HRL Laboratories, an IBM company, pioneers the next frontiers of physical and information science. Delivering transformative technologies in automotive, aerospace and defense, HRL advances the critical missions of its customers to help them remove limitations and create competitive advantage. HRL then transitions the work back to customers – ready for real-world application. For more than 70 years, HRL’s rich portfolio of scientific discoveries and engineering innovations continues to build on each other — often in unexpected, profound and far-reaching ways. As a private company owned by IBM, HRL prioritizes purpose over profit, significantly advancing the state of the art.
Qubit Systems Laboratory (QSL) is a world leader in semiconductor spin qubits. Our broad expertise spans semiconductor growth, device design and modeling, cryogenic control, high-density interconnects and packaging, quantum architecture, and multiqubit demonstrations. Our system architecture is built entirely around scalable semiconductor manufacturing to make quantum computing affordable for practical business and scientific applications.
We are seeking a Senior Software Engineer with a strong physics background and demonstrated leadership in technical, cross functional projects. In this role, you will design and develop internal tools and backend data stores that collect, analyze, and surface logs and metrics from our quantum computing infrastructure, including spin qubit device testing platforms. You will build software that bridges experimental hardware, quantum device physics, and production grade internal applications. You will frequently collaborate with physicists, software engineers, data scientists, IT, and device test teams, acting as a technical integrator and project driver. This is a high impact, high visibility role central to the function and advancement of the Quantum Software team.
Essential Duties:
• Design, build, and maintain infrastructure for collecting logs, metrics, and test data from spin qubit devices and associated hardware/software systems.
• Develop and maintain internal tools and dashboards using Python, SQL, and VueJS.
• Build endpoint monitoring and observability features directly into internal APIs and device test workflows.
• Collaborate with physicists and device test engineers to structure, validate, and contextualize experimental data.
• Lead cross functional technical initiatives, coordinating requirements, timelines, and deliverables across software, physics, and hardware test teams.
• Develop queries, dashboards, and reports that support scientific analysis, device characterization, and operational decision making.
• Maintain monitoring and data processing pipelines across multiple enterprise or lab networks, ensuring reliability, performance, and security.
Required Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s, master’s or PhD in computer science, physics or related discipline with at least 5 years of industry experience.
• Strong proficiency in Python and SQL for tool development, data processing, and automation.
• Experience building user facing or internal interfaces using VueJS (or comparable modern JavaScript frameworks).
• Demonstrated experience working with or supporting spin qubit device testing, semiconductor device physics, or related experimental hardware environments.
• Familiarity with AI/ML workflows or demonstrated success integrating AI tools into development, analysis, or operational processes.
• Experience writing shell scripts (PowerShell, Bash, batch) for automation and system integration.
• Strong understanding of core computer science fundamentals including data structures, algorithms, and system architecture.
• Strong communicator with the ability to produce clear documentation and lead technically complex, cross disciplinary projects.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Experience working with Elasticsearch or similar logging/observability stacks.
• Experience with distributed systems, device test automation, or laboratory instrumentation control.
• Prior leadership of multi stakeholder technical projects in R&D environments.
Special Requirements:
U.S. Person Status Required
Compensation and Benefits:
Pay Range: $140,700 - $175,950
Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location (California). The range displayed on each job posting reflects the target range for new hire salaries for the position. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range during the hiring process.
Benefits: HRL offers a generous and very competitive total compensation and benefits package. Our Regular/Full Time benefits include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401K match, gym facilities, PTO, Sick time, upward mobility, and an exciting and challenging work environment.
For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: https://www.hrl.com/careers/benefits
Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)
Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At HRL, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.
We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing.
If you would like more information about Equal Employment Opportunity as an applicant under the law, please go to Employees & Job Applicants | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
For our privacy policy please visit: www.hrl.com/privacy
Skills Required
- Bachelor's, master's, or PhD in computer science, physics, or a related discipline
- At least 5 years of industry experience
- Strong proficiency in Python and SQL
- Experience building user-facing or internal interfaces using VueJS or comparable modern JavaScript frameworks
- Experience with spin qubit device testing, semiconductor device physics, or related experimental hardware environments
- Familiarity with AI/ML workflows or experience integrating AI tools
- Experience writing PowerShell, Bash, or batch shell scripts
- Strong understanding of data structures, algorithms, and system architecture
- Strong communication, documentation, and cross-disciplinary technical leadership skills
- Experience with Elasticsearch or similar logging and observability stacks
- Experience with distributed systems, device test automation, or laboratory instrumentation control
- Prior leadership of multi-stakeholder technical projects in R&D environments
- U.S. Person status
What the Team is Saying
HRL Laboratories Compensation & Benefits Highlights
-
Retirement Support — Automatic enrollment, a 100% match on the first 4% of contributions, and an additional age-based employer contribution indicate a strong retirement offering. The plan also lists 23+ investment options, supporting long-term savings choice.
-
Healthcare Strength — Multiple PPO and HMO medical options plus an HDHP with employer HSA contributions, alongside dental options and employer‑paid vision, point to broad, well-supported coverage. Employer‑paid life, short‑ and long‑term disability, and optional supplemental coverage add further protection.
-
Leave & Time Off Breadth — A flexible PTO bank with hours available at hire, accrual that grows over time, roughly 13–14 paid holidays including a year‑end shutdown, and a separate sick‑time allotment suggest ample leave. Policies also include up to 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave for eligible employees.
HRL Laboratories Insights
What We Do
HRL Laboratories, an IBM company, pioneers the next frontiers of physical and information science. Delivering transformative technologies in automotive, aerospace and defense, HRL advances the critical missions of its customers. As a private company owned by IBM, HRL is a source of innovations that advance the state of the art in profound and far-reaching ways.
Why Work With Us
Our success is the result of our collaborative team of researchers, many of whom are the leading experts in their fields. Through their insights in support for our customers, we are finding the unique opportunities in technology.
Gallery
HRL Laboratories Offices
OnSite Workspace
Hybrid Policy is role specific.
