Staff Firmware Engineer

PSI Quantum

Milpitas (CA)

On-site

USD 208,000 - 245,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Equity grants

401(k) with company match

Paid leave

Discretionary time off

Job summary

PsiQuantum is seeking a Staff Firmware Engineer to lead firmware architecture and development for quantum computing control systems within the Electronics organization. You will collaborate with hardware, systems, and software teams to deliver robust firmware solutions.

The role requires 10+ years in firmware development, expert C/C++ skills, Python for control interfaces, and experience across RTOS, bare metal, and Linux environments.

Qualifications

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field
Minimum of 10 years hand-on firmware development and architecture experience leading to a successful commercial product
Experience architecting solutions for multiple products and/or sets of control boards
Expert level firmware development in C/C++
Intermediate or advanced Python for control and test interfaces
Familiarity with build systems, version control, and test driven development
Schematic review and hardware debugging tools and techniques
RTOS, bare metal, and Linux development experience
Communications protocol development and TCP/IP protocol implementations
Excellent verbal and written communication skills with an ability to communicate effectively to a variety of audiences

Responsibilities

Define system architecture and design in partnership with hardware and systems architecture teams; evaluate and select components to meet system requirements
Lead firmware-focused schematic reviews, identifying design risks and ensuring hardware supports system and firmware needs
Architect, develop, and validate firmware for quantum computing control systems and other research and development programs
Set technical direction for firmware design and implementation, and raise the quality of the team's work through design reviews and technical mentorship
Define and drive software interface specifications and deliverables across firmware, hardware, and systems teams

Skills

Firmware development

C/C++

Python

Linux

Networking TCP/IP

Hardware debugging

RTOS

Communication

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Computer Science or Electrical Engineering

Tools

Build systems

Version control

Test automation

Schematic reviews tools

Job description

PsiQuantum's mission 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 architectureand 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.

That approach has since been tested at the highest level of scrutiny the U.S. government applies to emerging technology, and it has held up. In 2025,PsiQuantumclosed a$1 billionfunding round that valued the company at$7 billion. In 2026, the U.S. Department of Commerce signed a $100 million Letter of Intent under the CHIPS and Science Act, followed by a $125 million agreement with DARPA under Stage C of its Quantum Benchmarking Initiative,PsiQuantum'smost valuable U.S. government agreement to date. This year, we also broke ground on our utility-scale quantum computer in Brisbane, Australia, and continued building out our Chicago site. Victor Peng, our CEO, and co-founder Jeremy O'Brien, now ExecutiveChairman, lead a team and board that reflects how seriously the world is taking this build, joined this year by Intel's Lip-Bu Tan and Atomico's NiklasZennstrom.

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, includingAirbus,LockheedMartin, 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 now havethe funding,the governmentvalidation, andthe sitesunder construction to make it real.

Job Summary:

The Staff Firmware Engineer is a hands-on technical leader and firmware developer on PsiQuantum's Firmware team, within the Electronics organization. The role leads firmware architecture and development for quantum computing control systems, working closely with hardware, systems architecture, and software teams.

Responsibilities:

Define system architecture and design in partnership with hardware and systems architecture teams; evaluate and select components to meet system requirements.
Lead firmware-focused schematic reviews, identifying design risks and ensuring hardware supports system and firmware needs.
Architect, develop, and validate firmware for quantum computing control systems and other research and development programs.
Set technical direction for firmware design and implementation, and raise the quality of the team's work through design reviews and technical mentorship.
Define and drive software interface specifications and deliverables across firmware, hardware, and systems teams.

Experience/Qualifications:

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
Minimum of 10 years hand-on firmware development and architecture experience leading to a successful commercial product.
Experience architecting solutions for multiple products and/or sets of control boards.
Expert level firmware development in C/C++.
Intermediate or advanced Python for control and test interfaces.
Familiarity with build systems, version control, and test driven development.
Schematic review and hardware debugging tools and techniques.
RTOS, bare metal, and linux development experience.
Communications protocol development and TCP/IP protocol implementations.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills with an ability to communicate effectively to a variety of audiences ranging from senior leadership and technical experts to entry-level staff.

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.

We are not accepting unsolicited resumes from employment agencies.

Base pay is one part of the total compensation package. Full-time roles are eligible for equity and benefits.Our compensation ranges reflect the cost of labor across multiple U.S. geographicmarkets, and we pay based on defined geographic zones. This position may be filled withinone of the followingU.S. geographiczones, each with its own salary range.

Actual compensation may vary outside of these ranges and is dependent onvarious factorsincluding, 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.

Eligible location zones: