Photonics Engineer

QuEra Computing, Inc.

$128K — $208K *
Enterprise Technology
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Master's or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related field, or 4+ years experience in photonic integrated circuits (PICs)
  • In-depth knowledge of PIC workflows, from simulation to testing
  • Strong Python skills with experience in engineering automation, including AI tools
  • Interest in photonic design automation, large-scale layout, high-volume testing, or systems control
  • Demonstrated technical impact through publications, patents, or shipped products

Responsibilities

  • Lead the tapeouts of high-performance photonic and optoelectronic components
  • Develop and maintain AI-driven component development pipelines, focusing initially on layout
  • Collaborate with foundry partners, iterating through design-fab-test cycles
  • Engage in the entire photonics workflow covering design, simulation, layout, testing, and experimentation
  • Integrate photonic components into comprehensive quantum computing systems, working with engineers and scientists

Benefits

  • Equity grants for all new hires
  • Focus on innovative work in the emerging field of quantum computing
  • Opportunity for impactful contributions to a cutting-edge technology
  • Access to a multidisciplinary team of engineers and quantum scientists
  • Engagement in a dynamic, growth-oriented company culture
Full Job Description
Summary

QuEra Computing, a frontrunner in the quantum computing industry, is seeking a highly motivated and experienced full-stack Photonic Engineer to help build the AI-driven component development pipelines that will accelerate next-generation photonic chip development. You will explore state-of-the-art optimization workflows, directly improving how quickly our engineers can iterate and tape out novel photonic components for large-scale fault-tolerant neutral-atom quantum computers.

Responsibilities
  • Lead tapeouts of high-performance photonic and optoelectronic components and circuits.
  • Own and build out our AI-driven component development pipelines, with early focus on the layout pipeline.
  • Collaborate with foundry partners through iterative design-fab-test cycles, translating PDK constraints and fab feedback into faster convergence on working devices.
  • Contribute across photonics workflow: device design, simulation, layout, test, and system-level experiments.
  • Work closely with a multidisciplinary team of engineers and quantum scientists to integrate photonic components into complete quantum computing systems.

Qualifications
  • Master's or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field, or 4+ years of experience with photonic integrated circuits (PICs).
  • Deep understanding and practical experience across PIC workflows, from simulation and layout to experimentation and control.
  • Strong Python skills and a demonstrated track record of automating engineering work, including with AI tools.
  • Enthusiasm for at least one of: photonic design automation, large-scale layout design, high-volume photonics testing, or photonic systems control.
  • Proven technical impact, evidenced by publications, patents, or shipped products.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience with commercial PIC simulation tools such as Lumerical, Tidy3D, and layout tools such as gdsfactory, KLayout, gdspy, or IPKISS.
  • Applied ML or AI for device design or layout optimization, such as inverse design, Bayesian optimization, or LLM-assisted design or layout workflows.
  • Direct experience with a specific foundry PDK and its design-rule constraints.
  • Experience with the development of optical components and systems for atomic physics, such as high-power visible/near-IR light, AOM/EOM control, beam delivery for atom trapping or Rydberg excitation.
  • Prior work in quantum computing, quantum sensing, quantum communication, or another physics-heavy hardware environment.

The approximate base salary range for this position is $128,000 - $208,000.

We consistently monitor external market data and update base salary ranges accordingly. We determine base compensation decisions on several factors, including as geographic placement, role-specific knowledge, skills, and/or experience. In addition to our base salary offerings, we also provide equity grants for all new hires.

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