Posted 3 months ago
Senior Photonics Engineer - Homodyne Detection
@ Xanadu
Toronto, Ontario
Overview
Xanadu is hiring a Senior Photonic Engineer for integrated homodyne detection to design, build and experimentally validate photonic chip systems with electro-optic modulators and balanced homodyne detectors. The role is a new full-time position with a base salary of 130,000 to 180,000 CAD plus equity and benefits. The posting requires a PhD in quantum optics, photonics, AMO or electrical engineering and hands-on experimental optics lab experience.
Responsibilities:
- Design and build optical lab experiments for photonic chips
- Characterize integrated balanced homodyne detectors for pulsed signals
- Benchmark signal processing for pulsed homodyne detection and tomography
- Implement optical phase-locked loops and frequency stabilization
- Produce technical documentation and test reports
Requirements summary:
- PhD in Quantum Optics, Photonics, AMO or Electrical Engineering
- Hands-on experimental optics lab experience
- Direct homodyne detection experience
- Working knowledge of opto-electronic detectors and RF electronics
- More than 4 years in quantum computing or related photonics work (preferred)
- Python scripting for instrument control (preferred)
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 | Research & science |
| Hours per week | 40 (estimated) |
| Work setting | Laboratory, Office |
| Position | Sitting and standing |
| Physical demands | physical low · computer high |
| Languages | English |
| Education | Doctorate (required) |
| 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 – Integrated Homodyne to participate in designing, developing and experimentally validating cutting-edge photonic systems. You will be working with photonic chips that include networks of high-speed electro-optic modulators and integrated balanced homodyne detectors, with a particular focus on high-efficiency pulsed homodyne detection and pulsed quantum homodyne tomography.
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.
- Characterize and benchmark the performance of integrated balanced homodyne detectors for pulsed signals, with bandwidths in the hundreds of MHz regime.
- Design and build new characterization strategies as needed, to fit evolving optical/electrical requirements.
- Measure figures of merit including detection efficiency, noise clearance, effective bandwidth, common-mode rejection, cross-talk etc.
- Benchmark and drive further development of signal processing techniques for pulsed homodyne detection & homodyne tomography of quantum states of light.
- Maintain up-to-date familiarity with research trends in measuring quantum states of light.
- Implement and maintain optical phase-locked loops and related frequency/phase stabilization; design and troubleshoot chip control electronics, PID controllers and high-precision locking schemes for ultra-stable electronic and optical systems; 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.
- Optics expertise: Hands-on experimental optics lab experience, with knowledge in integrated optics & fibre optics, locking optical interferometers & noise characterization.
- Homodyne detection: Direct experience with homodyne detection of optical signals. Experience with pulsed homodyne detection is preferred, but not required.
- Electronics: Working familiarity with opto-electronic detectors, transimpedance amplifiers; sound understanding of common RF electronics & electro-optic modulator concepts.
- Education: Ph.D. in Quantum Optics, Photonics, AMO, Electrical Engineering or a closely related field.
- Prior work experience: Greater than 4 years of experience in any of: quantum computing (particularly in optical quantum computing); thin-film lithium niobate modulators; or waveguide-integrated photodiodes.
- Advanced quantum optics: Demonstrated expertise in pulsed homodyne detection and homodyne tomography of quantum optical states, alongside familiarity with recent research in these areas.
- 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.
- Modeling & Analysis Skills: Proven ability to build mathematical models of physical systems utilizing both analytical and numerical tools; expertise in advanced signal processing techniques.
- Co-packaged integration: Experience defining the physical, optical, and electrical interfaces between PICs and high-speed ASICs within a Co-Packaged Optics (CPO) framework.
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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