Senior Photonic Engineer – Experimentalist

Xanadu’s mission is to build quantum computers that are useful and available to people everywhere.

At Xanadu, we are learners, innovators, researchers, collaborators and problem solvers. We are creating something that has never been built before. What we are doing is extremely hard, the classic moon shot. Few people in their life will be able to be a part of something like this, where if we are successful, the technologies we develop will solve some of the world’s most challenging problems, and literally change the world. And that is something to be excited about!

We are seeking a Senior Photonic Engineer – Experimentalist to participate in designing, developing and experimentally validating cutting-edge photonic systems. Your primary focus will be working with integrated photonics, and precise characterization of the performance of complex photonic chips with several types of high-speed integrated electro-optic elements.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, build and upgrade complex optical laboratory experiments to characterize the performance of photonic integrated chips with electro-optic elements, using continuous-wave and pulsed laser light.
• Perform precise optical measurements of PICs with networks of fast integrated electro-optic modulators; troubleshoot and benchmark opto-electronic systems for stability, noise reduction, and performance optimization, with attention to properties including switching speed, stability, crosstalk, polarization dependence, etc.
• Implement and maintain optical phase locks and related frequency/phase stabilization; contribute to the development and assessment of new phase-locking and calibration protocols.
• Closely collaborate with PIC development, electrical, mechanical, and software engineering teams to ensure successful module integration.
• Generate detailed technical documentation, including design specifications, test procedures, characterization reports, and operational manuals.

• Laboratory proficiency: Demonstrated working knowledge of common laboratory RF and opto-electronic equipment (e.g. oscilloscope, signal generator, spectrum analyzer, photodiodes); the ability to build and troubleshoot complex optical experiments in a laboratory setting.
• Optics expertise: Demonstrated understanding of optical phase-locking techniques, strategies to characterize phase noise and polarization noise in optical fibres and on complex photonic chips, and a conceptual understanding of balanced homodyne detection.
• Electronics: A solid understanding of basic RF electronics, opto-electronic detector & electro-optic modulator concepts.
• Programming skills: Python or similar for data acquisition and analysis.
• Modeling & Analytical Skills: Proven ability to build mathematical models of physical systems utilizing both analytical and numerical tools.
• Education: M.Sc./Ph.D. degree in Quantum Optics, Photonics, AMO, Electrical Engineering or a closely related field. Laboratory research experience in academia or industry.

• Prior work experience: In quantum computing (particularly in optical quantum computing); with thin-film lithium niobate modulators; with co-packaged optical systems.
• Autonomy and technical adaptability: The ability to independently design, build, and troubleshoot complex optical experiments and clearly communicate measurement-derived insights; the ability to rapidly absorb complex, proprietary architectures and master new experimental frameworks.
• Advanced Automation: Experience writing Python scripts for instrument control, hardware interfacing, and automated data acquisition.
• Advanced concepts: Expertise in balanced homodyne detection (c.w. or pulsed), laser noise characterization techniques (phase/frequency, RIN), advanced laser interferometry (Pound-Drever-Hall locking, locking/control theory), optical pulse shaping with IQ modulators and AWGs.
• Education: Ph.D. in Quantum Optics, Photonics, AMO, Electrical Engineering or a closely related field.