About Quandela:
Quandela is a European deeptech scale-up building modular, scalable and energy-efficient photonic quantum computers, accessible both on the cloud and on-premise.
With a team of more than 140 people, we develop our own hardware and software stack, from semiconductor quantum emitters to quantum control systems and algorithms.
Our ambition is to turn cutting-edge quantum optics into operational quantum computing systems.
Within this roadmap, hybrid architectures combining photonic qubits and spin-based quantum memories play a central role in enabling scalable cluster-state quantum computing.
About this position:
Located at IPVF in Massy, this position is part of the Semiconductor R&D division and integrated within the Spin Cluster / Cooling team.
The team develops experimental platforms enabling spin-photon and spin-spin entanglement. Within this framework, your role will focus on stabilizing and improving spin-photon cluster state generation while implementing fast optical control schemes operating at nanosecond time scales.
Working at the interface between theory and experiment, you will translate cluster-state protocols into robust and reproducible laboratory implementations, contributing directly to demonstrator milestones and helping move these concepts toward scalable hardware.
What will you do?
➡️ Develop and operate spin-control experiments:
• Build and operate custom optical setups to address and characterize charged quantum dots at cryogenic temperatures.
• Implement and refine picosecond pulse shaping and pulse sequences.
• Manipulate spin states using all-optical approaches and applied fields.
• Implement real-time switching of pulse sequences at nanosecond time scales (6–24 ns).
• Ensure proper synchronization between optical pulses and fast electronic control systems.
➡️ Characterize and optimize system performance:
• Characterize spin-photon emission properties and coherence metrics.
• Optimize pulse sequences and experimental parameters to improve state fidelity.
• Identify experimental limitations and propose practical improvements.
➡️ Contribute to the research roadmap:
• Systematically document experimental results and report findings.
• Collaborate with internal teams when transferring validated results toward integration.
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How you’ll grow?
0-3 months → Reproduce and stabilize existing setups.
3-6 months → Operate independently and manage daily laboratory activity.
6-12 months → Take responsibility for dedicated technical modules.
Beyond one year → Deepen expertise and contribute to platform evolution.
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What we’re looking for?
We are seeking an experimental physicist with experience in spin manipulation in solid-state quantum systems.
A PhD, or early postdoctoral experience, in Quantum Optics, Condensed Matter Physics, or a closely related field would be particularly valued. Experience with platforms such as charged quantum dots, NV centers, silicon carbide spins, or comparable optically addressable systems will help you integrate quickly into our environment.
If you have already controlled spins using optical pulse sequences and are familiar with the practical challenges of manipulating spin states in the lab, we encourage you to clearly highlight this experience in your application.
Must-have
• Strong experimental spin background (PhD level).
• Hands-on optical spin control in cryogenic environments.
• Familiarity with nanosecond timing and synchronization constraints.
• Python for experiment control and data analysis.
• High autonomy and experimental rigor.
Important (can grow here)
• Experience with quantum dots or trion-based systems.
• Familiarity with coherence-enhancement techniques.
• Exposure to entanglement or cluster-state protocols.
• Experience combining optical control with fast electronics.
Bonus
• Early postdoctoral experience in spin-based systems.
• Publications in spin-based quantum optics.
• Experience in collaborative or industrial R&D.
If you do not tick every box but have a strong background in spin physics and share our R&D mindset — combining curiosity, scientific rigor, and the desire to build experimental expertise within a collaborative team — we encourage you to apply.
Join one of the fastest-growing quantum hardware companies in Europe and contribute directly to the development of next-generation spin-based photonic architectures.
• Work on advanced spin-photon experiments for hybrid quantum platforms
• Contribute to demonstrator milestones bridging research and hardware
• Grow within a high-level R&D environment at the interface of optics and hardware
• Collaborate with theorists and experimental teams across disciplines
• Competitive compensation aligned with your experience and level of responsibility
• Company savings plan
• 100% health coverage (Alan)
• Transport reimbursement or mobility bonus
• Swile meal vouchers
• Access to Gymlib
TECHNICAL & MARKET ANALYSIS | Appended by Quantum.Jobs
The requirement for dedicated expertise in entangled-photon source engineering arises from the critical technical bottleneck of generating high-fidelity, scalable qubits within photonic quantum architectures. As the industry moves from laboratory proof-of-concept toward commercial-grade hardware, the stabilization of spin-photon interfaces becomes a primary determinant of system-level performance. Current market signals indicate a significant scarcity of specialized talent capable of bridging the gap between fundamental quantum optics and reproducible semiconductor R&D. Within the broader value chain, this role serves as a vital transition point where theoretical cluster-state protocols are converted into operational demonstrators. By addressing the complexities of nanosecond optical control and cryogenic spin manipulation, these engineers facilitate the architectural throughput necessary for fault-tolerant computing. Consequently, this role is structurally essential for firms like Quandela seeking to de-risk the path toward integrated photonic quantum systems.
