{"id":1218619,"url":"https://alion.io/job/psiquantum-technical-lead-single-photon-sources-validation-2","title":"Engineering Manager, Photonics Hardware Validation","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":"A","score":88,"open_postings":78,"ghost_share":0.115,"stale_share":0,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":106,"computed_at":"2026-10-31T05:58:55Z"}},"role":"Hardware","role_family":"Hardware","seniority":"lead","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Milpitas, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":195000,"max":215000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":215000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":8,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"MATLAB","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false},{"name":"Design of Experiments","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-04-21T17:58:11Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-29","last_verified_at":"2026-10-31T04:25:17Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":192,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":0,"flags":["company_stale"],"days_open":192},"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:\nLead the team responsible for validating the photonics hardware at the heart of our quantum computing platform.\nThe Engineering Manager, Photonics Hardware Validation owns the characterization, verification, validation, performance classification, and failure analysis of electro-optical subassemblies integrated with custom photonic integrated circuits (PICs). The primary focus of this role is the validation of single-photon sources and detectors, including the associated RF signal readout chain. This role leads validation strategy and execution from proof-of-concept test methodologies and early hardware bring-up through qualification and manufacturing readiness.\nYou will combine people leadership with strong technical oversight, partnering with photonics design, electrical, mechanical, packaging, firmware, software, systems, product engineering, and manufacturing teams to verify requirements, resolve hardware issues, and provide clear evidence of design and manufacturing readiness.\nResponsibilities:\nLead, hire, and grow a photonics hardware validation team; define technical ownership, priorities, staffing plans, and career development opportunities.\nOwn comprehensive characterization, verification, and validation plans for photonic modules and electro-optical subassemblies, from initial hardware bring-up through qualification and manufacturing transfer.\nEstablish repeatable measurement methods, calibration practices, uncertainty analysis, experimental designs, data-review processes, and configuration-controlled test documentation.\nDrive cross-functional debugging, failure analysis, and root-cause investigations; verify corrective actions and clearly communicate residual risks and recommended next steps.\nReview integrated optical, electrical, firmware, software, packaging, and thermal designs; identify critical measurements and influence design-for-testability and validation access.\nTranslate system and component requirements into measurable acceptance criteria, requirements-to-test traceability, test coverage, and validation reports.\nPartner with operations teams to define test methods for production units.\nManage validation schedules, laboratory capacity, equipment needs, and cross-functional dependencies; provide regular execution summaries, validation reports, yield indications, and readiness assessments to stakeholders.\nPromote safe laboratory practices and effective handling of lasers, optical equipment, RF instrumentation, and sensitive devices.\nExperience/Qualifications:\nBachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, physics, optics, photonics, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.\n8 or more years of industry experience relevant to optical and electro-optical hardware characterization, validation, and test, including 2 or more years of people management or demonstrated technical and team leadership.\nStrong foundation in silicon photonics, optical systems, and electro-optical characterization, including insertion loss, return loss, and hands-on use of optical test equipment.\nHands-on expertise with optical and RF laboratory instrumentation and RF readout electronics such as LNAs, bias tees, and baluns, including measurement uncertainty and quantitative troubleshooting.\nProven record leading cross-functional hardware validation and failure analysis, including hardware bring-up, requirements-based test planning, issue closure, and qualification.\nExperience in data analysis using Python, MATLAB, or comparable environments, with an emphasis on reproducible and traceable results.\nAbility to lead cross-functional technical decisions, manage competing priorities, and communicate complex engineering issues clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.\nDemonstrated ability to mentor engineers, develop technical leads, and establish repeatable validation practices.\nPreferred Qualifications\nMaster’s degree or PhD in a relevant technical discipline.\nExperience with single-photon detection, low-noise RF readout chains, and characterization of low-level optical and electrical signals.\nExperience with wafer-level or packaged-device characterization, PIC integration, and design-for-test methodologies for photonic hardware.\nExperience with reliability qualification, statistical analysis, design of experiments, and production yield improvement.\nExperience testing in cryogenic environments or validating photonics hardware for quantum computing applications, including thermo-mechanical stress.\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  .\nWe are not accepting unsolicited resumes from employment agencies.\nThe ranges below reflect the target ranges for a new hire base salary. One is for the Bay Area (within 50 miles of HQ, Palo Alto), the second one (if applicable) is for elsewhere in the US (beyond 50 miles of HQ, Palo Alto). If there is only one range, it is for the specific location of where the position will be located. Actual compensation may vary outside of these ranges and is dependent on various factors including but not limited to a candidate's qualifications including relevant education and training, competencies, experience, geographic location, and business needs. Base pay is only one part of the total compensation package. Full time roles are eligible for equity and benefits. Base pay is subject to change and may be modified in the future.\nU.S. Base Pay Range\n$195,000—$215,000 USD\nBay Area Pay Range\n$200,000—$225,000 USD","description_format":"text","description_chars":8116,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":8,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Equity"],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Optical Communications","Quantum Science & Computing","Quantum Computing Hardware"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-25T11:28:39Z"},{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-29T04:48:35Z"}],"visa":[{"country":"US","licensed_sponsor":true,"evidence":"H-1B filings in 12 months: 23","filings_12m":23,"filings_prev_12m":15,"green_card_filings_12m":0,"median_offered_wage_usd":157500,"route":null,"cap_exempt":false,"checked_at":"2026-10-29T16:27:21+00:00","sources":["US Department of Labor: LCA disclosure data (H-1B, H-1B1, E-3)"],"filings_for_role_12m":5}],"liveness":{"score":21,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":1,"p_active":0.578,"p_room":0.36,"age_days":192,"expected_fill_days":106,"reasons":["conf:1","velocity","win:tail","crowd:"],"computed_at":"2026-10-31T05:58:55Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":215000,"is_top_pay":false},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/psiquantum-technical-lead-single-photon-sources-validation-2","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/psiquantum-technical-lead-single-photon-sources-validation-2.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-31T06:14:59Z","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_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":9124,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-11-01T00:00:00Z"}},"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":1616},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=1616"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fpsiquantum-technical-lead-single-photon-sources-validation-2"},{"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%2Fpsiquantum-technical-lead-single-photon-sources-validation-2"},{"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%2Fpsiquantum-technical-lead-single-photon-sources-validation-2"},{"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/psiquantum-technical-lead-single-photon-sources-validation-2\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fpsiquantum-technical-lead-single-photon-sources-validation-2"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":1218619}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"psiquantum.com","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":1218619},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. 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