Senior Software QA Engineer

Job description

Quantum computing holds the promise of humanity’s mastery over the natural world, but only if we can build a real quantum computer. PsiQuantum is on a mission to build the first real, useful quantum computers, capable of delivering the world-changing applications that the technology has long promised. We know that means we will need to build a system with roughly 1 million qubits that supports fault tolerant error correction within a scalable architecture, and a data center footprint.

By harnessing the laws of quantum physics, quantum computers can provide exponential performance increases over today’s most powerful supercomputers, offering the potential for extraordinary advances across a broad range of industries including climate, energy, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, finance, agriculture, transportation, materials design, and many more.

PsiQuantum has determined the fastest path to delivering a useful quantum computer, years earlier than the rest of the industry. Our architecture is based on silicon photonics which gives us the ability to produce our components at Tier-1 semiconductor fabs such as GlobalFoundries where we leverage high-volume semiconductor manufacturing processes, the same processes that are already producing billions of chips for telecom and consumer electronics applications. We also benefit from the quantum mechanics reality that photons don’t feel heat or electromagnetic interference, allowing us to take advantage of existing cryogenic cooling systems and industry standard fiber connectivity.

In 2024, PsiQuantum announced two government-funded projects to support the build-out of our first Quantum Data Centers and utility-scale quantum computers in Brisbane, Australia and Chicago, Illinois. Both projects are backed by nations that understand quantum computing’s potential impact and the need to scale this technology to unlock that potential. And we won’t just be building the hardware, but also the fault tolerant quantum applications that will provide industry-transforming results.

Quantum computing is not just an evolution of the decades-old advancement in compute power. It provides the key to mastering our future, not merely discovering it. The potential is enormous, and we have the plan to make it real. Come join us.

There’s much more work to be done and we are looking for exceptional talent to join us on this extraordinary journey!

Team Overview

PsiQuantum’s Quantum Applications Software Team is dedicated to creating a software environment where quantum application developers can discover, build, utilize, optimize, and visualize large-scale quantum algorithms for classically intractable problems. As we continue to scale, we’re building out a QA function that bridges classical software QA best practices with cutting-edge quantum software development.

Role Summary

We are seeking an experienced Senior Software Quality Assurance (QA) Engineer with a robust background in full-stack enterprise QA, automation frameworks, CI/CD, and QA strategy definition. This role will establish QA processes, conduct QA activities, define quality metrics, and mentor team members—including those with deep quantum domain knowledge but limited QA specialization—ultimately laying the foundation for a dedicated quantum QA group.

This role bridges classical QA expertise with cutting-edge quantum development, creating a new paradigm for testing hybrid software systems. You’ll pioneer QA practices for quantum applications while upskilling domain experts, shaping the future of quantum software reliability.

This is a hands-on technical leadership role; you’ll split time between coding/testing frameworks (e.g., Selenium, Xray) and mentoring developers. You’ll personally build foundational test infrastructure while scaling the team’s QA capabilities.

• Lead the testing efforts and design and implementation of QA processes and best practices that align classical enterprise-level rigor with the unique challenges of emerging quantum software.
• Train and mentor developers and engineers from a quantum background in QA methodologies, helping them adopt industry-leading testing strategies.
• Drive both the tactical (hands-on test framework development) and strategic (quality metrics, team building, process definition) aspects of QA in a rapidly evolving, R&D-focused environment.

Responsibilities:

