Senior Hardware Test Automation Engineer, Photonics

Job Title

Senior Hardware Test Automation Engineer, Photonics

Role Summary

Lead development of automated test stations and software for electro-optical components used in PsiQuantum's photonic quantum systems. Work with validation, engineering, and operations teams to design, deliver, and scale test equipment and procedures for production.

Role focuses on instrumentation selection, station assembly, automation software (Python, OOP), data acquisition, and production handoff.

Experience Level

Senior — expects approximately 6+ years of relevant industry experience.

Responsibilities

Deliver test stations and automation that enable high-throughput, repeatable characterization of electro-optical subassemblies.

• Lead design, build, validation, and handoff of electro-optical test stations in collaboration with Validation and Operations teams.
• Define required test-station capabilities and select instrumentation (lasers, detectors, optical switches, power meters, OSA, OBR, oscilloscopes, AWG, VNA, etc.).
• Manage equipment sourcing, station assembly, and streamline assembly for manufacturability.
• Develop scalable automated test software and calibration/tuning methods to support 1 → N DUT throughput.
• Automate data collection, analysis, and device characterization; extract performance parameters and track yields/failure trends.
• Integrate test data and analysis results into a designated database for production use.
• Apply object-oriented design to create reusable, maintainable test code and reduce errors.
• Review station performance, reduce test time, and propose enhancements for production testing.
• Write operator work instructions and training procedures; support transition to production and 24/7 testing.

Requirements

Key technical skills and experience required; education details are summarized under Education Requirements below.

• Hands-on experience interfacing and automating optical and electro-optical test equipment (power meters, OBR, OSA, oscilloscopes, AWG, VNA, optical switches).
• Experience developing test methods and calibration/tuning algorithms for optical/electro-optical systems.
• Proficiency in Python with strong object-oriented programming practices for automation and data analysis.
• Experience applying AI techniques to debug, optimize, or generate code and to resolve common testing problems.
• Knowledge of sourcing test equipment and electronics, and practical experience testing optical assemblies and electronic subsystems.
• Experience designing and testing high-speed electro-optical systems (for example, telecom line cards or similar).
• Technical project management experience, including coordinating cross-functional delivery to operations.
• Experience storing and managing test data in databases; familiarity with data pipelines and basic SQL usage.
• Nice-to-have: prior work with Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and deeper SQL/database experience.

Education Requirements

Master's degree in engineering, computer science, or physical science (or equivalent degrees), or 6+ years of relevant industry experience. Equivalent practical experience is acceptable.

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.