Senior Photonic Designer

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:

Quantum computing promises to solve many important problems that could never be solved on any conventional computer. At PsiQuantum, we’re building a general-purpose silicon photonic quantum computer to tackle these very problems.

We are looking for an energetic, highly motivated Photonic Designer who will be responsible for the design, optimization, integration, and validation of novel photonic structures, devices, and subsystems for a linear optic quantum computer (LOQC).

We’re looking for a creative and innovative individual with strong fundamentals in the design, optimization, layout, and fabrication of integrated optical devices. This role is focused on pushing the boundaries of high-performance integrated photonic components and circuits. The role requires excellent python skills, experience with commercial electro-magnetic simulation packages, and experience with python-based layout tools and foundry tape outs.

Responsibilities:

• Interacts with device, hardware, and software design teams to assist in overall development of Photonics and Quantum Optics photonic systems and devices.
• Supports foundry tape outs with photonic device design, design of experiments, layout, device validation, data analysis, failure mode analysis, and troubleshooting.
• Develops simulation automation techniques and infrastructure to support photonic device design, model development, and performance validation.
• Provides multi-disciplinary support to component and systems teams by resolving technical issues associated with components, parts, products, or systems.
• Applies quantitative analysis in determining root cause of highly technical problems and proposes, develops, and implements solutions for corrective action.

Experience/Qualifications:

Education

• PhD or equivalent in Electrical, Computer Engineering, Material Science, Physics.

Experience

• 5 years of relevant work or academic research experience in integrated photonics.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong fundamentals of the design and characterization of photonic devices and circuits.
• Proven proficiency in Python programming for numerical analysis, data manipulation, automation and photonic circuit layout.
• Experience with silicon photonic manufacturing processes and foundry tapeouts.
• Strong fundamentals in electro-magnetic theory, statistical analysis, and quantum mechanics.
• Extensive experience with simulation platforms, particularly Lumerical, for designing and simulating photonic devices and circuits.
• Proven team player with an ability to work effectively across departments, sites, time zones.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong analytical and detail oriented problem-solving skills.
• Proven experience executing cross-department complex projects.
• Ability to work independently with limited direction.

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 recruiting@psiquantum.com .

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

$182,000—$200,000 USD