Photonics Test Engineer - High Precision

About Xanadu:
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:

As a Photonics Test Engineer (high-precision measurements), you will be the architect of our active device characterization framework. Your primary mission is to bridge the gap between "standard" measurements and the ultra-high-precision (UHP) requirements essential for quantum advantage. You will lead the development of experimental procedures and hardware architectures to characterize integrated photodiodes (PDs) and active components with unprecedented accuracy. Your responsibilities will include:

• Design, assemble, and optimize end-to-end test benches capable of resolving responsivity and loss variations at the sub-10 mdB level.
• Develop and maintain rigorous Uncertainty Budgets (per NIST standards). You will identify and systematically mitigate sources of "measurement error," including polarization instability, thermal fluctuations, and instrumentation non-linearity.
• Perform comprehensive error analysis to separate systematic hardware limitations from statistical device performance. You’ll be responsible for identifying and mitigating "noise" in the data.
• Plan and perform measurement routines for our active devices, ensuring our testing activities align with development timelines and scale toward high-volume.
• Work closely with our design, instrumentation, and tooling teams to exchange results and derive actionable insights.

Basic qualifications and experience:

You must possess the below minimum qualifications to be initially considered for this position. Preferred qualifications are in addition to the minimum requirements and are considered a plus factor in identifying top candidates.

• BSc or MS degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related field.
• 1+ years experience as a testing or product engineer of electro-optical devices and/or circuits products/wafers in a professional setting.
• Extreme attention to detail and a systematic approach to experimentation, with a focus on minimizing both systematic and statistical errors.
• Deep understanding of the operational principles of integrated PDs and the physics governing active photonic devices. 
• Proven experience testing integrated photonic devices (photodiodes, modulators, lasers) at both chip and wafer scale.
• Proficiency in Python for instrument control and experience with standard lab equipment (SMUs, OPMs, Oscilloscopes, VNAs, LCR meters).
• Experience handling complex experimental datasets, including fitting to models, refining simulations, and performing rigorous error analysis.
• Ability to operate independently in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple competing priorities.

Preferred qualifications and experience:

• MS or Ph.D. thesis in the field of electro-optical characterization of semiconductor devices.
• 2+ years experience as a testing or product engineer of electro-optical devices

• Practical experience with ISO 17025/9001 frameworks, specifically regarding measurement traceability and the creation of Uncertainty Budgets.
• Proficiency in Gauge R&R and ANOVA to validate test station stability and isolate device performance from setup-induced noise.
• Demonstrated experience in characterizing sub-0.1 dB variations in optical power or responsivity, including mitigation of PDL (Polarization Dependent Loss) and thermal drift.
• Experience working with commercial test solutions (e.g., FormFactor, Ficontec, MPI) and scaling R&D procedures for production environments.
• Understanding of sources of loss in photonic devices and their relation to fabrication processes.
• Experience in TCAD/COMSOL simulations for semiconductor devices to correlate physical models with experimental data.

This is for a new position. Your base salary will be determined based on your location, experience, and internal benchmarks. The base salary range is 110,000 - 140,000 CAD. You will also be eligible for equity and benefits.