QPU Software Engineer
QuEra Computing is hiring a Software Engineer for its QPU software team in Boston to build the software that orchestrates and controls quantum hardware — from real-time laser/FPGA control to diagnostics, calibration, and system integration. Core stack is Python and C/C++ with hardware interfaces, embedded/distributed systems, and timing protocols like PTP.
- Compensation
- $130K–$170K / yr
- Location
- Boston, MA, USA
- Work setup
- Not specified
- Seniority
- Not specified
- Employment
- Not specified
- Experience
- 5+ years
- Category
- Software engineering
- Posted
Skills
Must have
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field
- 5+ years of experience developing software for hardware control, embedded systems, or distributed systems
- Strong programming skills in Python and/or C/C++
- Experience working with hardware interfaces (e.g., SPI, I2C, UART, Ethernet)
- Experience with real-time systems or hardware-in-the-loop control environments
- Familiarity with timing systems (e.g., PTP) and communication stacks
- Proficiency in system integration, testing, and performance tuning
Nice to have
- Experience with scientific instrumentation, lab automation, or quantum hardware control systems
- Familiarity with FPGA systems, DAC/ADC control, or pulse sequencing frameworks
- Exposure to embedded Linux, RTOS, or custom firmware development
- Knowledge of calibration, feedback, or control loop algorithms
- Experience in multidisciplinary teams working at the intersection of hardware, software, and science
Full description
Role Overview
We are seeking a Software Engineer to join our QPU SW Engineering team. In this role, you will develop the software that orchestrates and controls our quantum hardware stack—from real-time control of lasers and FPGAs to system-wide configuration, diagnostics, and feedback. Working closely with physicists, systems architects, and hardware engineers, you’ll build the tools and infrastructure that enable precise, reliable, and scalable quantum operations.
Key Responsibilities
- Design and implement software systems for orchestrating quantum experiments, including pulse sequence generation, device coordination, and real-time system control.
- Develop and maintain APIs and middleware that connect hardware control layers (e.g., FPGA, DACs, timing systems) with higher-level orchestration software and compilers.
- Implement reliable communication and synchronization protocols across embedded and distributed system components.
- Collaborate with system architects and physicists to translate experimental requirements into testable, high-performance software features.
- Contribute to diagnostic and calibration routines for hardware validation and performance monitoring.
- Develop tooling to support automation, test infrastructure, system state management, and logging.
- Participate in system bring-up, integration testing, and cross-disciplinary debugging efforts.
- Contribute to software architecture decisions, code reviews, and best practices across the engineering team.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
- 5+ years of experience developing software for hardware control, embedded systems, or distributed systems.
- Strong programming skills in Python and/or C/C++, and experience working with hardware interfaces (e.g., SPI, I2C, UART, Ethernet).
- Experience with real-time systems or hardware-in-the-loop control environments.
- Familiarity with timing systems (e.g., PTP), and communication stacks.
- Proficiency in system integration, testing, and performance tuning.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with scientific instrumentation, lab automation, or quantum hardware control systems.
- Familiarity with FPGA systems, DAC/ADC control, or pulse sequencing frameworks.
- Exposure to embedded Linux, RTOS, or custom firmware development.
- Knowledge of calibration, feedback, or control loop algorithms.