Quantum Optics Engineer (QKD Device Production and Field Deployment) at Q*Bird, Delft
Job Description
Q*Bird is looking for a Quantum Optics Engineer for its customer-fulfilment team, which produces the company’s quantum optics and quantum network devices for international customers and research projects. You will assemble devices and bring them to a fully working state, characterise optical components (often at the single-photon level), integrate them into complete systems and script long-running measurements. Once experienced, you will also install and configure quantum networks on site, in places such as secure data centres, telecom backbone facilities and government sites.
At a glance
- Role: Quantum Optics Engineer
- Location: Delft, Netherlands (full time, on site; travel for installations)
- Degree: MSc in physics, electrical engineering, photonics or similar
- Also needed: A valid driving licence
- Posted: 18 April 2025 (still listed on Q*Bird’s vacancy page)
- Apply: open until filled (re-checked 14 October 2026)
What the role covers
- Produce Q*Bird’s quantum devices: assembly, bring-up and full system characterisation before shipping
- Characterise individual optical components and integrate them into complex set-ups
- Write scripts for automated long-term measurements, and improve assembly and characterisation processes over time
- Install, deploy and configure quantum networks at customer sites, and help diagnose and service equipment in the field
- Support existing customers and communicate with technical and non-technical staff
What Q*Bird is looking for
- An MSc in physics, electrical engineering, photonics or a related field (or equivalent practical experience), and a valid driving licence
- Hands-on experience with mechanical assembly, optical systems and their calibration, and basic test instruments
- Expertise with fibre optics, photonic devices and fibre lasers, and with characterising EOMs, polarisation optics and single-photon detectors
- Enough electronics knowledge to work with electrical engineers, and comfort with schematics and documentation
- Python and good software practice (git, documentation, code review), plus clear communication
Nice to have
- Experience with simple closed-cycle cryogenic systems
- Customer-facing experience
Pay and location
Q*Bird offers a competitive salary package matched to skills and experience; no figure is given. Expect travel for installations, field service and training.
How to apply
Apply through the official Q*Bird job posting. Q*Bird’s posting does not give a closing date, so the role is open until filled; ResearchJobs.in will re-check this listing on 14 October 2026. Check the posting for location and work-authorisation details before you apply.
See all our quantum technology jobs, or browse more research jobs on ResearchJobs.in.
Hiring institution: Q*Bird
Official advertisement: www.q-bird.com
How to prepare for this application
- Revise single-photon detector characterisation (efficiency, dark counts, timing jitter) and polarisation control in fibre.
- Describe an optical set-up you built and brought to specification, step by step.
- Be honest about travel: the role involves installations at customer sites, sometimes far away.
- Show a measurement-automation script you wrote in Python.
About Q*Bird
Q*Bird is a Delft company building hardware and software for the quantum internet. Its products include the Falqon® quantum key distribution (QKD) series, the Falqon® Key Manager and a Quantum Domain Controller, used to add quantum-secure links to existing networks. Its team mixes optics, hardware, embedded software and networking-protocol engineers.
