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Xanadu is building fault-tolerant photonic quantum computers—a moonshot effort to develop transformative technology. As Lead Engineer for Laser Systems, you will architect and lead the ultra-stable, low-noise laser engines that power these quantum computers. This is a hybrid technical and people leadership role.
You will own the complete laser subsystem from research through production, with responsibility for system architecture, hands-on laboratory validation, and team coordination. Key responsibilities include:
• Strategic systems architecture: Define the technical roadmap, establish comprehensive requirements flowing to all subsystems, develop test strategies, and maintain accurate technical documentation.
• Hands-on laboratory leadership: Personally oversee experimental validation of critical milestones, serve as primary technical authority, and coordinate the team's research execution against subsystem requirements.
• Stability & control systems expertise: Integrate control logic, locking electronics, and laser hardware to ensure robust performance; define stability requirements aligned with quantum computing constraints.
• Product ownership: Develop design-for-manufacturability (DfM), design-for-test (DfT), and design-for-reliability (DfR) strategies to transition research into industrial-grade solutions. Own make-vs-buy decisions.
• Cross-functional leadership: Coordinate with other subteams on laser subsystem integration, document system interfaces, and develop clear hand-off packages defining expectations and deliverables.
• Vendor strategy & relationships: Build a procurement pipeline with standardized RFQ documentation and validation plans. Negotiate high-stakes contracts with strategic partners and ensure supply chain viability.
• Risk management: Systematically address R&D roadmap risks to prevent single points of failure on technical and timeline fronts.
You will have access to a state-of-the-art optics laboratory, custom integrated photonic devices, a diverse team of scientists and engineers, and significant budget authority.
Required qualifications: 10+ years in high-performance photonics with deep expertise in semiconductor lasers, optical injection locking, optical amplification, and EO modulators. Proven experience managing coupling between high-power subsystems, thermal management, and noise/stability requirements (RIN and phase noise). Strong background in laser frequency stabilization, high-bandwidth control loops, and RF/microwave engineering for pulsed optical systems. Demonstrated success in technical vendor management, SOW definition, build-vs-buy decisions, and scaling supply chains for custom photonic components. Experience in photonic integrated circuit testing and deployment at scale. Proven track record in New Product Introduction (NPI) of complex optical systems with disciplined, data-driven experimental validation and design-for-manufacturability approaches.
