Manager, Photonics Hardware Validation Engineering

Job Title

Manager, Photonics Hardware Validation Engineering

Role Summary

The Engineering Manager, Photonics Hardware Validation leads characterization, verification, validation, performance classification, and failure analysis of electro-optical subassemblies integrated with photonic integrated circuits (PICs). The primary focus is validating single-photon sources and detectors and their RF readout chains from proof-of-concept through qualification and manufacturing readiness.

This role combines people leadership and technical oversight and partners with photonics design, electrical, mechanical, packaging, firmware, software, systems, product engineering, and manufacturing teams to verify requirements, resolve hardware issues, and demonstrate design and manufacturing readiness.

Experience Level

Senior-level: typically 8+ years industry experience relevant to optical and electro-optical hardware validation, including at least 2 years of people management or equivalent technical leadership.

Responsibilities

Own validation strategy and execution for photonic modules and electro-optical subassemblies across development and manufacturing handoff.

• Lead, hire, and develop a photonics hardware validation team; define ownership, priorities, and career paths.
• Create and own characterization, verification, and validation plans from initial bring-up through qualification and production transfer.
• Establish repeatable measurement methods, calibration, uncertainty analysis, experimental designs, and configuration-controlled test documentation.
• Drive cross-functional debugging, failure analysis, and root-cause investigations; verify corrective actions and communicate residual risks.
• Review integrated optical, electrical, firmware, software, packaging, and thermal designs to identify critical measurements and improve design-for-testability.
• Translate system and component requirements into measurable acceptance criteria, requirements-to-test traceability, and validation reports.
• Partner with operations to define production test methods; manage validation schedules, lab capacity, and equipment needs.
• Provide regular execution summaries, yield indications, and readiness assessments to stakeholders.
• Promote safe laboratory practices for lasers, optics, RF instrumentation, and sensitive devices.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills, experience, and capabilities for successful execution.

• 8+ years industry experience in optical and electro-optical hardware characterization, validation, and test.
• 2+ years of people management or demonstrated technical/team leadership experience.
• Strong foundation in silicon photonics, optical systems, and electro-optical characterization (insertion loss, return loss, etc.).
• Hands-on expertise with optical and RF laboratory instrumentation and RF readout electronics (LNAs, bias tees, baluns); experience with measurement uncertainty and quantitative troubleshooting.
• Proven record leading hardware bring-up, requirements-based test planning, failure analysis, and qualification.
• Experience in data analysis using Python, MATLAB, or comparable environments with emphasis on reproducibility and traceability.
• Ability to lead cross-functional technical decisions, manage competing priorities, and communicate complex issues to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor engineers and establish repeatable validation practices.

Nice-to-have:

• Experience with single-photon detection, low-noise RF readout chains, and low-level signal characterization.
• Experience with wafer-level or packaged-device characterization, PIC integration, and design-for-test methodologies.
• Experience in reliability qualification, statistical analysis, design of experiments, and production yield improvement.
• Experience testing in cryogenic environments or validating photonics hardware for quantum computing applications.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, physics, optics, photonics, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience. Preferred: Master's degree or PhD in a relevant technical discipline.

About the Company

Company: PsiQuantum

Headquarters: Palo Alto, CA, United States

PsiQuantum develops silicon-photonic quantum computers aimed at building million-qubit, fault-tolerant systems. Founded in 2016, the company combines semiconductor manufacturing processes, photonic hardware, and quantum software to scale quantum systems for commercial and government applications.