Senior Engineer, System Automation (Subsystems)

Psiquantum; United States; Remote; USD 130,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

PsiQuantum in Milpitas, California, is seeking a Senior Engineer, System Automation (Subsystems) to design and maintain high‑level Python control software for complex subsystems, including laser and photonic hardware, within the system automation framework.

You will translate hardware workflows into reusable APIs, automation routines, examples, and tests, collaborating with design leads and end users to improve bring‑up, calibration, validation and operation.

Qualifications

• BS/MS/PhD in a related technical discipline.
• 3+ years of software engineering experience in hardware, scientific, automation, test, embedded, control, or laboratory systems.
• Strong Python software engineering skills, including ability to write readable, tested, maintainable software.
• Experience building APIs, automation workflows, instrument-control code, test code, or hardware-control software for complex systems.
• Experience working within existing software frameworks, following established design patterns, participating in code reviews, and incorporating feedback.
• Ability to translate ambiguous hardware workflows into clear software requirements, reusable routines, tests, documentation, and examples.
• Strong cross-functional communication and documentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, test, and maintain high-level Python control software for complex subsystems.
• Translating real hardware workflows into reusable automation routines that fit within the existing System Automation framework.
• Collaborate with design leads and end users to understand workflows, operating conditions, constraints, and failure modes.
• Develop reusable APIs, automation routines, examples, and tests within the framework.
• Contribute to regression and hardware-in-the-loop tests to accelerate development.

Skills

Python

API design

Automation

Software testing

Documentation

Cross-functional communication

Education

BS in CS/EE

MS/PhD preferred

Tools

Git

Linux

CI/CD

Job description

Senior Engineer, System Automation (Subsystems) at PsiQuantum, Milpitas, California (remote). A senior-level full time position in the 3320 - System Hardware Design team, listed under hardware engineering.

Job Summary

At PsiQuantum, we are developing prototype modules that will scale into a datacenter-sized, fault-tolerant quantum computer. These systems depend on photonic, optical, electronic, and electro-optic devices whose capabilities must be exposed reliably through software to enable control automation.

This role is for a senior automation engineer who will design and maintain high-level control software for photonic, optical, electronic, and electro-optic subsystems, including large laser systems and related instrumentation. The engineer will work with design leads and end users to understand workflows, operating conditions, constraints, and failure modes, then convert them into reusable Python APIs, automated routines, examples, and tests within the existing system automation framework.

Role Overview

Design, implement, test, and maintain high-level Python control software for complex subsystems, translating real hardware workflows into reusable automation routines that fit within the existing System Automation software framework.

Why is this role unique?

This role sits close to real hardware workflows and the engineers who depend on them. It combines hands-on software development, debugging, documentation, and cross-functional support in a complex hardware environment. The role is more than writing code: it requires understanding design intent and user workflows, then turning that understanding into maintainable subsystem control software that improves bring-up, calibration, validation, and operation.

What does success look like?

• Reusable subsystem control APIs and automation routines adopted by calibration, validation, commissioning, and operations engineers.
• Well-documented, maintainable code and control interfaces that follow existing framework patterns.
• Manual or prototype workflows converted into robust examples and automation routines.
• Regression and hardware-in-the-loop tests that accelerate development and reduce integration risk.

Requirements

• B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline.
• 3+ years of software engineering experience in hardware, scientific, automation, test, embedded, control, or laboratory systems.
• Strong Python software engineering skills, including ability to write readable, tested, maintainable software.
• Experience building APIs, automation workflows, instrument-control code, test code, or hardware-control software for complex systems.
• Experience working within existing software frameworks, following established design patterns, participating in code reviews, and incorporating feedback.
• Ability to translate ambiguous hardware workflows into clear software requirements, reusable routines, tests, documentation, and examples.
• Strong cross-functional communication and documentation skills.

Nice to Have

• Hands-on experience automating complex photonic, optical, laser, RF, electronic, or electro-optic hardware.
• Familiarity with configuration files, SQL, data models, logs, dashboards, topology-aware systems, or control-system state models.
• Experience integrating with services such as databases, observability tools, orchestration tools, internal APIs, or data acquisition systems.
• Experience with calibration workflows, validation workflows, commissioning, lab automation, hardware-in-the-loop testing, or experimental control systems.
• Track record of improving software quality in concert with non-software engineers.