Senior Quantum Engineer, Photonics

Vsquared; Espoo; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

IQM is building world‑leading quantum computers and seeks a researcher to develop and operate an experimental platform at dilution refrigerator temperatures. You will advance optical interconnects between room temperature electronics and cryogenic quantum hardware, contributing to qubit control and readout performance.

You will design, run and analyze experiments, troubleshoot issues, and collaborate with partners to shape the control stack and grant projects.

Qualifications

• PhD required in a relevant field.
• At least five years of relevant academic or industrial experience in electronics, photonics or quantum computing.
• Ability to independently set up, troubleshoot, run and document experiments, including operating a dilution refrigerator.

Responsibilities

• Build and develop an experimental platform for superconducting quantum computing with optical communication links.
• Design and run experiments in a dilution refrigerator, including optical signal paths and sample mounting, and automate measurements.
• Characterize optical and cryogenic electronic components, including cryogenic photodiodes, lasers and modulators.
• Develop experiments to demonstrate and characterize single and two qubit gates and qubit readout using optical interconnects.
• Simulate and analyze gate fidelities, noise, drift, and dissipation to identify limitations and explore improvements.
• Evaluate technology options and scalability requirements for the quantum computer control stack and signal path.
• Document results and communicate findings to colleagues, technical decision makers, and external research partners.
• Own technical contributions to grant projects, including reporting, proposals and coordination with partner companies and institutes.

Skills

Python

RF/Microwave testing

Cryogenic electronics

Education

PhD in applied physics or related field

Tools

Network analyzers

Pulse generators

Cryogenic photodiodes

Job description

At IQM, we build world-leading quantum computers for the well-being of humankind. We design systems to tackle computational challenges beyond the practical limits of classical machines. Our work sits at the edge of science and engineering. It's complex, demanding, and deeply collaborative. We turn deep research into reliable, full-stack systems that drive discoveries in fields like medicine, energy, and technology, reshaping how the world computes.

Join the team that gives quantum a heartbeat.

The work

You will help develop optical communication links between room temperature electronics and cryogenic quantum hardware, exploring how photonics can support the scaling of superconducting quantum computers.

Your main focus will be building and running an experimental platform in a dilution refrigerator. You will characterisze devices, investigate noise and evaluate how optical interconnects affect qubit control, readout and gate fidelity. Working closely with the Team Lead and research partners, you will contribute to technical decisions about our future control stack.

What you’ll actually do

• Build and develop an experimental platform for superconducting quantum computing with optical communication links.

• Design and run experiments in a dilution refrigerator, including optical signal paths, swapping and mounting samples, optimizing RF and microwave environment with heat conductivity and dissipation budget in mind, and automate measurements.

• Characterize optical and cryogenic electronic components, including cryogenic photodiodes, lasers and modulators.

• Develop experiments to demonstrate and characterize single and two qubit gates and qubit readout using optical interconnects.

• Simulate and analyze gate fidelities, noise, drift, and dissipation to identify limitations and explore ways to improve performance.

• Evaluate technology options and scalability requirements for the quantum computer control stack and signal path.

• Document results and communicate findings to colleagues, technical decision makers, and external research partners.

• Own technical contributions to grant projects, including reporting, proposals and coordination with partner companies and institutes.

What we’re looking for

• A PhD in applied physics, electrical engineering or a related field.

• At least five years of relevant academic or industrial experience in electronics, photonics or quantum computing.

• Practical experience running quantum related or active electronics experiments in a dilution refrigerator.

• The ability to independently set up, troubleshoot, run and document experiments, including operating a dilution refrigerator and installing samples.

• Experience with RF and microwave measurement equipment, such as network analyzers and pulse generators.

• Python skills for scientific programming, measurement automation and data analysis.

• Understanding of analogue and digital electronics, including noise, drift, signal to noise ratio and bandwidth.

• Clear written and spoken English, with the ability to explain technical findings and coordinate work across internal and external stakeholders

Seen as an advantage :

• Experience with superconducting qubits, circuit quantum electrodynamics, qubit control or readout.

• Experience with photonics, optical interconnects or microwave photonics.

• Experience characterizing cryogenic photodiodes, cryo-CMOS devices or other cryogenic electronic components.

• Familiarity with EXA or similar tools for QPU experiments.

• Experience contributing to research grants, collaborative projects or technical proposals.

Why IQM?

• Full-stack quantum computing: From quantum hardware to software layers and beyond, we build across the full-stack.

• High-performance playground: We aim high, and we know sustainable performance only works when life outside work does too—hybrid setups, flexible hours.

• Never the smartest: You won’t always be the smartest person in the room. Neither will we. Expect to learn constantly - from each other and beyond with IQM’s Learning Hub, LinkedIn Learning, and a team-based L&D budget.

• Approachable leadership: Flat hierarchy, direct access. Feel free to approach any leaders. They're friendlier than they look!

• The sweet spot: Big enough to matter. Small enough to move fast. Growing between a startup and a corporation. We’re in the phase where top performers get noticed.

• Bigger than IQM: Our people build know-how for the entire quantum ecosystem. We publish papers, run hackathons, and help shape a market that's still being defined.

The future of computing won’t build itself. You might be one of the few who do.

• Meet our people and learn more about IQM on our stories page.

• Explore our scientific publications.

600M€+ Total Funding | 400+ Team Members | 30+ Quantum Computers Built | 300+ Patents Filed | 10 Location Globally