Experimental Photonics Scientist

Description

We are looking for an Experimental Photonics Scientist to join The Leidos Quantum Incubator. In this role, you'll be responsible for testing and characterizing photonic integrated circuits (PICs). This is a great opportunity to apply your experience in a way that directly contributes to our quantum technologies portfolio. You will help us develop new contract and internal R&D projects by benchmarking quantum devices and building working prototypes.

You will also work closely with other quantum scientists to provide feedback that improves the design and layout of circuits for optimal testing. The ideal candidate is someone who is passionate about applied research and development and has strong experimental skills. We are looking for a scientist who wants to help mature new technologies from the initial concept all the way to a working prototype.

Key Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with design and layout engineers to ensure PICs are compatible for testing.
• Identify key hardware needs for photonic testing and experimental demonstrations.
• Use photonic probing systems to conduct detailed testing and characterization of PICs at the component, subsystem, and system levels.
• Maintain and calibrate lab equipment and testing apparatus to ensure high-quality testing standards.
• Analyze captured data, document test results, write comprehensive reports, and present findings to internal teams.
• Continuously stay up to date with advancements in photonic technology, testing methods, and industry best practices.

Multiple openings at various levels. The various position’s minimum education and experience requirements are as follows:

• T2:
  Bachelor’s degree in physics, engineering, or related fields and 2+ years of prior relevant experience. Additional years of experience may be considered in lieu of degree requirements.
• T3:
  Bachelor’s degree in physics, engineering, or related fields and 4+ years of prior relevant experience. Additional years of experience may be considered in lieu of degree requirements.
• T4:
  Bachelor’s degree in physics, engineering, or related fields and 8+ years of prior relevant experience. Additional years of experience may be considered in lieu of degree requirements.

Basic Qualifications:

• Experience using photonic PIC probing hardware for basic testing, including optical coupling and alignment, insertion loss measurements, and spectral response analysis.
• Proficiency in aligning fiber arrayed probes to both edge-coupled and grating-coupled devices.
• Hands‑on experience with equipment such as laser sources, power meters, optical spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, and micromanipulator stages.
• Experience developing software to control hardware for experiments, using either Python or Lab View.
• Skilled in handling delicate optics and photonic chips.
• Desire to work on a fast‑paced research environment.
• US citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain US government security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications:

• PhD degree in physics, engineering, or other equivalent area of expertise.
• Prior experience in the design, fabrication, or characterization of hybrid non‑linear integrated photonics (such as TFLN or BTO).
• Nanophotonic design using photonic simulation tools such as: FDTD, FEM, or optical mode solver (Lumerical/COMSOL/Tidy3D/or similar).
• Expertise in free space optics, including the design, alignment, and testing of optical systems for quantum applications.
• A record of publications in peer‑reviewed journals or presentations at conferences with the desire to contribute to proposal writing.
• Strong written and oral communication skills with the ability to brief non‑technical audiences.

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.

For U.S. Positions:
While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated…