From cosmos to cell, detecting photons at speed!
Job description
We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher to join the SPRINT project, an ambitious research project developing the next generation of ultra-fast and ultra-sensitive imaging systems. The project aims to create an ultrafast single-photon camera using SNSPD arrays.
The successful candidate will work at the intersection of nanotechnology, photonics, superconducting devices, RF engineering, cryogenics, and advanced imaging, contributing to both fundamental research and real-world applications such as biomedical imaging, quantum technologies, and LiDAR.
Job requirements
Applicants must hold a PhD in Physics or a related field with strong experimental experience in quantum, optical, or nanoscale systems. Background in superconducting devices and cryogenics, RF/microwave engineering, and photonics is desirable. Familiarity with SNSPDs is a plus.
TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference.
For over 180 years, we have been training engineers who make an impact worldwide in companies, government bodies, or as entrepreneurs. Our alumni turn knowledge into concrete solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow.
These challenges are changing rapidly. That is why we focus on themes such as energy, climate, digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart mobility every day. Our education and research are directly aligned with what society needs now and in the future.
At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional.
Working at TU Delft means join an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.
Faculty Applied Sciences
With more than 1,100 employees, including 150 pioneering principal investigators, as well as a population of about 3,600 passionate students, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is an inspiring scientific ecosystem. Focusing on key enabling technologies, such as quantum- and nanotechnology, photonics, biotechnology, synthetic biology and materials for energy storage and conversion, our faculty aims to provide solutions to important problems of the 21st century. To that end, we educate innovative students in broad Bachelor's and specialist Master's programmes with a strong research component. Our scientists conduct ground-breaking fundamental and applied research in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Engineering Physics. We are also training the next generation of high school teachers.
Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Applied Sciences.
Conditions of employment
- Duration of contract is 1,5 years. Temporary.
- A job of 36-40 hours per week.
- Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.
- An excellent pension scheme via the ABP.
- The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year.
- Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages.
- Flexible working week.
- Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget.
- Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses.
- Partially paid parental leave
- Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program.
Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands. .
Additional information
If you would like more information about this vacancy or the selection procedure, please contact Iman Esmaeil Zadeh, via or .
Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 30 June 2026 via the application button and upload the following documents:
You can address your application to Iman Esmaeil Zadeh.
Please note:
- You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
- As part of knowledge security, TU Delft conducts a risk assessment during the recruitment of personnel. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. The assessment is based on information provided by the candidates themselves, such as their motivation letter and CV, and takes place at the final stages of the selection process. When the outcome of the assessment is negative, the candidate will be informed. The processing of personal data in the context of the risk assessment is carried out on the legal basis of the GDPR: performing a public task in the public interest. You can find more information about this assessment on our website about knowledge security.
- Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.
TECHNICAL & MARKET ANALYSIS | Appended by Quantum.Jobs
The emergence of postdoctoral research roles focused on Superconducting Nanowire Single-Photon Detector (SNSPD) arrays represents a critical structural intervention in the transition from laboratory photonics to industrial-grade quantum imaging and sensing. Within the global deep-tech value chain, these roles are necessary to overcome the detection-efficiency and timing-jitter bottlenecks that currently limit the scalability of photonic quantum computing and high-rate quantum key distribution. This function serves as a primary stabilization point for the translation of nanotechnology breakthroughs into deterministic technology roadmaps for aerospace, biomedical, and secure communication sectors. As the ecosystem pivots toward large-format detector cameras, such expertise is essential for mitigating the systemic risks of hardware obsolescence in the face of rising data-throughput demands. By bridging the gap between cryogenic device physics and integrated system architectures, this role secures the technical foundation for long-term commercial readiness and sovereign digital infrastructure.
The quantum imaging and sensing landscape is undergoing a decisive shift from single-pixel proof-of-concepts to the development of multi-element superconducting cameras capable of operating at near-infrared wavelengths. While the outstanding performance of SNSPDs is well-documented in academic literature, the primary bottleneck for wide-scale industrial adoption has shifted to the integration layer—specifically the management of heat-load constraints and RF readout complexity within cryogenic environments. Current sector-wide efforts continue to address these integration challenges by developing multiplexing architectures that allow for larger pixel counts without compromising the ultra-low dark-count rates and high timing resolution that define this technology.
Workforce scarcity is particularly acute at the intersection of nanofabrication and radio-frequency engineering. As organizations move beyond NISQ-era benchmarks, the ecosystem requires specialized researchers who can navigate the fragmentation of the hardware stack and the lack of standardized benchmarking for single-photon cameras. These roles are fundamental to the throughput of technology organizations, as they enable the parallelization of fundamental physics research with the development of scalable imaging architectures. This structural layer of expertise is the primary mechanism for maintaining momentum as the technology transitions through varying Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) toward market uptake.
Integration with existing high-performance computing and LIDAR infrastructures remains a high-risk dependency for the sector. The evolution of the value chain depends on the ability to translate photon-counting advantages into deployable solutions for deep-space communication and sub-wavelength microscopy. Consequently, the availability of experts capable of orchestrating these complex cross-functional dependencies is a primary determinant of whether the emerging quantum-as-a-service market can achieve the fidelity required for practical, real-world applications at scale.
The capability architecture for this role centers on the synchronization of superconducting device physics with advanced microwave electronics and cryogenic systems engineering. Mastery of the interface between ultra-thin nanowire films and high-speed readout circuitry is essential for ensuring that detector arrays can handle the gigahertz-scale pulse rates required for modern quantum networks. This requires a deep understanding of electromagnetic interference rejection and the thermal dynamics of sub-Kelvin environments, which are the primary determinants of system coherence and sensitivity.
These capabilities provide the leverage needed to assess the true performance of next-generation imaging systems before significant capital allocation. By establishing rigorous characterization frameworks, this function enables the structural reproducibility of quantum experiments across different hardware modalities. Furthermore, the ability to manage the coupling between photonic integrated circuits and detector arrays reduces the iteration friction between abstract research and product delivery. Such expertise is fundamental to the stability of the quantum hardware value chain, providing predictable requirement frameworks for external manufacturing and packaging partners. - Accelerates the deterministic transition from laboratory SNSPD research to industrial-grade single-photon imaging systems
- Mitigates systemic execution risks by synchronizing cryogenic hardware development with high-speed RF readout roadmaps
- Facilitates the integration of superconducting detector arrays into standardized LIDAR and quantum communication infrastructures
- Strengthens the reliability of organizational technology strategies through the implementation of rigorous photon-counting benchmarks
- Reduces iteration friction between fundamental superconductivity breakthroughs and the deployment of scalable camera architectures
- Optimizes the allocation of specialized technical talent across nanotechnology, photonics, and systems engineering portfolios
- Enhances the stability of the quantum hardware value chain by providing predictable requirement frameworks for interconnect stacks
- Supports the scaling of imaging capabilities by managing the complex dependencies of multi-pixel multiplexing workflows
- Improves the transparency of technology readiness level progression for stakeholders in the investment and policy sectors
- Enables the structural reproducibility of quantum sensing experiments through the standardization of device characterization protocols
- Protects high-capital research and development investments by ensuring alignment between detector physics and system scalability
- Orchestrates the convergence of academic research pathways with the practical demands of global secure-communication servicesIndustry Tags: Quantum Sensing, Superconducting Nanowire Single-Photon Detectors, SNSPD, Quantum Imaging, Cryogenic Engineering, Nanofabrication, Photonics Integration, RF Engineering, LIDAR Technology, Quantum Networks
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