Quantum Device Engineer (Silicon Spin-Qubits)

Equal1; Delft; On-site; EUR 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Equal1 is seeking a highly skilled Quantum Device Engineer to join their hardware team in Delft, Netherlands. This foundational role focuses on designing and fabricating advanced silicon spin-qubit devices. Candidates should have a MSc or PhD in relevant fields and at least 5 years of hands-on cleanroom experience. Key responsibilities include developing process flows and validating device performance through extensive testing. The role requires collaboration with multidisciplinary teams and a strong grasp of nanofabrication techniques.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on experience in a cleanroom environment.
• Proven expertise across key nanofabrication methods.
• Experience with electrical characterisation of nano-devices.

Responsibilities

• Design and fabricate silicon-based spin qubit devices.
• Develop process flows and refine recipes for nanoscale structures.
• Execute transport experiments to validate device functionality.

Skills

Nanoscale device design

Nanofabrication

Python

Electrical characterisation

Education

MSc or PhD in Physics, Nanotechnology, Electrical Engineering, or Materials Science

Tools

Electron-beam lithography

Thin-film deposition

Cryostats

Job description

We are seeking a highly skilled Quantum Device Engineer to join Equal1’s hardware team and take end-to-end ownership of key elements of our silicon spin-qubit device platform. This is a foundational role at the intersection of nanofabrication, cryogenic engineering, and qubit measurement. You will contribute to the development of our silicon spin qubit devices from process conception through validation, while helping build the laboratory infrastructure, workflows, and technical standards that will define our hardware roadmap.

This is a hands‑on role at the intersection of cleanroom fabrication, cryogenic measurement, and quantum device engineering, well‑suited to someone who thrives in a fast‑paced environment and is motivated to turn world‑class research into engineered, repeatable systems.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design and fabricate silicon‑based spin‑qubit devices using state‑of‑the‑art nanofabrication tools.
• Develop process flows and refine recipes for complex multi‑layer thin‑film stacks, semiconductor heterostructures, and nanoscale device architectures.
• Identify process bottlenecks, improve reproducibility and yield, and implement structured process control methodologies.
• Perform structural characterisation (optical microscopy, SEM, AFM, etc.) and electrical measurements to assess device quality and performance.
• Execute transport experiments to validate device functionality at room temperature and under cryogenic conditions.
• Collaborate closely with theorists, device physicists, materials scientists, and systems engineers to translate system requirements into robust hardware solutions.
• Contribute to experimental strategy, roadmap planning, and longer‑term architecture decisions.
• Strong documentation habits and the ability to communicate complex technical topics clearly across disciplines.

Experience and Qualifications

• MSc or PhD in Physics, Nanotechnology, Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, or a closely related field, with relevant experience in silicon spin qubits or comparable quantum device platforms.
• 5+ years of hands‑on experience in a cleanroom environment, with strong capability to independently design, fabricate, and iterate nanoscale device structures.
• Proven expertise across key nanofabrication methods, including:
  • Electron‑beam lithography (EBL) and/or photolithography
  • Thin‑film deposition (e.g., evaporation, sputtering, ALD)
  • Wet and dry etching processes
• Experience with semiconductor processing (silicon‑based platforms preferred)
• Ability to design, fabricate, and iterate nanoscale device structures independently.
• Experience with electrical characterisation of nano‑devices and experimental validation.
• Familiarity with low‑temperature measurements (e.g., cryostats, dilution refrigerators)
• Knowledge of measurement techniques such as transport measurements, charge sensing, RF reflectometry, and quantum device characterisation is a plus
• Proficiency in scientific programming and data analysis (e.g., Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW), including visualisation and/or experimental control workflows.
• Strong documentation habits and ability to communicate complex technical topics clearly across disciplines.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Comfort building systems and processes from scratch in a fast‑paced environment, with a strong bias toward execution and iteration.
• Willing to make engineering trade‑offs without compromising long‑term scalability
• Track record of scientific/technical impact (publications, patents, or equivalent contributions).