What are the responsibilities and job description for the Sr. Optical Systems Process Engineer position at PsiQuantum?
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
As part of the Systems Hardware Team, the Sr. Optical System Process Engineer plays a vital role in constructing high-performance electromechanical and fiber-optic subsystem modules, including EDFA modules, high-speed optical timing, and polarization control, contributing directly to innovative optical solutions.
Responsibilities
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
$170,000—$187,000 USD
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.
Bay Area Only Pay Range
$183,000—$200,000 USD
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
As part of the Systems Hardware Team, the Sr. Optical System Process Engineer plays a vital role in constructing high-performance electromechanical and fiber-optic subsystem modules, including EDFA modules, high-speed optical timing, and polarization control, contributing directly to innovative optical solutions.
Responsibilities
- Ownership of the construction of prototype and early-stage production optical fiber subsystems and modules, including electrical/electronic and mechanical assemblies.
- Work closely with product design engineers to develop and provide guidance on Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Assembly (DFA), and Test (DFT), ensuring their expertise is valued in shaping reliable products.
- Along with design engineering, drive tooling development, assembly flows, and version-controlled documentation, including the composition and authoring of clear, detailed work instructions for both assembly and test.
- Management of bill of materials (BOM), documentation, and continuous product improvement (CPI). Collection, tracing, and analysis of build data, including design and component troubleshooting.
- Work closely with supply chain and vendors, as well as design engineering and technicians, to improve current and future generations of products.
- Work with cross-functional teams to execute debug tests for software and hardware control systems. Experience/Qualifications:
- B.S. in Physics, Optical or Electrical Engineering preferred, with 8 years of industry experience.
- Expertise in working with fibers, lasers, and amplifiers, fiber optic components, advanced splice equipment and optimization, fiber handling and routing, and equipment maintenance.
- Experience validating and testing fiber optic components and systems, transferring design and development into robust and scalable products.
- Experience working with optical test equipment, including polarization analysis, insertion/return loss, optical backscatter reflectometers (OBR), and optical spectrum analyzer (OSA).
- Process development and documentation of electrical cable assembly, testing, routing, and harnessing. Experienced in the optimization of layout, tooling, and workflows, maintaining standards and compliance throughout the NPI phase.
- Troubleshooting, testing, and repairing of electrical and electronic systems. Investigation of manufacturing failures, identification and root cause analysis, implementation of corrective actions. Experience with OSHA, NEC, UL, and other regulatory standards.
- Python scripting, calling Controls SW APIs / drivers to control lab equipment and proprietary systems.
- Experience with industrial vacuum and cryogenic systems is desirable
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
$170,000—$187,000 USD
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.
Bay Area Only Pay Range
$183,000—$200,000 USD
Salary : $160,000 - $200,000