Quantum Control Engineer

Contract Type:Full-time, Permanent

Location:Cambridge, UK

Visa Sponsorship available

Join Nu Quantum - Shaping the Future of Technology

Nu Quantum is at the forefront of quantum computing and advanced technology, driven by innovation, diversity, and a commitment to excellence. We're creating an environment where brilliant minds from all backgrounds collaborate to push the boundaries of what's possible.

Founded to commercialise research generated over the last decade at the Cavendish Laboratory, Nu Quantum is on a mission to shape the future of quantum information systems.

We're working on exciting technology that will improve the utility and accelerate the time-to-market of quantum computing systems. We integrate novel quantum photonic technology to form an efficient and scalable quantum networking infrastructure in partnership with world leading companies and academic groups.

About the role

As a Quantum Control Engineer, you will be embedded in a team designing, commissioning and running experiment control for quantum networking units, and interfacing with trapped ion quantum processing units. We manage software and hardware that controls, automates and monitors the scheduling, running and analysis of experiments on these systems. Your role will be to work with Scientists and Engineers to contribute to the development, deployment and maintenance of these control and automation systems.

Our control systems use a mix of python interfaces, some hard real time scheduling from the ARTIQ platform, and an array of other in house and third party hardware. You will be creating reliable workflows to run measurements, gather and analyse data, interfacing with a range of hardware including oscilloscopes, power supplies, laser systems, signal generators and custom electronics. You will work with experienced software, digital and electronic engineers to develop and maintain high quality solutions, collaborating with scientific teams to set direction.

We're looking for a system level thinker who thrives on solving complex, cross disciplinary challenges - someone who can prototype quickly, automate intelligently, and push hardware to its limits. If you have a growth mindset, with a passion for making quantum technology real, we want you on the team.

What You'll be doing

• Working in a team defining and implementing experiment control solutions.
• Developing lab equipment control, for both in house and third party equipment, primarily using python.
• Developing hard real time control using the open source ARTIQ platform and Sinara open source hardware.
• Deploying and configuring experiment control systems, both in house and third party.
• Working with the software team through development and deployment workflows, adopting and following best practices.
• Collaborating closely with science & engineering teams to translate plans into methodologies that work effectively on available equipment.
• Finding creative approaches for experiments and control techniques that achieve desired performance.
• Implementing and configuring user interfaces (both graphical and text based) for experiment control, live monitoring and data visualisation.

Your skills, qualifications and experience

• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to adjust your style and content to various audiences and contexts.
• Strong pro active problem solving skills, debugging issues with hardware and software, and developing appropriate solutions and diagnostic techniques.
• A desire to contribute to cross disciplinary projects requiring close collaboration.
• Strong R&D software development skills, preferably including python, with a desire to learn and adopt best practices.
• Experience interfacing software with test and measurement equipment using drivers, gateware or APIs.
• A numerate degree (undergraduate or postgraduate) or equivalent experience.

Desirable (nice to have but not required)

This is a wide range role, so we work with a lot of tools. We don't expect you to have prior experience of all these, and we'll provide training on the job. If you do have experience of any of these though, do let us know, it might be useful!

• Linux deployment/development experience (schedulers, scripting, package managers, sockets, etc).
• Version control systems, particularly git, particularly in collaborative contexts.
• Continuous integration and continuous delivery workflows and platforms, e.g. Jenkins, TeamCity, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI/CD.
• Software review workflows.
• Numeric compute using e.g. Numpy, SciPy, Octave, Matlab or similar.
• Issue tracking systems, e.g. Jira, YouTrack, GitHub/GitLab issues.
• Control protocols such as SCPI, Visa, MQTT.
• Agile development workflows.
• Cross team collaboration, particularly knowledge transfer.
• Labs, particularly dealing with equipment used in ion trapping (lasers, cavities, RF electronics, optical metrology).
• Collaboration with scientists, particularly measurement automation.
• Metrics and visualisation systems, e.g. Prometheus, Influx, Grafana etc.
• Tuning or implementing feedback loops.
• Real time control systems, particularly ARTIQ.
• Qubit control schemes and potential tradeoffs.

Why work with us?

At Nu Quantum, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where people of all identities, orientations, backgrounds, and experiences are empowered. We value diverse perspectives as a source of creativity and innovation and encourage applications from all backgrounds, including those from underrepresented and marginalised communities. Joining Nu Quantum means joining a team where you can grow professionally and be part of an inspiring mission to shape the future of technology.

Benefits

• Refreshments, including fruit and beverages, are available in the office.
• Flexible working options
• 28 days annual leave, inclusive of a 3 day company shutdown period + UK Bank Holidays
• Option to purchase up to 5 days holiday per year
• Access to the Cambridge Botanical Gardens
• On site gym membership
• Cycle scheme
• Private Medical and Dental Cover (With Vitality and Bupa)
• Enhanced paid family leave policies
• Generous Employee Referral Scheme
• 1 month paid Sabbatical after 4 years of service
• Group Life Assurance (4 x salary)