Junior Photonic PIC Test & Characterization Engineer (f/m/d)

Perform optical and electrical characterizations of thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) photonic integrated circuits (PICs). This is the role for an operator performing high-quality characterizations for TFLN development and products with ability to implement development steps for advanced lab setups, including probe stations and test instrumentation. The engineer must ensure a full availability and interruption-free evaluation of PIC and PIC-modules.

Key responsibilities

• Deliver high-precision performance data for PICs and optical modules enabling design validation, root cause analysis, and manufacturing yield improvement.
• Shorten design-to-validation cycle time through efficient setup automation and streamlined test methodologies.
• Enhance product performance and manufacturability by providing clear, data-driven recommendations to design and process teams.
• Oversee daily lab environment, ensuring high-quality, reproducible results.
• Ensure adherence to lab safety standards and equipment handling protocols.

YOUR PROFILE

Education

• B.Sc. in optoelectronics, physics or a related field.

Experience

• ≥1 years in photonic device characterization

Technical Knowledge

• Optical fiber alignment and laser handling
• Python programming
• Automated probe stations
• RF probe handling and setups
• Thin-film lithium niobate devices
• Calibration methods for optical and RF systems
• Advantage: High-speed optical modulation, detection, and RF signal integrity principles
• Advantage: Measurement instrumentation (VNAs, high-speed oscilloscopes, optical spectrum analyzers, RF probes, tunable lasers)

Tools & Processes

• Automation scripting (Python, LabVIEW, MATLAB).
• Data acquisition systems and post-processing workflows.

Languages

• Fluent in English; proficiency in German or another European language is a plus.

WHY US?

• Make growing demand in compute and sustainability go hand in hand
• Work on leading edge photonic AI acceleration technologies.
• Collaborative and innovative work environment.
• Own your work from day one and fast-track your professional growth.
• Work alongside a passionate, international, cross-functional team of experts.
• Collaborate closely with the company’s founders and core leadership team.

ABOUT US

Who we are and what we do

Q.ANT is a photonic deep-tech scale-up developing photonic processing solutions that compute natively with light and deliver a scalable alternative to transistor-based systems. Its Light Empowered Native Arithmetics (LENA) architecture delivers analog co-processing power optimised for complex computation and enabling energy-efficient performance for next‑generation AI and HPC applications. Q.ANT operates its own Thin‑Film Lithium Niobate (TFLN) chip pilot line in collaboration with the Institute for Microelectronics Stuttgart, IMS CHIPS, and is currently shipping its Native Processing Servers to selected partners. Q.ANT was founded by Michael Förtsch in 2018 and is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany.