Research Engineer / Scientist, Optical Control of Quantum Electronics

VTT; Espoo; On-site; EUR 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

VTT in Finland is seeking a Research Scientist/Engineer to join our Quantum Computing team. You will contribute to optical control of superconducting quantum electronics, with opportunities to work on cryogenic experiments, chip design and simulations, or cleanroom fabrication.

You will collaborate across disciplines to advance technologies toward market readiness and help translate research into impact. Strong communication in English is essential.

Qualifications

• MSc or PhD in a relevant field (e.g., applied physics).
• Ability to work across disciplines including electronics and optics.
• Strong experimental skills in cryogenic environments.

Responsibilities

• Design, simulate, fabricate, and measure superconducting quantum circuits.
• Design, simulate, fabricate, and measure photonic integrated circuits (PICs).
• Package 3D cryogenic modules with multiple device modalities (superconducting circuits, PICs, optoelectronics).
• Collaborate with national and international partners across academia and industry.
• Publish results and support IP protection.

Skills

Cryogenic experiments

Cross-disciplinary work

Python

Julia

English communication

RF engineering

Education

MSc or PhD in applied physics

Tools

Python

Julia

CAD design

Job description

Are you interested in multidisciplinary challenges in the optical control of superconducting quantum electronics? Would you like to develop innovative technology in a diverse team of colleagues who are top experts in their fields? Do you want to build an excellent science career and work at the interface of the academy and industry? Are you enthusiastic about working with fascinating projects in state‑of-the‑art research facilities? VTT might be just the place for you.

VTT is one of the leading applied research organisations in Europe. What unites us are curiosity, a passion for learning and a purpose: to solve the biggest challenges of our timeand turn them into sustainable growth and well‑being. Our cross‑disciplinary community of over 2000 brilliant minds from 55+ different nationalities focuses on creating impact through science‑based innovation. In recent years, we have created ground‑breaking innovations such as the world's fastest and most accurate radiation detector, a cancer‑sniffing sensor device for smartphones, and a headphone set entirely made of microbial materials. Get to know us further by exploring VTT's tech & infra .

We are now looking for a Research Engineer / Scientist to join our Quantum Computing team.

As a Research Scientist (Optical Control of Quantum Electronics), you will play a key role in developing our innovative and patented technology toward market readiness. Depending on your expertise and interests, your work may focus on cryogenic experiments, chip design and simulations, or cleanroom fabrication. Together with colleagues, you will integrate systems involving superconducting electronics, photonic integrated circuits (PICs), and optoelectronics. We do not expect you to be an expert in all these areas, but we do expect readiness to work outside your comfort zone, supported by a team of people with complementary expertise.

Our team, Quantum computing (in Quantum technologies), develops scalable superconducting device and integration technologies, from thin‑film and junction process modules to pilot‑ready process documentation. We collaborate with industrial and academic partners across Europe to enable reproducible, wafer‑scale fabrication of quantum chips and related components.

As Research Scientist / Engineer, you will contribute to a team that:

• Designs, simulates, fabricates, and measures superconducting quantum circuits.
• Designs, simulates, fabricates, and measures PICs.
• Packages 3D cryogenic modules containing several device modalities, including superconducting circuits, PICs, and optoelectronics. RF engineering and optical packaging are important aspects of this work.
• Performs experiments on superconducting qubits.
• Performs RF, optical, and electrothermal modelling to optimize RF performance, minimize optical losses, and improve the energy efficiency of cryogenic systems.
• Develops scalable methodology from chip design to wafer‑scale pre‑characterization to achieve reproducible performance instead of academic hero devices
• Collaborates with national and international collaborators, both academia and industry.
• Publishes results and protects intellectual property.

We are looking for a candidate with an MSc or PhD in a relevant field, such as applied physics, who can support a multidisciplinary team with some of the following skills:

• Strong experience in cryogenic experiments and technologies
• Demonstrated ability to work across disciplines, such as electronics and optics

Experience in several of the following areas:

• Design, simulations, or measurements of superconducting circuits
• Design, simulations, or measurements of photonic integrated circuits
• Superconducting qubits
• Optical measurements and optical telecom technologies
• Optoelectronics
• Precision measurements / quantum metrology
• 3D chiplet integration and/or photonic packaging
• Physics and electro‑thermal modelling of tunnel junction devices
• Ability to write scientific articles, document your work, and communicate effectively in English
• Ability to program, for example in Python and Julia

These are seen as an advantage:

• Experience in RF engineering is a plus
• Experience in CAD design of sample stages etc. is a plus
• Experience in project work; experience in project management is a plus

We do not expect any candidate to meet all these criteria, but if you think your strong expertise can support a team that collectively has these skills, we encourage you to apply.

As a person, we hope that you are:

• Ready to communicate with a team of experts in different areas
• Able to support our team with your own strong expertise
• Ready to learn new areas and work outside your comfort zone
• A proactive problem solver who supports the team with ideas
• Able to build networks with both quantum industry and academia

Interested and want to know more?

For further information, please contact Senior Scientist Antti Kemppinen, [e-mail], or [phone] on Thursday 10 September at 10:00–11:00 or Wednesday, 16 September 13:00-14:00.

VTT Location: Tietotie 3