Team Lead Test & Automation Engineering

Qblox is a deep tech scaleup whose mission is to accelerate the worldwide race towards building scalable quantum computers. We do this by providing the world's best quantum control stacks.

Here comes the science bit:

Qblox develops control stacks that combine unrivalled noise and drift performance, a low-latency arbitrary control flow and scalability up to 1000s of qubits. The control stack generates the analogue pulses (DC to 18 GHz) needed for the control and readout of qubits. These analogue signals are generated from 1000s of parallel channels and driven by our proprietary sequence processor technology. Our products are used by R&D teams globally to accelerate the development of operational quantum computers and quantum networks. The technology we are developing is compatible with a broad range of qubit technologies (superconducting, spin, NV-centres, cold atoms).

To control so many qubits, we developed a modular system packed with high-end FPGAss that are synchronized with nanosecond precision, high-speed digital interfaces to multi-gigasample dataconverters, and ultra low-noise and low drift analog (RF) circuits. The FPGAs contain, among other things, our proprietary sequence processors that generate the pulses that control the quantum hardware.

Where the software comes in:

To interface with our equipment, we develop a software stack consisting of low-level drivers, compilers and assemblers written in C/C++ and higher-level tools written in Python. The current software department consists of around 25 engineers divided into three teams; Embedded Software Engineering, Software Engineering and the Test & Automation team. You will also work closely with our Hardware engineers.

Where you come in:

This role is focused on leading, expanding and making our Test & Automation team thrive. The team currently consists of 8 engineers and you will report to our Head of Software.

As the Team Lead you will head up and coordinate the development of End-of-Line (EOL) and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing setups, production automation solutions, and test strategies definition. You will drive the team’s software development initiatives, oversee code reviews, and ensure robust, scalable testing frameworks that align with our production goals and quality standards.

Your responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Lead and mentor the work for a team of test development engineers in their day-to-day activities.

• Set clear expectations, assign tasks, and apply metrics to triage and prioritize department resources and workflow.

• Be an ambassador for Qblox company values and translate them to the team’s day-to-day activities.

• Conduct regular performance evaluations, provide constructive feedback, and find opportunities for training and development.

• Proactively drive process and infrastructure improvements

• Develop a collaborative and inclusive team environment, promoting effective communication and knowledge exchange.

• Communicate project updates, challenges, and achievements to program managers, senior leadership, and other stakeholders to optimize prioritization and resource allocation.

• Coordinate with other teams and departments to ensure smooth workflows and timely delivery of tasks and projects.

• Monitor project progress, identify potential bottlenecks, and implement corrective measures to complete projects.

• Stay updated with industry trends and advancements in test engineering technologies to enhance team capabilities.

• Represent the team internally and occasionally externally

Enough about us, what about you?

In order to really enjoy and succeed in this role, we imagine that you will have:

• Team Lead experience

• a background in software engineering

• expertise in defining test strategies

• a strong affinity for hardware

Previous experience as a Team Lead within Engineering in a high-tech industry will be really helpful. Lots of us come from within R&D-driven organisations (e.g., semiconductor, radar systems, high-speed electronics) but we are also open to anything that’s got new and interesting tech (eg. EV, robotics) or is fast-paced and innovative (eg. FMCG).

For us, a strong leader and team manager can empower and inspire. You will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities, with a focus on delivering high-quality results.