Manager, Photonics Hardware Validation Engineering

PsiQuantum; United States; A distancia; USD 180.000 - 260.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

PsiQuantum is seeking an Engineering Manager for Photonics Hardware Validation in Milpitas, CA (remote). You will own the validation strategy for electro-optical subassemblies and PIC integration, guiding from bring-up through manufacturing transfer while partnering with design, electrical, mechanical, packaging, firmware, software, and manufacturing teams.

You will mentor engineers, establish repeatable validation practices, and ensure evidence of design and manufacturing readiness to

Formación

• Proven record in optical/electro-optical hardware characterization and validation.
• 8+ years relevant experience with 2+ years people leadership.
• Experience with data analysis in Python or MATLAB.

Responsabilidades

• Lead, hire, and grow a photonics hardware validation team; define ownership, priorities, staffing plans, and career development.
• Own comprehensive characterization, verification, and validation plans for photonic modules and electro-optical subassemblies, from bring-up to manufacturing transfer.
• Establish measurement methods, calibration, uncertainty analysis, experimental designs, data-review processes, and controlled documentation.
• Drive cross-functional debugging, failure analysis, root-cause investigations; verify corrective actions and communicate residual risks.
• Review optical, electrical, firmware, software, packaging, and thermal designs; influence testability and validation access.
• Translate requirements into measurable acceptance criteria and test traceability; create validation reports.
• Partner with operations to define test methods for production units.
• Manage validation schedules, lab capacity, equipment, and dependencies; provide status reports and readiness assessments.

Conocimientos

People management

Cross-functional

Hardware validation

Python

MATLAB

Test planning

Data analysis

Educación

Bachelor's in EE/Physics/Optics

Herramientas

Optical test equipment

RF instrumentation

Descripción del empleo

Manager, Photonics Hardware Validation Engineering at PsiQuantum, Milpitas, California (remote). A mid-level full time position in the 4565 - SubSystem Validation team, listed under hardware engineering.

Job Summary

The Engineering Manager, Photonics Hardware Validation owns the characterization, verification, validation, performance classification, and failure analysis of electro-optical subassemblies integrated with custom photonic integrated circuits (PICs). The primary focus of this role is the validation of single-photon sources and detectors, including the associated RF signal readout chain. This role leads validation strategy and execution from proof-of-concept test methodologies and early hardware bring-up through qualification and manufacturing readiness.

You will combine people leadership with strong technical oversight, partnering with photonics design, electrical, mechanical, packaging, firmware, software, systems, product engineering, and manufacturing teams to verify requirements, resolve hardware issues, and provide clear evidence of design and manufacturing readiness.

Actual compensation may vary outside of these ranges and is dependent on various factors including, but not limited to, a candidate's qualifications, relevant education and training, competencies, experience, geographic location, business needs, and internal equity. Your recruiter can share more details about the salary range applicable to your location during the hiring process.

• Zone 1 - Bay Area and NYC
• Zone 2 - Examples include Los Angeles and Washington DC
• Zone 3 - Examples include Austin, Chicago, and Sacramento
• Zone 4 - Examples include Nashville and Phoenix/Tempe and many remote locations

Responsibilities

• Lead, hire, and grow a photonics hardware validation team; define technical ownership, priorities, staffing plans, and career development opportunities.
• Own comprehensive characterization, verification, and validation plans for photonic modules and electro-optical subassemblies, from initial hardware bring-up through qualification and manufacturing transfer.
• Establish repeatable measurement methods, calibration practices, uncertainty analysis, experimental designs, data-review processes, and configuration-controlled test documentation.
• Drive cross-functional debugging, failure analysis, and root-cause investigations; verify corrective actions and clearly communicate residual risks and recommended next steps.
• Review integrated optical, electrical, firmware, software, packaging, and thermal designs; identify critical measurements and influence design-for-testability and validation access.
• Translate system and component requirements into measurable acceptance criteria, requirements-to-test traceability, test coverage, and validation reports.
• Partner with operations teams to define test methods for production units.
• Manage validation schedules, laboratory capacity, equipment needs, and cross-functional dependencies; provide regular execution summaries, validation reports, yield indications, and readiness assessments to stakeholders.
• Promote safe laboratory practices and effective handling of lasers, optical equipment, RF instrumentation, and sensitive devices.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, physics, optics, photonics, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 8 or more years of industry experience relevant to optical and electro-optical hardware characterization, validation, and test, including 2 or more years of people management or demonstrated technical and team leadership.
• Strong foundation in silicon photonics, optical systems, and electro-optical characterization, including insertion loss, return loss, and hands-on use of optical test equipment.
• Hands-on expertise with optical and RF laboratory instrumentation and RF readout electronics such as LNAs, bias tees, and baluns, including measurement uncertainty and quantitative troubleshooting.
• Proven record leading cross-functional hardware validation and failure analysis, including hardware bring-up, requirements-based test planning, issue closure, and qualification.
• Experience in data analysis using Python, MATLAB, or comparable environments, with an emphasis on reproducible and traceable results.
• Ability to lead cross-functional technical decisions, manage competing priorities, and communicate complex engineering issues clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor engineers, develop technical leads, and establish repeatable validation practices.

Nice to Have

• Master’s degree or PhD in a relevant technical discipline.
• Experience with single-photon detection, low-noise RF readout chains, and characterization of low-level optical and electrical signals.
• Experience with wafer-level or packaged-device characterization, PIC integration, and design-for-test methodologies for photonic hardware.
• Experience with reliability qualification, statistical analysis, design of experiments, and production yield improvement.
• Experience testing in cryogenic environments or validating photonics hardware for quantum computing applications, including thermo-mechanical stress.