Xanadu

Principal Engineer - Laser Systems

Xanadu • $130K — $180K *
Toronto, ON M3C 0E3In-Person
Consumer Technology
8 - 10 years of experience
Today
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 10+ years in high-performance photonics with expertise in semiconductor lasers and optical systems.
  • Experience managing high-power subsystems and thermal stability requirements.
  • Strong knowledge of laser frequency stabilization and control systems.
  • Success in vendor management and scaling supply chains for photonic components.
  • Experience in photonic integrated circuit testing and large-scale deployment.
  • Proven track record in new product introduction for complex optical systems.

Responsibilities

  • Design and validate the laser subsystem while leading the technical roadmap.
  • Oversee experimental validation of critical laser functionality in the lab.
  • Integrate control logic and electronic systems for robust laser performance.
  • Develop and execute transition strategies for research to industrial solutions.
  • Coordinate cross-functional team efforts for subsystem integration.
  • Lead vendor strategy and manage procurement for photonic components.
  • Mitigate risks in R&D to ensure timely solutions to technical challenges.

Benefits

  • Access to a state-of-the-art optics laboratory.
  • Collaboration with a diverse team of scientists and engineers.
  • Significant budget for project developments.
  • Opportunity to influence long-term technical strategy.
  • Engagement with high-stakes contracts and partnerships.
Full Job Description
Your role and responsibilities:
The Principal Engineer will architect and build the ultra-stable, low-noise laser engines powering the world's first fault-tolerant photonic quantum computers, acting as both a system architect and a hands-on technical lead. This role is responsible for designing and validating the current laser subsystem, defining the long-term technical roadmap, and bridging the gap between prototyping and volume production to meet the requirements of the broader quantum computing architecture. In this function, you will have access to a state-of-the-art optics laboratory, custom integrated photonic devices, a team of scientists of engineers with diverse backgrounds, and a significant team budget.
  • Strategic systems architect: own the technical roadmap, ensure a full set of requirements exists for the subsystems and that it flows down to all components, develop comprehensive test strategy. As the system architect, ensure that the technical documentation is accurate and complete.
  • Hands-on laboratory & integration lead: Personally oversee the experimental validation of critical hurdles. Act as the primary technical authority, coordinate the team to develop and execute a detailed research plan that will meet the subsystem requirements.
  • Stability & control systems expert: Integrate control logic, locking electronics, and physical laser hardware to ensure robust performance. Define stability requirements for the laser front-end to ensure alignment with quantum computing architecture constraints.
  • Product ownership: Develop a complete DfM/DfT/DfR strategy to guarantee that the laser subsystem research will transition into an industrial-grade solution. Develop and execute a suitable workflow for make-buy decisions.
  • Cross functional team leadership: Coordinate with other subteams to ensure a smooth integration of the laser subsystem into the quantum computer system. Ensure all system interfaces are clearly documented. Own the development of clear hand-off packages with other teams: what is expected from them during development (e.g. firmware, electronics, mechanical), and what is delivered to them during system integration.
  • Vendor strategy & relationship lead: Develop and implement a procurement pipeline with standardized requests for quote documentation and validation plans. In partnership with Xanadu's legal and procurement teams, negotiate high-stakes contracts, establish clear technical specifications, and ensure long-term supply chain viability with strategic partners,
  • Risk management: Ensure timely delivery of necessary solutions despite challenging requirements. Deal with risk in the R&D roadmap in a systematic way to ensure no single points of failure for both technical and timeline issues.
Basic qualifications and experience:
  • 10+ years in high-performance photonics, with deep expertise in semiconductor lasers, optical injection locking, optical amplification, and EO modulators.
  • Proven experience managing the coupling between high-power subsystems, thermal management, and noise/stability requirements (specifically RIN and phase noise).
  • Strong background in laser frequency stabilization, high-bandwidth control loops (feedback/servo), and RF/microwave engineering for pulsed optical systems.
  • Demonstrated success in technical vendor management, particularly defining SOWs, navigating complex build-vs-buy decisions, and scaling supply chains for custom photonic components.
  • Experience in photonic integrated circuit testing and deployment at scale.
  • Proven track record in New Product Introduction (NPI) of complex optical systems, with a disciplined, data-driven approach to experimental validation, troubleshooting, and design-for-manufacturability.

About Xanadu

Xanadu Quantum Technologies is a Canadian quantum computing hardware and software company headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. The company develops cloud accessible photonic quantum computers and develops open-source software for quantum machine learning and simulating quantum photonic devices.
Learn more about Xanadu
Industry
Enterprise Technology
* Ladders Estimates

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