Senior Subsystem Validation Engineer

PsiQuantum; Milpitas (CA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

PsiQuantum is hiring a Senior Subsystem Validation Engineer to develop methods and techniques for validating and enhancing the performance of electro-optical subsystems. You will review designs, build lab setups, and create software tools for data collection and analysis.

The role requires 6+ years in engineering or physical sciences, with 5+ years validating optical systems and strong scripting abilities, preferably Python.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or physical science with 6+ years of industry experience.
• At least 5 years of experience validating and testing optical systems.
• Experience with optical/electrical test equipment (power meters, OBR, OSA, Oscilloscopes, AWG, VNA).
• Experience with high-speed electro-optical devices and test equipment (electro-optical modulator, RF detector, pulsed lasers, optical sampling oscilloscope).
• Experience developing test methods and optimization, tuning/calibration algorithms.
• Ability to understand and write scripts to communicate and control instruments.
• Experience with Python is preferred; familiarity with interfacing CPUs to FPGAs is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Review sub-system design including integration of optics, electronics, firmware, software and thermal design.
• Design and build lab setups of light sources, detectors, switches and instruments.
• Develop software scripts for data collection and analysis.
• Develop scripts and algorithms to perform data analysis and extract key performance parameters.
• Design and run experiments to validate subsystem functionality.
• Write validation plans for characterizing new sub-system designs.

Skills

Python scripting

Optical testing

Data analysis

Test methods design

Electro-optical systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or physical science

Tools

OBR

OSA

Oscilloscopes

AWG

VNA

Power meters

Job description

PsiQuantum’smission is to build the first useful quantum computers—machines capable of delivering the breakthroughs the field has long promised. Since our founding in 2016, our singular focus has been to build and deploy million-qubit, fault-tolerant quantum systems.

Quantum computers harness the laws of quantum mechanics to solve problems that even the most advanced supercomputers or AI systems will never reach. Their impact will span energy, pharmaceuticals, finance, agriculture, transportation, materials, and other foundational industries.

Our architecture and approachisbased on silicon photonics. Byleveragingthe advanced semiconductor manufacturing industry—including partners like GlobalFoundries,we use the same high-volume processes that already produce billions of chips for telecom and consumer electronics. Photonics offers natural advantages for scale: photonsdon’tfeel heat, are immune to electromagnetic interference, and integrate with existing cryogenic cooling and standard fiber-optic infrastructure.

In 2024,PsiQuantumannounced government-funded projects to support the build-out of our first utility-scale quantum computers in Brisbane, Australia, and Chicago, Illinois. These initiatives reflect a growing recognition that quantum computing will be strategically and economically defining—and that now is the time to scale.

PsiQuantumalso develops the algorithms and software needed to make these systems commercially valuable. Our application, software, and industry teams work directly with leading Fortune 500 companies—including Lockheed Martin, Mercedes-Benz, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Mitsubishi Chemical—to prepare quantum solutions for real-world impact.

Quantum computing is not an extension of classical computing. Itrepresentsa fundamental shift—and a path to mastering challenges that cannot besolvedany other way. The potential is enormous, and we have a clearpathto make it real.

Come join us.

Job Summary:

The Senior Subsystem Validation Engineer will be responsible for developing and implementing the methods and technics to validate and enhance the performance of various electro-optical subsystems.

Responsibilities:

• Review of Sub-system design including integration of optics, electronics, firmware, software and thermal design.
• Designing and building laboratory setups comprised of light sources, detector, switches; function generators, oscilloscopes, etc.
• Developing software scripts for data collection and data analysis
• Developing software scrips and algorithms to perform data analysis and extract key performance parameters.
• Design and run experiment to validate design functionality of subsystems.
• Writing validation plan for the characterization of new sub-system designs

Experience/Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or physical science with 6+ years of industry experience.
• At least 5 years of experience validating and testing optical systems.
• Experience working with optical and/or electrical test equipment such as power meters, optical backscatter reflectometers (OBR), optical spectrum analyzer (OSA), Oscilloscopes, function generators (AWG), vector network analyzer (VNA).
• Experience with high-speed electro-optical devices and test equipment, such us electro-optical modulator, RF detector, pulsed lasers, optical sampling oscilloscope.
• Experience developing test methods and optimization, tuning/calibration algorithms.
• Ability to understanding and write scripts to communicate and control instruments.
• Experience with python is preferred.
• Familiarity with programming CPUs to interface with FPGA’s is a plus.

PsiQuantum provides equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. PsiQuantum does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable laws.

Note: PsiQuantum will only reach out to you using an official PsiQuantum email address and will never ask you for bank account information as part of the interview process. Please report any suspicious activity to [e-mail].

We are not accepting unsolicited resumes from employment agencies.

The ranges below reflect the target ranges for a new hire base salary. One is for the Bay Area (within 50 miles of HQ, Palo Alto), the second one (if applicable) is for elsewhere in the US (beyond 50 miles of HQ, Palo Alto). If there is only one range, it is for the specific location of where the position will be located.Actual compensation may vary outside of these ranges and is dependent on various factors including but not limited to a candidate’s qualifications including relevant education and training, competencies, experience, geographic location, and business needs. Base pay is only one part of the total compensation package. Full time roles are eligible for equity and benefits. Base pay is subject to change and may be modified in the future.

U.S. Base Pay Range

$160,000—$180,000 USD

Bay Area Pay Range

$183,000—$200,000 USD