The global quantum hardware landscape is currently navigating a period of intensive translation, shifting focus from isolated qubit performance to the development of modular, multi-qubit systems. Within this value chain, the engineering of entangled-photon sources represents a core hardware enablement layer. Unlike traditional classical networking, quantum systems require precise temporal and spectral control at the single-photon level, often necessitating deep integration with semiconductor emitters such as charged quantum dots. This creates a specialized niche within the R&D ecosystem that sits at the intersection of solid-state physics and high-speed optoelectronics.
Macro-level constraints, particularly the fragmentation of specialized supply chains and the high capital expenditure required for cryogenic infrastructure, have historically slowed TRL progression. Furthermore, the industry faces a systemic talent mismatch; while academic research has pioneered entanglement protocols, the transition to industrial-grade reliability requires a shift toward experimental rigor and systematic documentation. Ongoing ecosystem initiatives are increasingly prioritizing the coupling of spin-based quantum memories with photonic qubits to overcome current scalability bottlenecks.
Sector-wide efforts are also focusing on the integration of these quantum components into existing high-performance computing frameworks. This hybrid approach relies on the ability of research engineers to implement fast control schemes that operate within the strict timing constraints of classical electronic interfaces. As public and private funding cycles increasingly demand tangible hardware milestones, the ability to stabilize entanglement generation becomes a key metric for evaluating the commercial readiness of photonic platforms. The maturation of this segment is therefore a prerequisite for the broader adoption of quantum-as-a-service models.
The capability architecture for this domain centers on the mastery of low-temperature spin-photon interfaces and the synchronization of ultra-fast optical control systems. Key expertise involves the orchestration of picosecond pulse sequences and the implementation of real-time switching at nanosecond scales, which are critical for the generation of entangled cluster states. These technical domains provide the structural throughput necessary to move from stochastic to deterministic photon emission, a fundamental requirement for scaling photonic processors.
Furthermore, the ability to interface experimental physics with high-level data analysis through tools like Python ensures that experimental results are both reproducible and transferable across the hardware stack. This cross-functional coupling between semiconductor R&D and systems engineering allows for the systematic optimization of coherence metrics and state fidelity. By stabilizing these complex interactions within cryogenic environments, the role creates a reliable hardware foundation for higher-level algorithm execution. Such technical leverage is essential for minimizing integration friction and ensuring that individual technical modules can be seamlessly incorporated into larger, fault-tolerant quantum architectures.
Accelerates the transition of theoretical cluster-state protocols into verifiable hardware demonstrators
Enhances the deterministic generation of high-fidelity entangled photons for photonic processors
Reduces technical debt by standardizing experimental protocols within the semiconductor value chain
Mitigates scalability risks through the implementation of fast optical control schemes
Optimizes system-level performance by improving the coherence properties of solid-state emitters
Facilitates the integration of quantum hardware into multi-jurisdictional high-performance computing environments
Strengthens the reliability of photonic quantum architectures via rigorous experimental characterization
Shortens the feedback loop between theoretical quantum optics and practical hardware implementation
Supports the maturation of the global quantum supply chain through standardized R\&D practices
Improves the interoperability of spin-based memories and photonic qubits within hybrid systems
Stabilizes the technological readiness levels of next-generation entangled-photon source modules
Validates the commercial viability of scalable, modular photonic quantum computing platforms
Industry Tags: Photonic Quantum Computing, Semiconductor R&D, Quantum Optics, Spin-Photon Entanglement, Cryogenic Systems, Cluster State Generation, Solid-State Physics, Quantum Hardware Scalability, Optoelectronics, Deep Tech
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