{"id":1218573,"url":"https://alion.io/job/psiquantum-intern-system-architecture","title":"Intern, System Architecture","company":{"id":1616,"name":"PsiQuantum","domain":"psiquantum.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/psiquantum","size_band":"51-200","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Greenhouse","truth_index":{"grade":"C","score":65,"open_postings":63,"ghost_share":0.587,"stale_share":0,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":null,"computed_at":"2026-09-27T05:45:00Z"}},"role":"Early Careers","role_family":"Early Careers","seniority":"intern","employment_type":"internship","work_mode":"remote","remote_scope":"stated_countries","remote_scope_basis":"board_field","remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"inferred","locations":["Palo Alto, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":["US","GB"],"hiring_countries_total":2,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":28000,"max_usd":45000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_cell","sample_n":8},"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"C++","optional":false},{"name":"GitHub","optional":false},{"name":"Julia","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-06-23T16:53:43Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-09-25","last_verified_at":"2026-09-28T02:03:02Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":96,"trust":{"level":"ghost","repost_count":0,"flags":["stale","company_stale"],"days_open":96},"description":"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. \nQuantum 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. \nOur 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. \nIn 2024, PsiQuantum announced government-funded projects to support the build-out of our first utility-scale quantum computers in Brisbane, Australia, and Chicago, Illinois. These initiatives reflect a growing recognition that quantum computing will be strategically and economically defining-and that now is the time to scale. \nPsiQuantum also develops the algorithms and software needed to make these systems commercially valuable. Our application, software, and industry teams work directly with leading Fortune 500 companies-including Lockheed Martin, Mercedes-Benz, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Mitsubishi Chemical-to prepare quantum solutions for real-world impact. \nQuantum computing is not an extension of classical computing. It represents a fundamental shift-and a path to mastering challenges that cannot be solved any other way. The potential is enormous, and we have a clear path to make it real. \nCome join us. \nJob Summary:\nOur system architecture department sits at the interface of hardware development, manufacturing, and the quantum architecture to design the first fault-tolerant quantum computer. The optical architecture group are specifically responsible for:\ndiscovering and developing new schemes for photonic quantum computation\ntranslating abstract quantum information protocols into the designs of physical systems\nmodelling quantum optical systems to determine the requirements for hardware systems\nInternships are hired on a rolling basis, with durations of 3 to 6 months. We offer placement opportunities in Palo Alto, California (United States), Bristol (United Kingdom), and remotely.\nThe internship role requires a challenging mix of analytical skills and programming. We are looking for fast learning, productive, creative individuals who are motivated to translate theoretical concepts into real technology.\nResponsibilities:\nContribute to ongoing optical architecture technical projects. For example:Writing prototype software implementations for controlling and simulating the optical networks inside photonic quantum computers.\nApplying results from quantum information theory, network design and/or optimization to improve optical architecture designs.\nDevelopment and discovery of new approaches to photonic quantum computing.\n\nSimulate and benchmark different protocols.\nDocument and communicate results.\nExperience/Qualifications:\nDegree in: Physics, Math, Computer Science, Engineering or equivalent.\nCurrently studying or recently finished a postgraduate degree (PhD preferred).\nExperience in programming in Python, C++, Julia or similar languages.\nCompetent use of collaborative software development tools (e.g., GitHub) is desirable.\nAbility to communicate effectively and work closely with others.\nPreferred: knowledge of quantum optics, photonic hardware, switch network design, optimization, graph theory.\nU.S. Intern Hourly Pay Rate Chart \n\nEducation level COMPLETED \n\nHourly Rate \n\nHousing/Commuter Stipend \n\nBachelors: In Process \n\n$27.50 \n\nVariable based on permanent residency location \n\nBachelor’s Degree \n\n$31.00 \n\nVariable based on permanent residency location \n\nMaster’s: 1st Year \n\n$36.00 \n\nVariable based on permanent residency location \n\nMaster’s Degree \n\n$40.00 \n\nVariable based on permanent residency location \n\nPhD: In Process \n\n$44.00 \n\nVariable based on permanent residency location \n\nPhD: Near Completion \n\n$47.00 \n\nVariable based on permanent residency location \n\nUK Intern Compensation Rates \n\nEducation level COMPLETED \n\nHourly Rate \n\n Annualized \n\nBachelors: Freshman/Sophomore/Junior \n\n15 \n\n 31,200 \n\nBachelor’s Degree \n\n17 \n\n 35,360 \n\nMasters, 1st Year \n\n18 \n\n 37,440 \n\nMaster’s Degree \n\n20 \n\n 41,600 \n\nPh.D. in process \n\n24 \n\n 49,920 \n\nPh.D. near completion \n\n27 \n\n 56,160 \n\nPsiQuantum provides equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. PsiQuantum does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable laws.\nNote: PsiQuantum will only reach out to you using an official PsiQuantum email address and will never ask you for bank account information as part of the interview process. Please report any suspicious activity to  .\nWe are not accepting unsolicited resumes from employment agencies.","description_format":"text","description_chars":5598,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"},{"name":"United Kingdom","iso":"GB","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Manufacturing"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-25T11:28:39Z"}],"liveness":{"score":3,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":1,"p_active":0.118,"p_room":0.28,"age_days":95,"expected_fill_days":30,"reasons":["conf:1","stale_co","velocity","ghost","win:tail","crowd:junior"],"computed_at":"2026-09-27T05:45:00Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/psiquantum-intern-system-architecture","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/psiquantum-intern-system-architecture.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-09-28T05:31:29Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","usage":{"tier":"crawler","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":3743,"day_limit":5000,"remaining_today":1257,"minute_limit":60,"resets_at":"2026-09-29T00:00:00Z"}}}