ownership. Physicists, engineers, software developers and business specialists work closely together, often across disciplinary limits. We believe progress comes from combining deep expertise with practical engineering and from giving people the responsibility and trust to shape their domain.

As we grow across our locations in Garching, Ulm, and Innsbruck, we continue to build a company where people take ownership, learn from each other, and directly shape the systems we bring into operation.