Staff Optical Fiber Link Design Engineer

black.ai; Milpitas (CA); On-site; USD 145,000 - 245,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

401(k) matching

Equity grants

Job summary

PsiQuantum is building first utility-scale quantum computers and seeks a Staff Optical Fiber Link Design Engineer to support the Optical Distribution Network design and integration for current and future systems.

The role covers design, development, integration and validation of the fiber network and hardware to support complex optical I/O and control systems. 5+ years in fiber networks and photonics are required.

Qualifications

• MS/PhD in Physics, Optical or Electrical Engineering with 5+ years industry experience.
• 5+ years experience designing, validating and testing fiber networks.
• Experience in fiber optics: loss, dispersion, nonlinear effects, polarization, phase stability.
• Experience designing fiber optic systems, routing and handling.
• Experience with optical test equipment: power meters, OBR, OSA.
• Experience with instrumentation in photonics or electronics.
• Experience with Python software controls.
• Experience developing test methods and optimization.
• Experience in product lifecycles from R&D to product development.
• Strong organizational & communication skills; attention to detail.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Support end-to-end fiber link architecture connecting subsystems, PICs and control systems.
• Drive link component designs, cross-functional work with mechanical and electrical engineers and system leads.
• Create detailed fiber designs for complex optical distribution networks (routing, splice plans, optical I/O).
• Contribute to link budgets and calculations to meet System Architecture requirements for loss.
• Define guidelines for fiber routing, splicing, connectorization, cleanliness, handling to meet performance thresholds.
• Work with vendors and evaluate advanced fiber components for quantum computing apps.
• Some Python scripting to control lab equipment and proprietary systems.
• Clear communication and cross functional collaboration.

Skills

5+ years experience

Strong communication

Attention to detail

Multitasking

Problem solving

Education

MS/PhD in Physics, Optical or Electrical Eng

Tools

Python

Power meters

OBR

OSA

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 architecture and approach is based on silicon photonics. By leveraging the 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: photons don’t feel heat, are immune to electromagnetic interference, and integrate with existing cryogenic cooling and standard fiber-optic infrastructure.

In 2024, PsiQuantum announced 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.

PsiQuantum also 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. It represents a fundamental shift—and a path to mastering challenges that cannot be solved any other way. The potential is enormous, and we have a clear path to make it real.

Come join us.

Job Summary:

The Staff Optical Fiber Link Design Engineer reports into the System Design organization. This role supports the Optical Distribution Network (ODN) design and integration for current and future systems. This includes the design, development, integration and validation of the fiber network and hardware to support the complex fiber network needed in our quantum systems.

Responsibilities:

• Support end-to-end system fiber link architecture connecting subsystems, PICs and control systems.
• Drive link component designs, work cross-functionally with mechanical and electrical engineers and system technical leads.
• Create detailed fiber designs for complex optical distribution networks. This includes routing, splice plans, and overall optical I/O.
• Contribute to link budgets and calculations to meet System Architecture requirements for worldline loss.
• Define guidelines for fiber routing, splicing, connectorization, cleanliness, and handling to meet quantum performance thresholds.
• Work with vendors and evaluate advanced fiber optic components, and qualify such components for use in quantum computing applications.
• Some Python scripting, calling Controls SW APIs / drivers to control lab equipment and proprietary systems.
• Clear communication and cross functional collaboration.

Experience/Qualifications:

• M.S. or PhD in Physics, Optical or Electrical Engineering with 5+ years industry experience.
• 5+ years experience designing, validating and testing fiber networks and fiber optical systems.
• Experience in fiber optics, including loss mechanisms, dispersion, nonlinear effects, polarization, and phase stability.
• Experience designing fiber optic systems, fiber networking and working with advanced splice equipment and optimization, fiber handling and routing.
• Experience working with optical test equipment including power meters, optical backscatter reflectometers (OBR), optical spectrum analyzer (OSA).
• Experience working with instrumentation used in the photonics and/or the electronics industry.
• Experience with software controls in Python.
• Experience developing test methods and optimization, tuning algorithms.
• Experience in product lifecycles, transitioning from R&D to product development.
• Strong organizational skills, excellent communication skills, attention to detail and ability to multitask.
• Strong critical thinking, creative, innovative, analytical, and detail oriented problem-solving skill.

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.

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. geographic markets, and we pay based on defined geographic zones. This position may be filled within one of the following U.S. geographic zones, each with its own salary range.

• 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

This position includes the following benefits: competitive health coverage for you and your dependents, 401(k) with company match, equity grants, access to financial wellness tools and planning resources, wellness benefits, family support programs, life and disability insurance, paid leave programs, company-designated paid holidays, discretionary time off (DTO), and an end-of-year company shutdown. Some of these benefits have eligibility requirements and may vary based on location, role, or employment status. Many of these benefits are subsidized or fully paid for by the company.

The estimated annual base salary range for this role is:

• $208,300 — $244,700 USD
• $187,400 — $220,200 USD
• $166,600 — $195,800 USD
• $145,800 — $171,300 USD