Senior Optical Systems Engineer

Entangled Future; Massy; Hybrid; EUR 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Quandela in Massy (Île-de-France) seeks a Senior Optical Systems Engineer to own a major optical development work package within our next‑generation QPU programme. You will maximise optical transmission and system performance, from experimental characterisation to qualification and integration.

This hands‑on role combines ~80% lab work with 20% technical coordination, and offers opportunities to mentor engineers and collaborate with optics, electronics and systems teams across the company.

Qualifications

• Optimise research-developed optical subsystems for QPU integration.
• Define experimental tests, performance targets and qualification procedures.
• Collaborate with optics, electronics and system integration teams.
• Experience mentoring engineers or researchers.

Responsibilities

• Design, assemble, align and operate complex optical setups.
• Characterise optical transmission, identify losses and improve efficiency.
• Define measurement methods and improve stability and reproducibility.
• Troubleshoot experimental challenges and implement reliable solutions.
• Own technical deliverables within a major optical development project.
• Coordinate experimental activities across engineers and scientists.
• Plan tasks, milestones, equipment and laboratory resources.
• Anticipate technical risks, resolve blockers and guide contributors.

Skills

Optical design

Experimental methods

System integration

Mentoring

Job description

Senior Optical Systems Engineer at Quandela, Massy, Île-de-France, France. A senior-level full time position in the Engineering team, listed under hardware engineering.

About this position

You will join the QPU Prototyping team , which develops and integrates the optical systems at the heart of Quandela's quantum processors, turning advanced R&D experiments into operational hardware. We are looking for a Senior Optical Systems Engineer to take ownership of a major optical development work package within our next-generation QPU programme. Your main challenge will be to maximise optical transmission and system performance , from experimental characterisation and precision alignment to qualification and integration. You'll tackle complex optical challenges, defining the right experimental approaches and driving solutions from investigation to validation. You will also coordinate technical activities involving several engineers and scientists, ensuring the delivery of critical milestones. This is a predominantly hands‑on experimental role , combining deep technical expertise with project ownership.

Develop and optimise optical systems

• Design, assemble, align and operate complex optical setups.
• Characterise optical transmission, identify losses and improve efficiency.
• Define measurement methods and improve stability and reproducibility.
• Troubleshoot experimental challenges and implement reliable solutions.

Drive technical delivery

• Own technical deliverables within a major optical development project.
• Coordinate experimental activities across engineers and scientists.
• Plan tasks, milestones, equipment and laboratory resources.
• Anticipate technical risks, resolve blockers and guide contributors.

The role combines approximately 80% hands‑on experimental work and 20% technical coordination , with no initial requirement for formal people management.

How you'll grow

First 3 months: Become familiar with Quandela's optical systems, experimental infrastructure and qualification objectives.

Requirements

• Optimise research-developed optical subsystems for QPU integration.
• Define experimental tests, performance targets and qualification procedures.
• Collaborate with optics, electronics and system integration teams.

Nice to Have

• Experience transferring R&D setups into operational systems.
• Industrial qualification and reliability standards.
• Experience mentoring engineers or researchers.
• Exposure to quantum computing or advanced photonic hardware.