Principal Electronic Design Engineer

Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC); Reading; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC) seeks a Principal Electronic Design Engineer to define scalable electronic architectures powering quantum control hardware. You will own high-speed system design, drive integration across FPGA, embedded software, and mechanics, and shape validation and supplier partnerships.

You will mentor engineers and help evolve OQC's hardware stack, ensuring robust performance, manufacturability, and future-ready control systems in a rapidly growing quantum computing

Qualifications

• Significant experience developing complex high-speed electronic systems.
• Experience working across full hardware product development lifecycles.
• Proven track record collaborating with cross-functional engineering teams on integrated systems.
• Experience with hardware validation, integration, debugging, and system-level problem solving.
• Experience developing scalable or distributed hardware platforms.
• Experience providing technical leadership, conducting technical reviews, and mentoring engineers.
• Electronic systems architecture and design.
• High-speed digital design.
• FPGA hardware integration.
• Deterministic synchronisation systems.
• Signal integrity and power integrity analysis.
• EMI/EMC compliance and regulatory considerations.
• Hardware and system integration.
• Verification and validation planning.
• Technical leadership and engineering decision-making.
• Strong communication, judgement, and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Architect scalable, high-performance electronic systems for quantum control platforms, balancing performance, reliability, manufacturability, and long-term scalability.
• Lead the design and development of complex hardware systems, including schematic capture, component selection, and review of high-density multilayer PCB designs.
• Drive technical decision-making across the hardware development lifecycle, ensuring robust and practical engineering solutions.
• Collaborate with FPGA, embedded software, mechanical, cryogenic, systems, and deployment teams to define interfaces and integration strategies across the control hardware stack.
• Define validation strategies, acceptance criteria, and technical specifications while managing engagement with external suppliers and manufacturing partners.
• Lead hardware integration, validation, debugging, and root-cause analysis activities to ensure reliable product delivery.
• Mentor engineers, lead technical reviews, and contribute to the evolution of OQC's hardware architecture, engineering standards, and development methodologies.

Skills

High-speed electronics

Hardware integration

FPGA integration

System-level design

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Degree in Electronic Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related field

Job description

At OQC, we aren't just theorising about the future; we're building it. Born from a philosophy of bold innovation, we've successfully transitioned quantum computing from an academic dream into a commercial reality. The most exciting thing is that we're just getting started.

As a Principal Electronic Design Engineer, you will define the electronic architectures that power scalable quantum computing systems. You'll solve complex system-level challenges spanning high-speed electronics, synchronisation, integration, and manufacturability, helping to deliver the next generation of quantum control hardware.

The Role

As a senior technical leader within our Control Hardware team, you'll drive the architecture, design, and delivery of highly integrated electronic systems that enable high-performance qubit control, deterministic synchronisation, and data acquisition across distributed quantum computing platforms. You'll work closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams, influence long-term hardware strategy, and provide technical leadership across the organisation.

What You'll Be Working On

• Architecting scalable, high-performance electronic systems for quantum control platforms, balancing performance, reliability, manufacturability, and long-term scalability.
• Leading the design and development of complex hardware systems, including schematic capture, component selection, and review of high-density multilayer PCB designs.
• Driving technical decision-making across the hardware development lifecycle, ensuring robust and practical engineering solutions.
• Collaborating with FPGA, embedded software, mechanical, cryogenic, systems, and deployment teams to define interfaces and integration strategies across the control hardware stack.
• Defining validation strategies, acceptance criteria, and technical specifications while managing engagement with external suppliers and manufacturing partners.
• Leading hardware integration, validation, debugging, and root-cause analysis activities to ensure reliable product delivery.
• Mentoring engineers, leading technical reviews, and contributing to the evolution of OQC's hardware architecture, engineering standards, and development methodologies.

What We're Looking For

• Significant experience developing complex high-speed electronic systems.
• Experience working across full hardware product development lifecycles.
• Proven track record collaborating with cross-functional engineering teams on integrated systems.
• Experience with hardware validation, integration, debugging, and system-level problem solving.
• Experience developing scalable or distributed hardware platforms.
• Experience providing technical leadership, conducting technical reviews, and mentoring engineers.
• Electronic systems architecture and design.
• High-speed digital design.
• FPGA hardware integration.
• Deterministic synchronisation systems.
• Signal integrity and power integrity analysis.
• EMI/EMC compliance and regulatory considerations.
• Hardware and system integration.
• Verification and validation planning.
• Technical leadership and engineering decision-making.
• Strong communication, judgement, and problem-solving skills.
• Degree in Electronic Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related discipline, or equivalent practical experience.

The 'Nice-to-Haves'

• Experience with RF or microwave electronic systems.
• Experience working with FPGA-based or multi-board hardware platforms.
• Background in quantum computing, telecommunications, aerospace, defence, radar, or high-performance computing environments.
• Experience working with outsourced hardware development teams or manufacturing partners.
• Knowledge of high-speed networking architectures.
• Experience driving engineering process improvements and development methodology enhancements.
• Postgraduate qualification in Electronics, RF Systems, Embedded Systems, Physics, or a related field.
• Specialist training or certifications in high-speed electronic systems, FPGA platforms, signal integrity, or EMC design practices.

Why Join OQC

You will join a world-class team at the forefront of the next computational era. We offer a culture of bold innovation, the chance to work with unique lab infrastructure, and the opportunity to see your work redefine the limits of computation.

Learn more about our benefits and positive work culture here: https://oqc.tech/company/careers-at-oqc/

Interviews will commence starting the 18th June