Researcher in Quantum Communications

Quantum Flagship; Châtillon; Sur place; EUR 45 000 - 70 000; Plein temps

Avantages offerts par ce poste

Participate in innovative projects

Work in a multicultural environment

Contribute to European quantum communication infrastructure

Résumé du poste

A leading technology company in Châtillon is looking for a researcher to advance quantum communication technologies. Your role will involve analyzing and validating quantum cryptography systems, collaborating with academic and industrial partners, and supervising research personnel. A PhD in experimental quantum physics is required, along with strong skills in optics and networking IT. This position offers a chance to work in a multicultural environment at the forefront of innovation.

Qualifications

• Dynamic, highly motivated with significant experience in quantum communication.
• Good knowledge of Linux server and cybersecurity.

Responsabilités

• Analyze, design, and validate quantum cryptography systems.
• Collaborate with academic and industrial partners.
• Supervise PhD students, postdocs, or interns.

Connaissances

Experimental research experience in quantum optics

Strong skills in optics and photonics

Knowledge of classical networking IT

Formation

PhD in experimental quantum physics

Description du poste

As part of Orange, an international telecommunications operator, your mission will be to continue research and development activities aimed at strengthening the security of tomorrow’s networks using quantum technologies. Field trials carried out in 2022 demonstrated the possibility of integrating quantum communication technology into our existing networks, and with the commercial launch of the Orange Quantum Defender service in 2025, you will contribute to advancing this promising innovation.

Main responsibilities:

• Analyze, design and validate in the laboratory quantum cryptography systems such as DV‑QKD (discrete‑variable QKD), CV‑QKD (continuous‑variable QKD), entanglement‑based QKD, and other innovative protocols beyond QKD, then proceed to their field deployment — notably as part of the ParisRegionQCI quantum network.
• Specify these devices and provide technical and scientific support during operational deployments, in collaboration with the teams responsible for Orange’s network deployments.
• Contribute to studying the physical and software layers of these systems for integration into real environments.
• Collaborate with academic laboratories, innovative startups and industrial partners to study and develop key components for quantum networks, especially quantum memories.

Examples of expected contributions:

• Propose and experimentally validate entanglement‑based QKD architectures, new quantum communication algorithms, and proofs‑of‑concept using quantum memories for future operational deployments.
• Work with the French academic quantum communications ecosystem (LIP6, LKB, Télécom Paris, IOGS) and European academic partners (e.g., ICFO, AIT, UM, DTU) through European projects.
• Present results internally and externally; publish in international journals and conferences (peer‑reviewed journals such as AIP, APS, Optica …) and attend key conferences (QCrypt, EQCT, …).
• Participate in European projects such as the Quantum Secure Networks Partnership (QSNP). You may also be asked to manage partnership research contracts.
• Supervise PhD students, postdocs or interns.

Your profile

Required professional skills:

• You hold a PhD (internationally recognized) or an equivalent diploma in a field related to experimental quantum physics.
• You are dynamic and highly motivated, with significant experimental research experience in quantum optics and quantum information.
• Strong skills in optics and photonics applied to fiber and/or free‑space quantum communication systems.
• Good knowledge of classical networking IT (VPN, Linux server, cloud, cybersecurity).

What the offer brings

• Join a team of motivated researchers and engineers specialized in optical communications, security, and theoretical and experimental quantum physics. The arrival of a PhD student in 2025 and a postdoc in 2026 will further strengthen the team
• Participate in innovative projects linked to building a European quantum communication infrastructure where telecom operators play a key role.
• Work at the convergence of fundamental research, technological innovation and operational deployment.
• Operate in a highly international and multicultural environment, interacting with leading French and European scientists in quantum communications.

Entity / Context

Orange has been experimenting since 2022 on its Paris fiber network with encrypted services using quantum keys provided by DV‑QKD and CV‑QKD systems. These field trials demonstrated the feasibility of integrating quantum communication technology into existing networks. Within this context, Orange Innovation is strengthening its teams to address the future challenges of quantum networks based on entanglement and quantum memories. The Data & AI direction at Orange Innovation aims to make Orange a data‑ and AI‑driven company and to define Group standards in Data & AI, while studying the potential impacts of quantum technologies on Orange’s operator business. The MORE team centralizes advanced expertise across scientific domains including applied mathematics, operations research and optimization, and quantum technologies supported by several research engineers specializing in optical communications, security, theoretical quantum physics and experimentation. Several team members actively contribute to flagship projects such as FranceQCI, QSNP and ParisRegionQCI.

How to apply

Please apply directly through Orange Jobs at https://orange.jobs/jobs/v3/offers/151045?lang=fr