Lead Photonic Test & Measurement Engineer

Reporting to: Chief Technology Officer (US)

About the Client:

My client is a pioneering deep-tech computing company building the next generation of scalable, room‑temperature quantum systems. By leveraging standard telecommunications‑grade optical fibers and advanced photonics, they are bypassing the traditional limitations of supercooled quantum hardware to deliver systems that seamlessly integrate into modern HPC and AI data centers.

The Role:

We are seeking a Lead Photonic Test & Measurement Engineer to run a hands‑on optical hardware lab and validate the physical chips produced by the design team. Reporting directly to the CTO, you will lead the physical characterization of cutting‑edge Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) and bridge the gap between optical engineering and quantum state measurement. This is a hands‑on hardware leadership role, not a theoretical physics position.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage and lead the optical hardware laboratory, establishing rigorous testing protocols for novel photonic chips.
• Characterize PICs for critical performance metrics, including optical loss, phase stability, and thermal limits.
• Design and execute testing setups utilizing tunable lasers, fiber‑optic alignments, interferometers, and beam splitters.
• Oversee the integration, operation, and optimization of high‑efficiency single‑photon detectors.
• Work tightly with the PIC Design Lead and the CTO to provide rapid, data‑driven feedback on chip performance to iterate on design cycles.
• Mentor and grow a specialized sub‑team of optical engineers and lab technicians.

Requirements:

• Advanced degree (Master’s or Ph.D. preferred) in Electrical Engineering, Optical Physics, Photonics, or a related field.
• Extensive hands‑on industry experience in an advanced optics or photonics lab.
• Deep expertise in photonic measurement techniques and equipment (lasers, detectors, spectrum analyzers).
• Prior leadership or team management experience.
• Note:
  
  A background in theoretical quantum physics or superconducting microwave circuits is not required; the focus is strictly on deep optical/photonic hardware testing.