Embedded Software Engineer - Quantum Networks

The Netherlands is one of the leading countries in quantum technology with QuTech at its heart. Join our team as an Embedded Software Engineer - Quantum Networks at our research centre and help us shape the quantum future.

Job description

As an Embedded Software Engineer at QuTech, you will be part of the Open Access Team within the Quantum Internet Division. The team works closely with research groups, engineers, and support staff, as well as with research and engineering teams across Europe through the Quantum Internet Alliance (QIA), a partnership of more than 50 organisations working together to build a quantum internet in Europe.

The Open Access Team is working to develop shared Open access infrastructure for quantum internet research and development. The goal is to provide tools and facilities that help researchers, technology developers, and end users accelerate progress across Europe. One example is QI-Lab, a quantum hardware emulation platform recently developed at QuTech that enables hardware-in-the-loop quantum network experiments using a desktop. Our goal is to release QI-Lab as an open-source experimentation platform that can be used by the wider quantum internet community.

In this role you will work closely with researchers and engineers to develop, maintain and improve the platform and make it usable for a wider community. On a daily basis your responsibilities will be:

• Develop new features for our quantum hardware emulation platforms and maintain and improve the existing codebase.
• Work on the embedded parts of the stack, including RTOS programming and integration on platforms with real-time constraints, adapting the design as new research challenges arise.
• Integrate and control lab instruments and FPGA-based hardware from software, and debug issues at the hardware/software boundary.
• Prepare QI-Lab for open-source release: packaging, versioning, automated testing and handling contributions from outside QuTech.
• Write documentation, examples and onboarding material, and support researchers at QuTech and QIA partners using the platform.
• Work with experimentalists and fellow engineers to design and run experiments that demonstrate hardware/software integration and the functionality of the stack.
• Collaborate with engineering and research teams at QIA partner organizations across Europe, including occasional on-site visits.

Job Requirements

We are looking for a motivated junior to mid-level Embedded Software Engineer, ideally with around two years of relevant experience and a master's degree in Embedded Systems, Computer Science, or a related field. We would be particularly interested in candidates who have:

• Experience developing software in C/C++ and Python.
• Familiarity with low-level software (e.g. peripheral firmware, serial communication) and with development on Linux.
• Ability to explain technical choices clearly to physicists, engineers and external users, in English.
• Enjoyment of working in multidisciplinary teams across organizations.

If you are eager to further develop these skills, we would be happy to support your growth.

Nice to have:

• Experience with RTOSs, SoCs, or FPGA development (VHDL/Verilog) or FPGA-based instruments.
• Experience controlling lab or test equipment from software (e.g. SCPI/VISA, vendor SDKs, custom protocols).
• Comfort with oscilloscopes, logic analysers and similar debugging tools.
• Experience with open-source projects, technical documentation, or CI pipelines.
• Familiarity with Agile ways of working.
• Interest in physics experiments; exposure to quantum technology or optics is a plus but not required.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference.

At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional. Working at TU Delft means joining an international community of professionals and students.

QuTech

At QuTech, we work on radically new technologies with world-changing potential. Our mission: to develop scalable prototypes of a quantum computer and a quantum internet by integrating world-class research and groundbreaking innovation. Through excellence, relevance, and leadership, we cultivate a vibrant quantum technology ecosystem.

Conditions of employment

As an Embedded Software Engineer, you will initially be offered a one-year contract with TU Delft, with the possibility of extension. You will work in a dynamic, international, and inclusive environment, where you will have ample opportunities to learn, develop your skills, and grow professionally.

• A salary based on Scale 10 of the CAO for Dutch Universities with a salary between €3,706 - €5,760 gross per month based on a fulltime contract (38 hours)
• 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.
• An excellent pension scheme via the ABP.
• The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year.
• Discount on health insurance.
• Flexible working week.
• Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget.
• Plenty of opportunities for education, training, and courses.

As part of knowledge security, TU Delft conducts a risk assessment during the recruitment of personnel. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. The assessment is based on information provided by the candidates themselves, such as their motivation letter and CV, and takes place at the final stages of the selection process. When the outcome of the assessment is negative, the candidate will be informed.