Senior Embedded Software Engineer

About us

Founded in 2017, Q-CTRL has grown to become the global leader in quantum control infrastructure software. As a product-led company, we bring together diverse teams such as product, design, engineering and research to help achieve our mission of making quantum technology useful. We believe that working in deep tech domains like quantum provides an opportunity to upskill whilst applying existing knowledge and practices to new markets.

As one of the fastest growing companies in the quantum sector, we’ve had a number of key milestones:

- In October 2024, we announced our record breaking expansion of our Series B funding round to USD $113M, with $59M USD of new capital.

- In November 2023, we announced an industry-first partnership with IBM Quantum Services, natively integrating our performance management software with all IBM quantum computers.  Building off of this relationship, in September 2024 we started offering two services via IBM’s new Qiskit Functions Catalog as an inaugural partner.

- Designed and moved our Global HQ offices and lab space into the first purpose-built (and award winning) commercial and research facility for a quantum technology company in Australia.

- Grew our global presence in Los Angeles and Berlin, and expansion into the UK, recently opening up a new office in Oxford.

- Continued to deliver real world outcomes across the quantum sectors, with our work with Australian Defence on software-ruggedized quantum sensing for navigation without GPS, as featured in the New York Times.

From educating the workforce on how quantum computing works, and building the next generation of quantum sensors, to delivering massive performance gains for end-users, it all starts with hiring the right talent. If you want to help us build the Quantum future, read on.

About the role

We are seeking a Senior Embedded Software Engineer to develop firmware for our control, sensing, and actuation systems that automate the operation of our quantum sensors. You’ll primarily be developing new applications on our Xilinx Zynq Embedded Linux platform based on requirements developed in collaboration with our research scientists to assist scientific advancement and to demonstrate our technology in the field. Our firmware is characterised by real-time constraints, data acquisition, signal processing, sequence execution, network communication, and hardware/FPGA interfacing.

You will join a growing team focused on quantum sensing for defence and aerospace, and work with experts in fields such as cold-atom interferometry, magnetometry, and inertial navigation to develop state-of-the-art technology.

• Own the development, integration, and support of embedded systems employed in Q-CTRL’s quantum sensors.
• Responsible for the design, implementation, and testing of control, sensing, and actuation firmware needed to autonomously operate next generation quantum sensors.
• Liaise with scientists to develop solutions to issues that arise during research & development in the lab.
• Work on critical quantum sensing field trials with key industry partners.
• Create test and simulation setups including hardware-in-the-loop test fixtures.

• Experience working in a research environment whilst collaborating with established engineering teams and research scientists.
• Experience in algorithm development for control systems and autonomous sensor operation.
• Proficiency with a systems programming language such as C, C , or Rust.
• Experience creating embedded linux distributions using tools such as Buildroot, Yocto, or Petalinux.
• Experience using an RTOS to develop microcontroller firmware.
• Desirable to have worked on embedded systems involving interfacing with FPGAs such as JESD204 and AXI interfaces.
• Preference will be given to candidates with experience qualifying or deploying systems for use in aircraft.

Why Q-CTRL?

Flexibility: We embrace workplace flexibility so you worry more about your global impact vs a rigid work schedule.

Attractive salary: You’ll get to live the start-up life without start-up wages.

Equity: We want people to have a sense of ownership in what they do and offer the potential for equity share and annual bonuses.

Resources: We are well funded by the world’s best technology investors, letting us chase our ambitions with minimal constraints.

Parental support: We offer paid parental leave to support you and your loved ones!

Diversity: We’re an equal employment opportunity employer. We value diversity, inclusion and providing equal opportunities to all, actively supporting initiatives like the ‘Global Women in Quantum’ program among others. 

Unique culture: You’ll be surrounded by some of the world’s leading physicists, engineers, product, marketing and design people (to name a few!) with a strong desire to learn and transfer knowledge.

Meaningful values: You’ll work with an incredibly supportive team who work consistently to deliver our core values to be real, be trusted, be just and to be revered. 

Personal development: We provide you with a personal development and wellness budget. 

Impactful work: Last but not least! You’ll have the opportunity to work in the world’s leading field of technology and truly make an impact that matters! 

Q-CTRL is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that values the strength diversity brings to the workplace. We are committed to being inclusive in the way we hire. We strongly encourage you to apply even if you do not meet all of the requirements mentioned in the job posting. 

Please be advised that our communications will only come from the @q-ctrl.com domain. All our active job postings are available on our company website.

To recruitment agencies, we do not accept unsolicited branded profiles and are not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.