Experimental Physics Intern M/F

Entangled Future; Aubervilliers; Hybrid; EUR 11,000 - 13,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Transport subsidy

Meal vouchers (Swile)

Fully equipped kitchen

Job summary

Aubervilliers-based internship in experimental physics within the Alice & Bob team. You will contribute to extending broadband flux noise sensing by setting up and operating a cryogenic experiment and collaborating with quantum engineers.

The role emphasizes hands-on laboratory work, design of cryogenic RF measurement chains, and development of Python-based control and analysis software. This is a full-time six-month internship in a dynamic quantum computing startup.

Qualifications

• Proficiency in English is required.
• Prior lab or project experience in RF/microwave measurements or low-temperature physics preferred.
• Solid understanding of magnetic fields, flux and electromagnetic coupling required.
• Familiarity with noise characterization and spectral analysis is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and set up the flux noise measurement experiment.
• Design and assemble the cryogenic and RF measurement chain (wiring, filtering, amplification, instrumentation).
• Implement and document the measurement and control software in Python.
• Characterise flux noise measurement chips.
• Calibrate the flux-tunable resonators (frequency vs. flux, operating point, PDH lock parameters).
• Measure the flux noise power spectral density and extract the relevant metrics.
• Analyse the limitations to broadband operation.
• Model and measure the feedback loop bandwidth, latencies and noise contributions of the readout chain.
• Identify the dominant physical and instrumental limits across the frequency band.
• Propose and test solutions to extend the measurement bandwidth.
• Evaluate alternative locking, readout or analysis schemes.
• Implement and validate the most promising approaches experimentally.
• Report and share results.
• Document experiments, analyses and conclusions in the team's internal tools.
• Present progress and findings to the HERMES team

Skills

English proficiency

Lab experience

RF/microwave measurements

Low-temperature physics

Autonomy & problem-solving

Tools

Python

Cryogenics equipment

Cryostat

RF measurement instruments

Job description

Experimental Physics Intern M/F at Alice & Bob, Aubervilliers. A intern-level full time position in the Control Electronics & Characterization team, listed under software engineering.

We're a diverse team of 250+ brilliant minds from over 35 countries united by a single goal: to revolutionise computing with a practical fault-tolerant quantum machine. Are you ready to take on unprecedented challenges and contribute to revolutionising technology? Join us, and let's shape the future of quantum computing together!

Purpose of the role

In a context where magnetic flux noise directly limits the coherence of superconducting quantum circuits, Alice & Bob uses flux-tunable resonator chips as local probes of the electromagnetic environment seen by its quantum processors. The current measurement relies on a Pound-Drever-Hall (PDH) lock whose feedback loop bandwidth restricts the sensing to a narrow frequency band.

The Experimental Physics Intern, Broadband Flux Noise Sensing contributes to extending this capability to a broad frequency band by setting up and operating a cryogenic experiment to characterise these chips, identifying the limitations to broadband operation, and proposing and testing ways to overcome them.

Reporting to the Team Lead, HERMES, they will work closely with the quantum and RF characterisation engineers of the HERMES team to deliver a validated broadband flux noise sensing method.

The internship starts between January and March 2027 and lasts 6 months!

- Half of transportation cost coverage (as per French law)

- Meal vouchers with Swile, as well as access to a fully equipped and regularly stocked kitchen

Research shows that women might feel hesitant to apply for this job if they don't match 100% of the job requirements listed. This list is a guide, and we'd love to receive your application even if you think you're only a partial match. We are looking to build teams that innovate, not just tick boxes on a job spec.

You will join of one of the most innovative startups in France at an early stage, to be part of a passionate and friendly team on its mission to build the first universal quantum computer!

Responsibilities

• Develop and set up the flux noise measurement experiment
• Design and assemble the cryogenic and RF measurement chain (wiring, filtering, amplification, instrumentation)
• Implement and document the measurement and control software in Python
• Characterise flux noise measurement chips
• Calibrate the flux-tunable resonators (frequency vs. flux, operating point, PDH lock parameters)
• Measure the flux noise power spectral density and extract the relevant metrics
• Analyse the limitations to broadband operation
• Model and measure the feedback loop bandwidth, latencies and noise contributions of the readout chain
• Identify the dominant physical and instrumental limits across the frequency band
• Propose and test solutions to extend the measurement bandwidth
• Evaluate alternative locking, readout or analysis schemes
• Implement and validate the most promising approaches experimentally
• Report and share results
• Document experiments, analyses and conclusions in the team's internal tools
• Present progress and findings to the HERMES team

Requirements

• LANGUAGES: Proficient in English
• EXPERIENCE: Prior lab or project experience in RF/microwave measurements or low-temperature physics; experience with cryostats or superconducting quantum circuits is a plus
• Solid understanding of magnetic fields, flux and electromagnetic coupling
• Knowledge of microwave engineering: waveguides, resonators, transmission lines, S-parameters
• Proficiency in Python for instrument control, data acquisition and analysis
• Understanding of feedback and control loops (gain, bandwidth, latency, stability)
• Familiarity with noise characterisation and spectral analysis (power spectral density)
• Hands-on experimental skills: assembling and debugging measurement setups
• Rigour in documenting experiments and analysing results
• Autonomy, curiosity and a problem-solving mindset