PsiQuantum is on a mission to build the first commercially useful quantum computer to solve humanity. Backed by Founders Fund and Redpoint.
About the role
The Senior Characterization & Test Engineer will own the evaluation, characterization, and validation strategy for photonic devices, packages, and subsystems. This role will lead the design and execution of electrical, optical, thermal, and mechanical test programs, drive root-cause and reliability investigations, and set technical direction for the characterization lab.
What they're looking for
- Track record of independently analyzing thermal, mechanical, vibration, and package integrity data to drive product development, reliability, and failure analysis decisions
- Deep experience with laboratory instrumentation and data acquisition system design/integration
- Solid working knowledge of optics, photonics, electronics, semiconductor devices, or advanced packaging technologies
- Proficiency with data analysis tools such as Python, MATLAB, JMP, or equivalent, including building automated analysis pipelines
- Strong command of Design of Experiments (DOE) and statistical analysis methods, with experience designing (not just executing) test programs
- Demonstrated ability to lead technical investigations and communicate findings to cross-functional and senior stakeholders
More about this role
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.
That approach has since been tested at the highest level of scrutiny the U.S. government applies to emerging technology, and it has held up. In 2025, PsiQuantum...
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