Senior Characterization and Test Engineer

PsiQuantums 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 architectureand approachisbased on silicon photonics. Byleveragingthe 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: photonsdontfeel 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 2025PsiQuantumclosed a$1 billionfunding round that valued the company at$7 2026 the U.S. Department of Commerce signed a $100 million Letter of Intent under the CHIPS and Science Act followed by a $125 million agreement with DARPA under Stage C of its Quantum Benchmarking InitiativePsiQuantumsmost valuable U.S. government agreement to date. This year we also broke ground on our utility-scale quantum computer in Brisbane Australia and continued building out our Chicago site. Victor Peng our CEO and co-founder Jeremy OBrien now ExecutiveChairman lead a team and board that reflects how seriously the world is taking this build joined this year by Intels Lip-Bu Tan and Atomicos NiklasZennström.

PsiQuantumalso 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 includingAirbusLockheedMartin Mercedes-Benz Boehringer Ingelheim and Mitsubishi Chemical to prepare quantum solutions for real-world impact.

Quantum computing is not an extension of classical computing. Itrepresentsa fundamental shift and a path to mastering challenges that cannot besolvedany other way. The potential is enormous and we now havethe fundingthe governmentvalidation andthe sitesunder construction to make it real.

Job Summary:

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. The engineer will work closely with product packaging reliability and manufacturing teams and mentor junior engineers to generate the high-quality data and engineering judgment that enables product development qualification and volume ramp decisions.

Responsibilities:

• Lead electrical optical thermal and mechanical characterization programs for photonic devices packages and assemblies from test plan definition through execution and reporting.
• Own the design of test plans and DOEs supporting product development process validation reliability qualification and failure analysis and review/approve plans developed by junior team members.
• Drive selection setup and qualification of laboratory equipment including optical measurement systems vibrometers thermal imaging systems and mechanical testers and define best practices for their use.
• Independently analyze and interpret complex test data identify performance and reliability trends and translate findings into engineering recommendations for product and packaging teams.
• Lead root-cause investigations and failure analysis efforts coordinating across characterization packaging reliability and manufacturing to close out issues.
• Develop and maintain automated test scripts data pipelines and analysis tools (Python or similar) to improve lab throughput and data quality.
• Author technical reports and present findings and recommendations to cross-functional and leadership audiences.
• Define and build new characterization methods test fixtures and lab capabilities to support next-generation photonic products.
• Own qualification and reliability test programs including thermal mechanical and environmental stress testing and represent characterization in design/qualification reviews.
• Establish and maintain lab documentation test procedures and equipment calibration standards; ensure compliance across the team.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior characterization/test engineers and lab technicians.
• Partner with product packaging reliability process and manufacturing engineering to resolve complex technical challenges and influence design decisions.

Experience/Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering Optical Engineering Applied Physics or a related discipline with 8 years of relevant experience or Masters degree with 5 years of relevant experience in engineering characterization testing laboratory operations or product development.
• Demonstrated hands-on expertise operating and troubleshooting characterization equipment including Infrared Thermography Laser Doppler Vibrometers (LDV) Instron Universal Mechanical Testers and C-Mode Scanning Acoustic Microscopy (C-SAM).
• 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.
• Experience mentoring or informally leading junior engineers or technicians.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  
  
  Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience with photonic devices optoelectronics semiconductor packaging or advanced manufacturing.
• Experience with optical alignment imaging systems or optical characterization technique development.
• Experience building test automation frameworks or new test capability from scratch.
• Experience leading reliability testing or failure analysis programs including ownership of qualification test plans.
• Experience presenting technical results in design reviews or to leadership.
• PsiQuantum 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.

Note: 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 .

We are not accepting unsolicited resumes from employment agencies.