Vacancy: Optical Engineer

KEY DETAILS

Role: Optical Engineer
Location: Leiden, with occasional travel to Enschede; some hybrid working possible
Hours: Full-time
Start: As soon as possible
Apply by: Open until filled

THE ROLE

You’ll be the systems-level bridge in our technical team, connecting our hands-on optical lab work with the software and electronics that turn photonic chips into a working authentication system. Your background in quantum communication or telecom systems complements the team’s photonics and experimental strengths, and helps us make the architecture-level calls (detection scheme, channel sharing, readout strategy) that determine whether our chips work as a system, not just as components.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Analyse photonic PUF response data with statistical and machine-learning methods: uniqueness, reproducibility and resistance to modelling attacks
Contribute to the system architecture: optical channel sharing, interface definitions and integration with partner QKD systems
Evaluate architecture-level trade-offs, such as coherent detection versus single-photon counting, and advise on the right choice for each deployment scenario
Support experimental research on readout techniques, together with academic partners
Translate optical results into requirements for software and electronics, and system requirements back into optical design guidance
Document analyses and design decisions for product development and project reporting

WHAT YOU BRING

An MSc or PhD in Physics, Photonics, Quantum Information or Electrical Engineering
A background in quantum communication or optical telecom systems (e.g. QKD, DWDM, coherent detection)
Strong computational skills in signal processing and statistics, coding in Python
Confidence working with experimental data and turning it into system-level insight
An independent, hands-on and entrepreneurial way of working

NICE TO HAVE

Machine-learning experience, particularly applied to physical or hardware security
Familiarity with photonic PUFs or hardware authentication
Optical simulation experience (e.g. Lumerical, tidy3D)

WHAT WE OFFER

The chance to shape the system-level architecture of our authentication technology from an early stage
Direct impact in a growing deeptech spin-out
A high degree of independence and room for initiative
Collaboration with research institutes and industrial partners

ABOUT QSA TECHNOLOGY

QSA Technology is a University of Twente spin-out developing photonic chips that give optical and quantum communication networks an identity that can’t be copied. Read more about our story and team on our About page.

HOW TO APPLY

Send your CV and a short motivation to career@qsatechnology.com. We’d love to hear from you.

Download the full vacancy here: Vacancy_Optical_Engineer (PDF)