QPU Software Engineer
Role details
Job location
Tech stack
Job description
In this role, you will develop software that orchestrates and controls the full quantum hardware stack - from real-time control of lasers and FPGAs through to system-wide configuration, diagnostics, and feedback. You will work at the intersection of software engineering, quantum physics, and advanced hardware, enabling precise, reliable, and scalable quantum operations., As part of a highly multidisciplinary engineering team, you will collaborate closely with physicists, systems architects, and hardware engineers to design and implement robust software infrastructure for controlling and operating quantum processing units (QPUs)., * Design and implement software systems for orchestrating quantum experiments, including pulse sequence generation, device coordination, and real-time system control
- Develop and maintain APIs and middleware connecting low-level hardware control (FPGAs, DACs, timing systems) with higher-level orchestration software and compilers
- Implement reliable communication and synchronization protocols across embedded and distributed system components
- Translate experimental and system-level requirements into high-performance, testable software features in collaboration with physicists and system architects
- Contribute to diagnostics, calibration, and validation routines for hardware performance monitoring
- Build tooling to support automation, test infrastructure, system state management, and logging
- Participate in system bring-up, integration testing, and cross-disciplinary debugging
- Influence software architecture decisions, participate in code reviews, and help establish best engineering practices
Requirements
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related discipline
- 5+ years of experience developing software for hardware control, embedded systems, or distributed systems
- Strong programming skills in Python and/or C/C++, with hands-on experience interfacing with hardware (SPI, I2C, UART, Ethernet)
- Experience working with real-time systems or hardware-in-the-loop control environments
- Familiarity with timing and synchronization systems (e.g. PTP) and communication stacks
- Proven ability in system integration, testing, and performance optimisation
Preferred Experience
- Background in scientific instrumentation, lab automation, or quantum hardware control systems
- Experience with FPGA-based systems, DAC/ADC control, or pulse sequencing frameworks
- Exposure to embedded Linux, RTOS, or custom firmware development
- Knowledge of calibration, feedback, and control-loop algorithms
- Experience working in multidisciplinary teams at the intersection of software, hardware, and advanced science