1. Test Automation and Integration Frameworks
   1. Hands-On Framework Development: Design and implement test automation suites (using tools like Pytest, Selenium, Robot, etc.) to achieve reliability, maintainability, and reproducibility across software interfaces.
   2. Test Development: Write and maintain automated test scripts (e.g., Selenium for UI, Pytest for APIs, Xray for test management) while guiding others to adopt these frameworks.
   3. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work with product, DevOps, and quantum domain experts to develop integration, functional, and system tests in a highly technical environment—potentially involving HPC or containerized infrastructure.
2. Define and Enhance QA Strategy
   1. Establish Comprehensive QA Processes: Develop QA frameworks tailored to hybrid classical-quantum software systems, including defining key quality metrics (e.g., defect density, coverage, mean time to detect/fix).
   2. Integrate QA in CI/CD: Embed QA best practices into automated pipelines, ensuring seamless testing, monitoring, and reporting.
3. Build and Mentor a Hybrid Team
   1. Knowledge Transfer: Serve as the QA subject matter expert, training quantum software developers on testing strategies and concepts (e.g., regression testing, test hierarchies) , defect management, and continuous improvement processes.
   2. Team Leadership: Oversee the gradual formation of a quantum QA group, defining roles and responsibilities to scale as the team grows.
   3. Cultural Leadership: Foster a ‘quality-first’ culture by coaching quantum developers on risk assessment, test case design, and defect prioritization in R&D environments.
4. Performance, Scalability, and System Testing
   1. Performance & Scalability: Define performance benchmarks, stress-testing protocols, and scalability testing strategies for large-scale or domain-specific workloads (quantum simulations, HPC, etc.).
   2. System End-to-End Testing: Implement comprehensive testing frameworks that validate the entire software ecosystem, from front-end interfaces to back-end computational layers.
5. Continuous Improvement & Agile Coordination
   1. Iterative Development: Collaborate with developers and product managers in Agile or iterative environments, refining test plans and acceptance criteria each sprint.
   2. Quality Metrics & Monitoring: Establish feedback loops, collect QA metrics, and conduct root-cause analyses to evolve testing processes continuously.

Required Experience/Qualifications:

• 8+ years in QA experience: Experience in hands-on manual testing and test automation development with frameworks like Selenium, Cypress, or Playwright.
• 4+ Years in QA Leadership: Demonstrable experience leading QA teams in full-stack, highly technical environments, ideally spanning front-end, back-end, and infrastructure layers.
• Proven QA Strategy & Automation Track Record: A history of establishing scalable QA processes, implementing test automation frameworks, and integrating QA in CI/CD pipelines.
• Mentorship & Collaboration: Demonstrated success mentoring or training cross-disciplinary teams, with the ability to translate classical QA methods into domain-specific contexts.
• Software Engineering Foundations: Solid understanding of software engineering principles (OOP, version control, branching strategies) and proficiency in scripting languages (e.g., Python).
• Front-End & Back-End Testing: Experience testing web UIs, REST APIs, microservices, data validation, and output verification.
• Complex Systems & R&D: Comfort operating in a research-oriented or emerging technology setting, adapting QA processes to novel and sometimes ambiguous requirements.
• Bachelor’s Degree: In Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.

Bonus / Preferred

• Quantum Domain Exposure: Familiarity with quantum software tools, frameworks, and SDKs (e.g., Qiskit, Cirq), or a willingness to learn and adapt best practices for quantum systems.
• AI-Driven QA: Experience with AI/ML-driven QA tools (e.g., Applitools, Testim.io, Sealights) to enhance test generation, predictive analytics for flaky tests, or adaptive test maintenance in complex systems.
• HPC or Large-Scale Testing: Experience with HPC cluster testing, container orchestration (Docker/Kubernetes), or large-scale performance testing is a plus.
• Agile/Scrum Experience: Background in managing QA within agile or DevOps teams.
• DevOps Processes: Experience with CI/CD platforms (e.g., Jenkins, GitHub Actions) or cloud-based testing (AWS/Azure/GCP).

PsiQuantum provides equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. PsiQuantum does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable laws.

Note: PsiQuantum will only reach out to you using an official PsiQuantum email address and will never ask you for bank account information as part of the interview process. Please report any suspicious activity to [email protected] .

We are not accepting unsolicited resumes from employment agencies.

The range below reflects the minimum and maximum target range for new hire base salary across all US locations. Actual compensation may vary outside of this range and is dependent on various factors including but not limited to a candidate’s qualifications including relevant education and training, competencies, experience, geographic location, and business needs. Base pay is only one part of the total compensation package. Full time roles are eligible for equity and benefits. Base pay is subject to change and may be modified in the future.

For a fully qualified candidate, the expected base pay range is:

Base Pay Range

$125,000—$192,000 USD