Scientific Software Engineer – Machine Programming

Description

The role supports the scientists who build and run QuEra's neutral-atom quantum computers, helping them get the most from those machines. You will look after the domain-specific language and compiler stack, which sits on the open-source Kirin toolchain and which experimental physicists rely on daily.

You will collaborate with physicists and control stack engineers. Tasks include helping machine teams turn new experiments into working programs, keeping the toolchain dependable as the hardware changes, and leading its link to the control system. The job suits someone who likes building tools and helping people use them well.

Responsibilities

• Look after the domain-specific language and its compilation stack: sort incoming issues, fix bugs, review pull requests, run releases, and keep CI, tests and dependencies in good shape.
• Be the first contact for machine and testbed teams writing experiments. Help them design new experiments, migrate older programs and track down compilation or runtime faults.
• Partner with control stack engineers to connect compiled programs to the control system. Define and update the program format passed between compiler and control system, keep both sides aligned across releases, and debug issues that cross the boundary.
• Reduce user-reported problems to small reproducible cases, write regression tests and targeted fixes, and work with the compiler team on larger language or IR changes.
• Track down and fix slow compilation, oversized programs and timing errors in both compile and run stages.
• Write and update user documentation, tutorials, sample programs and agent skills that help physicists write correct code.
• Work with the hardware control team on support for new channel types, control hardware and machine setups.
• Gather feedback from machine users and turn it into a ranked plan of usability improvements.

Requirements

• A bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, physics, electrical engineering or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Solid Python skills, including type hints, packaging and testing with pytest.
• Enjoys building tools for scientists who are not professional developers, and communicates clearly in writing and speech.
• Has worked across team boundaries, agreed on interfaces, coordinated changes across components and debugged faults spanning several systems.
• Can work through unfamiliar code and reduce complex failures to minimal reproductions.
• Understands the full software lifecycle: version control, code review, testing, CI/CD, logging, profiling, debugging and documentation.
• Preferred: experience with compilers, DSLs or SSA-based IRs. Kirin, MLIR or LLVM experience is a plus.
• Preferred: background in experimental physics, particularly AMO or atomic physics lab control (AWGs, AOMs/AODs, DDS, timing systems, cameras).
• Preferred: experience with real-time or embedded control, FPGAs, or experiment-control frameworks such as ARTIQ or Labscript.
• Preferred: experience with real-time scheduling or execution systems, such as runtime schedulers, streaming or instruction-dispatch systems.
• Preferred: experience with C++ or Rust.
• Preferred: contributions to open-source libraries.
• Preferred: experience using AI coding agents in a development workflow.

Conditions

Base salary is expected to fall between $102,400 and $166,400. Pay is set from market data and factors such as location, role-specific knowledge, skills and experience.

QuEra is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected characteristic.

Benefits

• Equity grants are provided to all new hires.