Software Engineer Spin-qubit Research

Come join QuTech and create the Quantum Future!

QuTech is a mission-driven research institute run jointly by Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) and the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO). Together, we work on a radically new technology with world-changing potential, developing scalable prototypes of a quantum computer and an intrinsically safe quantum internet.

We are creating the quantum future and we believe that quantum technology will be a game changer in many social and economic sectors – including health, agriculture, climate and safety. To achieve our ambitious goals, we bring together scientists, engineers and industry in an inspiring environment, with plenty of space for ambition, entrepreneurship and innovation.

Our research and engineering activities are conducted in three divisions: Quantum Computing, Quantum Internet and Qubit Research.

Our divisions and support teams include 220 FTE and over 300 dedicated people, and we are happy to welcome a new software engineer at the QuTech Division Quantum Computing. A new colleague who enhances the work in our laboratories for spin-qubit research and who shares our vision and enthusiasm!

About QuTech Computing
Realizing the promise of a quantum computer requires the development of different layers of hardware and software, together referred to as the quantum computing stack. This is what we do in the Quantum Computing Division. The basis of the stack, referred to as the ‘quantum chip’, contains the qubits. We are investigating different types of approaches for this part of the stack: electron spins in quantum dots and superconducting quantum circuits. Also, we’re developing the system architecture that connects and translates quantum algorithms to the low-level pulses that operate on the qubits of quantum processors.

Your role as spin-qubit research engineer

Thus QuTech researches and develops the fundamental technology needed for quantum computing, one of the selected technologies of the ‘National Growth Fund’ for ensuring economic growth of the Netherlands in the long term. Quantum computers use qubits as information carriers. In the spin-qubit laboratory we investigate and improve the properties of qubits in devices made of semiconductor material and develop technology to control many qubits as required for a useful quantum computer. Small teams of physicists work on various experiments with state-of-the art laboratory equipment that is controlled by a rapidly growing software stack. This is where you come in: we are looking for a software engineer to support our research on spin-qubits.

You will write software and work side-by-side with the researchers who also write code for their experiments. You will be part of the team of software engineers, physicists and other scientists. This is a team of enthusiastic and creative people that support each other and celebrate success together.

You will work on various types of software varying from control software for the laboratory equipment, to data visualization, image processing and data management. Naturally, you will also write documentation for the software. We use a lot of open-source software. You will maintain our own open-source software libraries and collaborate with developers of software maintained by other parties.

What we expect from you, job requirements

You are a pragmatic and hands-on person who likes to work in a multidisciplinary project team. Within this team you are the software specialist and able to communicate your solutions with other disciplines. You can troubleshoot problems and make quick fixes and temporary solutions, followed by well-designed and robust solutions as required to keep expanding the software capabilities of the research laboratory. You can turn prototype code of researchers into robust and maintainable software.

• Education: degree in computer science or technical degree
• Experience with Python (3 years+)
• Experience with GUI programming (3 years+)
• Experience with Git, GitHub and open source software
• Experience with programming of lab equipment or other hardware control
• Experience with databases is a plus but not required
• Comfortable to operate in a challenging and constantly changing environment
• Good communicator, fluent in English and able to engage with various customers, partners and suppliers
• Passionate about advancing software engineering to entirely new heights
• Proactive, self-motivated, and able to independently devise solutions
• Team player, in a mixed team of software and hardware engineers and scientists

If you want to be part of QuTech Computing, send in your resume! Becoming part of QuTech will not only open career opportunities in the Quantum engineering realm, next steps and career development within TU Delft and TNO are part of the job as well.

What you may expect from us

The software engineering position is a 0.8 – 1.0 FTE role, with a minimum of 32 hours per week and a maximum of 38 hours per week. Appointment is for one year, with the option to become structural. The UFO profiles range from ICT Developer 3 to ICT Developer 2, with a full-time salary based on VSNU-CAO Scale 10-11 (salary min 2.836 and max 5.211 gross per month on a fulltime basis). The actual salary will be based on your knowledge and relevant work-experience.

TU Delft/QuTech offers a customizable compensation package, an attractive pension scheme, holiday allowance, generous holidays, 13th month pay (paid as a pro-rata bonus in December), a discount for health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. An International Children’s Centre offers our employees childcare and an international primary school. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (VSNU-CAO). Dutch citizenship or a European working permit is required to apply.

TU Delft as employer

Your contract will be with Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), an organisation built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks, and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation.

For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers in both business and social contexts. TU Delft offers 16 Bachelor’s and 32 Master’s programs to more than 23,000 students. Our scientific staff consists of 3,500 staff members and 2,800 PhD candidates. Together we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to ensure positive change on a global scale:

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Additional information

QuTech is an inclusive organisation: we believe that diversity enhances the quality of our work and hence actively promote an inclusive policy.

Application procedure

For information about this position, you can contact Lieven Vandersypen, Director Research of QuTech at L.M.K.Vandersypen@tudelft.nl.

For information about the selection procedure, please contact Marja Plas, Management Assistant, via email: M.J.Plas@tudelft.nl.