Senior Optical Fiber Engineer

PsiQuantum’s mission is to build the first useful quantum computers—machines capable of delivering the breakthroughs the field has long promised. Since our founding in 2016, our singular focus has been to build and deploy million-qubit, fault-tolerant quantum systems. 

Quantum computers harness the laws of quantum mechanics to solve problems that even the most advanced supercomputers or AI systems will never reach. Their impact will span energy, pharmaceuticals, finance, agriculture, transportation, materials, and other foundational industries. 

Our architecture and approach is based on silicon photonics. By leveraging the advanced semiconductor manufacturing industry—including partners like GlobalFoundries—we use the same high-volume processes that already produce billions of chips for telecom and consumer electronics. Photonics offers natural advantages for scale: photons don’t feel heat, are immune to electromagnetic interference, and integrate with existing cryogenic cooling and standard fiber-optic infrastructure. 

In 2024, PsiQuantum announced government-funded projects to support the build-out of our first utility-scale quantum computers in Brisbane, Australia, and Chicago, Illinois. These initiatives reflect a growing recognition that quantum computing will be strategically and economically defining—and that now is the time to scale. 

PsiQuantum also develops the algorithms and software needed to make these systems commercially valuable. Our application, software, and industry teams work directly with leading Fortune 500 companies—including Lockheed Martin, Mercedes-Benz, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Mitsubishi Chemical—to prepare quantum solutions for real-world impact. 

Quantum computing is not an extension of classical computing. It represents a fundamental shift—and a path to mastering challenges that cannot be solved any other way. The potential is enormous, and we have a clear path to make it real. 

Come join us. 

Job Summary:

We are seeking a Senior Optical Fibre Engineer to develop and evaluate advanced optical fibre for high-performance optical systems. This role combines optical modelling, deep understanding of advanced speciality optical fibre behaviour and design tradeoffs, and hands-on experimental validation, including the measurement and verification of key fibre properties. The successful candidate will work with internal teams with diverse technical expertise, and external partners, to translate performance requirements into practical technical direction for advanced fibre technologies. We welcome candidates from both advanced industrial photonics environments and leading research groups who combine strong physical intuition with practical experimental and engineering judgement.

Responsibilities:

• Use simulation and analytical tools to evaluate the behaviour and performance of advanced fibre designs and fibre-based optical systems.
• Assess modal properties, loss mechanisms, dispersion, coupling, and other key fibre characteristics relevant to demanding optical applications.
• Design and execute experiments to measure, verify, and interpret fibre properties and subsystem performance.
• Correlate simulation and experimental results to build understanding, validate assumptions, and guide development decisions.
• Work closely with external development partners to assess technical options, review results, and help steer fibre design and performance tradeoffs.
• Translate system or subsystem requirements into meaningful fibre performance targets and evaluation criteria.
• Collaborate across photonics, systems, and experimental teams to support integration of advanced fibre technologies into larger optical platforms.
• Contribute technical judgement to the down-selection, maturation, and validation of advanced fibre solutions

Experience/Qualifications:

Required

• PhD in photonics, optics, physics, engineering, or a related field, or equivalent industry experience.
• Significant experience in fibre optics, guided-wave photonics, or optical system development.
• Strong understanding of advanced and specialty optical fibre behaviour, including relevant modal, loss, dispersion, and coupling tradeoffs.
• Experience with optical simulation tools such as FDTD or related electromagnetic, waveguide, or propagation modelling methods.
• Ability to use simulation to guide practical design decisions and interpret behaviour in non-standard fibre systems.
• Hands-on experience designing and executing experiments to characterize optical or fibre properties.
• Experience analysing and reconciling modelling and experimental data.
• Ability to operate effectively in a hands-on R&D environment with a high degree of technical independence.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work productively with internal teams and external technical partners

Preferred

• Experience with advanced or specialty fibre platforms.
• Experience working closely with fibre development, fabrication, or research groups.
• Experience in both modelling and experimental verification of fibre or waveguide performance.
• Familiarity with demanding optical system environments where specific parameters, such as low loss take priority in trade-off scenarios.
• Experience translating early-stage optical concepts into robust experimental or engineering outcomes.

PsiQuantum provides equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. PsiQuantum does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable laws.

Note: PsiQuantum will only reach out to you using an official PsiQuantum email address and will never ask you for bank account information as part of the interview process. Please report any suspicious activity to recruiting@psiquantum.com****.

We are not accepting unsolicited resumes from employment agencies.

The ranges below reflect the target ranges for a new hire base salary. Actual compensation may vary outside of these ranges and is dependent on various factors including but not limited to a candidate's qualifications including relevant education and training, competencies, experience, geographic location, and business needs. Base pay is only one part of the total compensation package. Full time roles are eligible for equity and benefits. Base pay is subject to change and may be modified in the future.

Daresbury, United Kingdom

£64,000—£76,500 GBP