Junior PIC Characterization Engineer (f/m/d)

Your mission

Location: Stuttgart, Germany
Type: Permanent employment, full-time
Work mode: On-site, 1 remote day per week

The future of AI computing builds on light. Q.ANT is building photonic processing systems that compute with light – a scalable, energy-efficient alternative to transistor-based architectures for next-generation AI and HPC applications. Q.ANT’s photonic integrated circuits (PICs) are at the heart of this technology, and the precision with which they are characterized determines how fast they reach production.

You will perform electrical and optical characterization of packaged Thin-Film Lithium Niobate (TFLN) PICs for Q.ANT’s PIC technology. Working alongside senior experts in a hands-on lab environment, you will execute structured test workflows, deliver high-quality measurement data, and maintain the lab conditions that make reproducible, reliable results possible – directly supporting design validation, root cause analysis, and yield improvement.

What You Will Do

• Perform optical and electrical performance characterization of packaged TFLN PICs using e.g. tunable lasers, optical spectrum analyzers (OSAs), vector network analyzers (VNAs), RF probes, and high-speed oscilloscopes
• Execute developed test procedures for advanced lab setups, ensuring measurement accuracy and repeatability across characterization runs
• Document measurement datasets, test conditions, and results to the standard required for design validation and root cause analysis workflows
• Maintain daily lab environment – equipment readiness, calibration status, and safe handling of optical fibre, laser sources, and RF instrumentation
• Collaborate with senior PIC DC experts and cross-functional team members to align on test priorities, flag anomalies, and support continuous improvement of characterization workflows
• Support the availability of packaged PICs for product evaluation by delivering characterization results within agreed lead times

Your profile

Required:

• B.Sc. or completed vocational training in optoelectronics, telecommunications, physics, electrical engineering with photonics specialization, or a closely related field
• Hands-on experience with optical fiber and laser handling in a lab environment – including alignment, coupling, and safe operation; gained through an internship, thesis work, lab course, or equivalent academic project
• Foundational knowledge of integrated photonic components and their operating principles – e.g. waveguides, modulators, couplers, and detectors – sufficient to interpret characterisation results in context
• Solid grounding in lab documentation practice and measurement reproducibility – you understand that consistent, traceable data is the output, not a by-product
• Very good English (written and spoken), or very good German with working English

Nice to have:

• Hands-on experience across a broader instrument set: VNAs, high-speed oscilloscopes, OSAs, RF probes, and tunable lasers
• Python programming for measurement automation, data acquisition, or analysis
• Working knowledge of RF measurement principles – signal integrity, impedance matching, S-parameter basics
• Knowledge of instrument control frameworks (SCPI, VISA, GPIB, or equivalent)
• German proficiency (if English is your primary language)
• Any prior exposure to TFLN photonics specifically

Why us?

• Grow at the frontier: Work on photonic integrated circuit technologies with few industry precedents – every measurement you master and every problem you solve builds expertise that is genuinely rare
• Learn from the best: Work directly alongside senior experts in photonics, electronics, and packaging in a hands-on lab environment – structured guidance from day one, with room to grow fast
• Real work, real impact: Your characterization data feeds directly into design decisions and production readiness – your contribution matters from your first week
• World-class team: Join a passionate, international, cross-functional team at the intersection of photonics, electronics, and deep-tech computing
• Direct access to leadership: Work closely with the company’s founders, including CEO Dr. Michael Förtsch, and the Q.ANT senior leadership team
• Collaborative culture: An innovative work environment that values technical excellence, open communication, and pragmatic problem-solving
• Be part of history: Join at the inflection point where photonic computing transitions from research to mainstream – your contributions will shape this transformation

We are looking for a hands-on junior engineer who gets energized by precision measurement, reproducible results, and the craft of photonic device characterization.

Ready to help bring next-generation photonic computing to production?
We are looking forward to receiving your application!

Q.ANT is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

About us

Who we are and what we do

Q.ANT is a deep-tech scale-up developing photonic processing solutions that compute natively with light and deliver a scalable alternative to transistor-based systems. The analog co-processors are optimised for complex computations and enable energy-efficient performance for next-generation AI and HPC applications. In collaboration with the Institute for Microelectronics Stuttgart IMS CHIPS, Q.ANT operates its own pilot line for photonic chips, based on the material system Thin-Film Lithium Niobate TFLN. Q.ANT was founded by Michael Förtsch in 2018 and is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany.