Posted 3 months ago
Senior Photonic Engineer - Experimentalist
@ Xanadu
Toronto, Ontario
Overview
Xanadu is hiring a Senior Photonic Engineer – Experimentalist to design, build and validate integrated photonic systems. The work covers optical lab experiments that characterize photonic chips with electro-optic modulators, using continuous-wave and pulsed lasers. The posting states a full-time role with a base salary of 130,000 to 180,000 CAD, plus equity and benefits.
Responsibilities:
- Design and build optical lab experiments for photonic chips
- Characterize fast electro-optic modulators and benchmark performance
- Implement and maintain optical phase locks
- Collaborate with PIC, electrical, mechanical and software teams
- Produce test procedures, reports and manuals
Requirements summary:
- M.Sc. or Ph.D. in quantum optics, photonics, AMO or electrical engineering
- Lab research experience in academia or industry
- Working knowledge of RF and opto-electronic lab equipment
- Python for data acquisition and analysis
- Understanding of optical phase locking and phase/polarization noise
Tools & skills
Benefits mentioned
Source and dates
Source type not verified · hibob
- Employer posting date
- 2026-08-14
- First seen by our source
- 2026-10-27
- Source record updated
- 2026-10-27
These dates describe the source record, not a live verification that the employer is still hiring. Check the original posting.
Job details
| Seniority | Senior |
| Department | Engineering |
| Hours per week | 40 (estimated) |
| Work setting | Laboratory |
| Position | Sitting and standing |
| Physical demands | physical low · computer high |
| Languages | English |
| Education | Master’s degree (required), Doctorate (preferred) |
| Fields of study | Quantum Optics, Photonics, AMO, Electrical Engineering |
| Perks mentioned | Stock or equity |
Summary and details written by AI from the posting; the employer’s posting is the authority.
Xanadu
Saved company profile
Historical company information from a saved The Jobs API profile (LinkedIn/Crunchbase fields). It is not live-verified; figures may have changed. Missing values remain unknown.
Full company description
Xanadu Quantum Technologies Inc. is a Canadian quantum technology company, and one of the world's leading photonic quantum hardware providers. Founded in 2016, Xanadu's mission is to build quantum computers that are useful and available to people everywhere. To achieve this mission, the company has taken a full-stack approach and builds hardware, software, and pursues state-of-the-art research with select partners. The company is also advancing the field of quantum machine learning (QML) through the development of PennyLane, an open-source project that has become a leading software library among quantum researchers and developers. Xanadu is bringing together exceptional minds from around the world to build something extraordinary. Learn more at xanadu.ai
- LinkedIn followers
- 56,801
- People associated on LinkedIn
- 342
- Reported office locations
- Toronto, Ontario M5B 2H7, CA
- Other recorded names
- Xanadu
- Specialties
- Quantum Computing
- Artificial Intelligence
- Machine Learning
- Deep Learning
- Cloud Computing
- Quantum Simulations
- and Quantum Algorithms
- Profile identifies a recruitment agency
- No
Xanadu Quantum Technologies Inc. is a Canadian quantum technology company, and one of the world's leading photonic quantum hardware providers. Founded in 2016, Xanadu's mission is to build quantum computers that are useful and available to people everywhere. To achieve this mission, the company has taken a full-stack approach and builds hardware, software, and pursues state-of-the-art research with select partners…
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer Hardware Manufacturing |
| Company size | 51-200 employees |
| Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario |
| Organization type | Privately Held |
| Year founded | 2016 |
| Specialties | Quantum ComputingArtificial IntelligenceMachine LearningDeep LearningCloud ComputingQuantum Simulationsand Quantum Algorithms |
| Open jobs on Jobsy | 79 |
| View page |
Xanadu’s mission is to build quantum computers that are useful and available to people everywhere.
At Xanadu, we are learners, innovators, researchers, collaborators and problem solvers. We are creating something that has never been built before. What we are doing is extremely hard, the classic moon shot. Few people in their life will be able to be a part of something like this, where if we are successful, the technologies we develop will solve some of the world’s most challenging problems, and literally change the world. And that is something to be excited about!
Your role and responsibilities:
We are seeking a Senior Photonic Engineer – Experimentalist to participate in designing, developing and experimentally validating cutting-edge photonic systems. Your primary focus will be working with integrated photonics, and precise characterization of the performance of complex photonic chips with several types of high-speed integrated electro-optic elements.
Key Responsibilities:
- Design, build and upgrade complex optical laboratory experiments to characterize the performance of photonic integrated chips with electro-optic elements, using continuous-wave and pulsed laser light.
- Perform precise optical measurements of PICs with networks of fast integrated electro-optic modulators; troubleshoot and benchmark opto-electronic systems for stability, noise reduction, and performance optimization, with attention to properties including switching speed, stability, crosstalk, polarization dependence, etc.
- Implement and maintain optical phase locks and related frequency/phase stabilization; contribute to the development and assessment of new phase-locking and calibration protocols.
- Closely collaborate with PIC development, electrical, mechanical, and software engineering teams to ensure successful module integration.
- Generate detailed technical documentation, including design specifications, test procedures, characterization reports, and operational manuals.
Basic qualifications and experience:
- Laboratory proficiency: Demonstrated working knowledge of common laboratory RF and opto-electronic equipment (e.g. oscilloscope, signal generator, spectrum analyzer, photodiodes); the ability to build and troubleshoot complex optical experiments in a laboratory setting.
- Optics expertise: Demonstrated understanding of optical phase-locking techniques, strategies to characterize phase noise and polarization noise in optical fibres and on complex photonic chips, and a conceptual understanding of balanced homodyne detection.
- Electronics: A solid understanding of basic RF electronics, opto-electronic detector & electro-optic modulator concepts.
- Programming skills: Python or similar for data acquisition and analysis.
- Modeling & Analytical Skills: Proven ability to build mathematical models of physical systems utilizing both analytical and numerical tools.
- Education: M.Sc./Ph.D. degree in Quantum Optics, Photonics, AMO, Electrical Engineering or a closely related field. Laboratory research experience in academia or industry.
Preferred qualifications and experience:
- Prior work experience: In quantum computing (particularly in optical quantum computing); with thin-film lithium niobate modulators; with co-packaged optical systems.
- Autonomy and technical adaptability: The ability to independently design, build, and troubleshoot complex optical experiments and clearly communicate measurement-derived insights; the ability to rapidly absorb complex, proprietary architectures and master new experimental frameworks.
- Advanced Automation: Experience writing Python scripts for instrument control, hardware interfacing, and automated data acquisition.
- Advanced concepts: Expertise in balanced homodyne detection (c.w. or pulsed), laser noise characterization techniques (phase/frequency, RIN), advanced laser interferometry (Pound-Drever-Hall locking, locking/control theory), optical pulse shaping with IQ modulators and AWGs.
- Education: Ph.D. in Quantum Optics, Photonics, AMO, Electrical Engineering or a closely related field.
Our values are important. They are fundamental and lay the foundation for culture at Xanadu. Learn more about our values here.
We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. We are committed to building an inclusive, safe, and equitable culture and fostering an environment where our employees feel included, valued, and heard. We are committed to meeting the needs of all individuals and support a barrier-free workplace. Should you require accommodations at any point during the recruitment process please contact Recruiting at [email protected].
Please be advised that we may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in the screening and assessment of applicants for this position. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
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