Senior PIC Characterization Engineer - TFLN / High-Speed (f/m/d)

Your mission Your profile Why us? 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. Built on a thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) platform operating in the GHz regime, Q.ANT’s photonic integrated circuits sit at the heart of this technology. You will drive the photonic and electrical characterization of TFLN PICs in the GHz regime - defining lab setups, developing measurement routines, and turning fabricated devices into validated, production-ready hardware. Beyond characterization, you will contribute to the photodiode-PIC integration lifecycle and mentor junior engineers building Q.ANT’s lab capability. What You Will Do Characterization & measurement - Design and execute high-speed (GHz-regime) characterization routines for TFLN PICs and photodiodes; perform experimental verification and statistical analysis to extract key performance parameters - Define, design, build, and develop optical and RF test setups - including probe-station configuration, calibration, routines, and continuous optimization - Develop Python, LabVIEW, and MATLAB tools for measurement automation, data acquisition, and analysis Integration & roadmap - Contribute to the full photodiode-PIC hybrid integration lifecycle - from concept and design coordination through assembly, validation, and packaging - Feed performance insights back to design and manufacturing; propose new components and optimization strategies for the technology and product roadmap Coordination & leadership - Schedule and prioritize characterization campaigns in line with project milestones and R&D priorities; coordinate external suppliers, service providers, and research partners - Mentor and guide junior engineers and technicians in device testing, data acquisition, and analysis - Ensure adherence to lab safety standards and equipment-handling protocols, and maintain rigorous documentation of methods, code, and results 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.