Hardware Engineer - Quantum Photonics for AI Compute

ORCA Computing Ltd; Greater London; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

ORCA Computing Ltd in London is seeking a hands-on hardware engineer to advance the PT-Series photonic quantum computing platform, accelerating AI and ML workloads. You will contribute across the full hardware lifecycle from concept to validated, production-ready designs.

You will collaborate with physicists, optical engineers, and software developers to deliver integrated electronics. A degree in electronics and 2–4 years’ experience are essential.

Qualifications

• A degree in electronic engineering, electrical engineering, physics, or a closely related discipline.
• 2–4 years of professional experience in hardware or electronics engineering (industry experience preferred; strong academic laboratory research will also be considered).
• Solid understanding of analogue and mixed-signal design principles: amplification, filtering, signal conditioning, low-noise techniques, and ADC/DAC interfacing.
• Hands-on PCB design experience, including simulation, schematic capture and layout using tools such as SPICE, Altium Designer, KiCAD, or equivalent.
• Comfortable using standard bench instruments to bring up, debug, and characterise electronic hardware.
• Some experience with or understanding of embedded firmware and microcontroller-based systems.
• A methodical, practical approach to design and debugging, you run structured experiments, follow the data, and iterate with purpose.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop analogue and mixed-signal circuitry for precision quantum photonic hardware, covering signal conditioning, low-noise amplification, DAC interfaces, and driver electronics for opto-electronic components.
• Own the PCB design process for your modules: schematic capture, layout, design review, and iteration through to a working, characterised board.
• Work hands-on in the lab: characterise your designs using oscilloscopes, spectrum analysers, signal generators, and other bench equipment to verify performance and debug issues systematically.
• Collaborate with the software team to define hardware/software interfaces and support integration of your electronics into the wider PT-Series system.
• Support EMC and regulatory compliance work as hardware matures toward product-ready status.
• Document your designs thoroughly: schematics, test reports, design reviews, and specifications so the wider team can build on your work.
• Work cross-functionally with physics, optics, and software teams to understand system-level requirements and translate them into practical electronic designs.

Skills

Analogue design

Mixed-signal design

PCB design

Lab bench testing

Embedded firmware

SPICE

Altium Designer

KiCad

Education

Electronic engineering degree

Tools

Altium Designer

KiCad

SPICE

Job description

ORCA Computing Ltd in London is seeking a hands-on hardware engineer to advance the PT-Series photonic quantum computing platform, accelerating AI and ML workloads. You will contribute across the full hardware lifecycle from concept to validated, production-ready designs.

You will collaborate with physicists, optical engineers, and software developers to deliver integrated electronics. A degree in electronics and 2–4 years’ experience are essential.