{"id":1459231,"url":"https://alion.io/job/nu-quantum-photonics-design-engineer","title":"Photonics Design Engineer","company":{"id":51529,"name":"Nu Quantum","domain":"nu-quantum.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/nu-quantum","size_band":"51-200","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workable","truth_index":null},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":null,"employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"explicit","locations":["Cambridge, United Kingdom"],"countries":["GB"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":43000,"max_usd":93000,"period":"year","method":"role_country_seniority_unknown","sample_n":480},"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":true,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"KLayout","optional":false},{"name":"MATLAB","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-09-29T11:24:05Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-09-29","last_verified_at":"2026-10-06T22:12:50Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":7,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":7},"description":"Contract Type: Full-time, Permanent\nLocation: Cambridge, UK\nVisa Sponsorship available\nJoin Nu Quantum - Shaping the Future of Technology\nNu Quantum is at the forefront of quantum computing and advanced technology, driven by innovation, diversity, and a commitment to excellence. We’re creating an environment where brilliant minds from all backgrounds collaborate to push the boundaries of what’s possible.\nFounded to commercialise research generated over the last decade at the Cavendish Laboratory, Nu Quantum is on a mission to shape the future of quantum information systems.\nWe’re working on exciting technology that will improve the utility and accelerate the time-to-market of quantum computing systems. We integrate novel quantum photonic technology to form an efficient and scalable quantum networking infrastructure in partnership with world-leading companies and academic groups.\nAbout the role\nAs a Photonic Design Engineer within Nu Quantum’s Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) team, you will work towards advancing our quantum networking technology by designing and optimising integrated photonic components critical to our scalable quantum systems. You will work with cutting-edge quantum photonics and advanced photonic integration technologies to develop innovative PIC designs that meet the stringent performance, reliability, and manufacturability requirements of quantum hardware.\nYou will collaborate closely with our quantum photonics scientists, fabrication partners, packaging engineers, and test teams to drive the development of robust photonic building blocks such as waveguides, couplers, modulators, and switch networks. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a pioneering company at the forefront of quantum photonics innovation.\nWhat You'll be doing\nDesign and develop passive and active photonic components such as waveguides, couplers, interferometers and switches using design & simulation tools such as Lumerical and GDSFactory and any other existing state-of-the-art tools to complement them.\nPerform detailed simulations and modelling of integrated photonic circuits.\nCollaborate closely with fabrication teams and foundries to ensure design-for-manufacture compatibility and to troubleshoot fabrication issues.\nDevelop and maintain design libraries, PDKs (Process Design Kits), and documentation for repeatable and scalable device design.\nAnalyse experimental data from device testing to validate models and improve designs iteratively.\nWork-cross functionally with test engineers, system architects and external partners to develop a fully integrated switch network.\nCommunicate technical progress, risks, and results clearly to internal and external stakeholders.\nRequirements\nEssential\nPostgraduate-level qualification in Photonics, Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field.\nProven experience in photonic device design and simulation, preferably for silicon and silicon nitride, lithium niobate, or III-V platforms.\nProficiency with photonic simulation software such as Lumerical FDTD, MODE Solutions, Multiphysics, or similar.\nExperience with photonic layout tools (GDSFactory, KLayout, Cadence, or equivalent) and GDSII file formats.\nStrong understanding of optical waveguide theory, integrated optics, and electro-optic device principles.\nExperience with Python, MATLAB, or similar programming/scripting languages for automation and data analysis.\nExcellent problem solving skills with a 'can do' attitude and ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.\nGood team player with good communication skills (verbal and written).\nDesirable\nExperience with quantum photonics or nonlinear optical devices.\nKnowledge of photonic packaging, fiber coupling, and test methodology.\nFamiliarity with Design for Test (DfT) and Design for Manufacturing (DfM) principles.\nUnderstanding of foundry processes and design rules for photonic integration.\nFamiliarisation with PIC characterisation.\nBenefits\nWhy work with us?\nAt Nu Quantum, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where people of all identities, orientations, backgrounds, and experiences are empowered. We value diverse perspectives as a source of creativity and innovation and encourage applications from all backgrounds, including those from underrepresented and marginalised communities. Joining Nu Quantum means joining a team where you can grow professionally and be part of an inspiring mission to shape the future of technology.\nBenefits\nFlexible working options\nGroup DIS cover (4 x salary)\n1 month paid Sabbatical after 4 years of service\nGenerous Employee Referral Scheme\nPrivate Medical and Dental Cover (With Vitality and Bupa)\nOn-site gym membership\nCycle scheme \nRefreshments, including fruit and beverages, are available in the office.\n28 days annual leave, including a 3-day company shutdown period + UK Public Holidays\nOption to purchase up to 5 days holiday per year\nEnhanced paid family leave policies \nTime for Charity work\nAccess to the Cambridge Botanical Gardens","description_format":"text","description_chars":5078,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":null,"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Annual leave","Flexible schedule","Gym membership","Parental leave"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United Kingdom","iso":"GB","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Optical Communications","Quantum Computing Hardware"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-29T11:24:05Z"}],"visa":[{"country":"GB","licensed_sponsor":true,"evidence":"Licensed UK visa sponsor (Skilled Worker)","filings_12m":null,"filings_prev_12m":null,"green_card_filings_12m":null,"median_offered_wage_usd":null,"route":"Skilled Worker","cap_exempt":false,"checked_at":"2026-10-06T06:21:00+00:00","sources":["UK Home Office: register of licensed sponsors (workers)"],"filings_for_role_12m":0}],"liveness":{"score":90,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.903,"p_room":1,"age_days":6,"expected_fill_days":34,"reasons":["conf:0","velocity","win:early"],"computed_at":"2026-10-06T05:45:30Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/nu-quantum-photonics-design-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/nu-quantum-photonics-design-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-06T23:20:05Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":4585,"day_limit":5000,"remaining_today":415,"minute_limit":60,"resets_at":"2026-10-07T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":51529},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=51529"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fnu-quantum-photonics-design-engineer"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fnu-quantum-photonics-design-engineer"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fnu-quantum-photonics-design-engineer"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/nu-quantum-photonics-design-engineer\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fnu-quantum-photonics-design-engineer"}]}