Experimental Quantum Physicist

Superlinear; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 240,000 - 300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity in the company

Medical, dental, and 401(k)

Job summary

Superlinear Computing in Palo Alto is seeking a physics‑focused experimentalist to own calibration and readout of superconducting quantum systems. You will work across our Chicago lab and Palo Alto bench, tackling noise mechanisms and entropy sources with rigorous statistics.

You should have a Master’s (PhD preferred) in experimental physics or quantum optics, a proven record of noise characterization, and patience for hands‑on work in a small company. Travel to the Chicago lab will be required.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in experimental physics, quantum optics, or precision measurement.
• PhD preferred.
• Proven noise characterization in a real measurement chain with statistical defense.
• Willingness to travel to Chicago lab for hands-on work.

Responsibilities

• Physics-level investigation of noise sources with rigorous statistics.
• Characterization of entropy sources being developed.
• Develop figures of merit for ML-driven characterization pipelines.

Skills

Noise characterization

Statistics

ML on measurement streams

Education

Master’s degree in experimental physics, quantum optics, or precision measurement

PhD preferred

Tools

Quantum Machines OPX

Qblox

QICK

Job description

Superlinear Computing · On-site at our Palo Alto HQ, with occasional travel to our Chicago Quantum Lab (Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park) · Full-time

About Superlinear Computing

Superlinear Computing is a quantum hardware company headquartered in Palo Alto, with a lab at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park in Chicago. We design, deploy, and operate on-premises superconducting systems, apply machine learning to characterize quantum system behavior, and translate those findings into specialized hardware products.

The Role

You will work with both quantum systems we operate: the superconducting hardware in our Chicago lab, run with full remote management, and the various entropy sources on the bench in our Palo Alto lab. You own calibration and characterization at the physics level, readout, error mechanisms, and the underlying noise

What You’ll Own

• Physics-level investigation of noise sources across the systems we operate, with statistical treatment rigorous enough to stand behind.
• Characterization of the entropy sources we are developing.
• Figures of merit for the ML-driven characterization pipelines our engineering team builds.

What We’re Looking For

• A Master’s degree (or an equivalent experimental record) in experimental physics, quantum optics, or precision measurement; PhD preferred.
• A record of serious noise characterization: you have traced noise in a real measurement chain to its physical origins and defended the result statistically in quantum hardware, precision metrology, gravitational-wave detection, or optical systems.
• Appetite for hard, patient, hands‑on work at a small company: you will sit with stubborn measurements until they are understood, not merely worked around.

Nice to Have

• Hands‑on superconducting qubit measurement: coherence measurements, dispersive readout, microwave control.
• Grounding in the noise physics of lasers and optical detection: the fundamental, quantum-origin fluctuation processes and their technical counterparts, and how each is measured and told apart.
• Dilution refrigerator experience at the operator level; microwave signal-chain fluency (IQ mixing, heterodyne readout, pulse shaping).
• Familiarity with control stacks (Quantum Machines OPX, Qblox, QICK) and calibration frameworks.
• Depth in TLS physics, flux noise, readout crosstalk, or amplifier-chain characterization.
• Experience characterizing or validating entropy sources or randomness generation.
• Statistics and ML on measurement streams.
• Willingness to travel to the Chicago lab when the work calls for hands‑on time.

Compensation and Benefits

Base salary: $240,000 – $300,000, depending on experience. Equity in the company

Benefits: Medical, dental, and 401(k).

Superlinear Computing is an equal opportunity employer.