Description

We are looking for a Senior Experimental Photonics Scientist to join The Leidos Quantum Incubator. In this role, you'll be responsible for overseeing the optical and photonic lab functions, along with supervising a team of experimentalists. This is a great opportunity to apply your experience in a way that directly contributes to our quantum technologies portfolio. You will help us develop new contract and internal R&D projects by benchmarking quantum devices and designing and building working prototypes. You will also work closely with other quantum scientists to provide feedback that improves the design and layout of circuits for optimal testing. The ideal candidate is someone who is passionate about applied research and development and has strong experimental skills. We are looking for a senior scientist who wants to help mature new technologies from the initial concept all the way to a working prototype. We encourage candidates with strong, relevant backgrounds to apply, even if they do not meet all qualifications below.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead, guide, and develop a team of research scientists of varying skills and skill levels. 

• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to prioritize research directions and experiments. 

• Develop laboratory guidelines; maintain procedures manuals; and/or evaluate new materials and equipment for quantum optics and/or photonics experiments. 

• Create test plans and procedures that effectively validate and verify theory; manage the execution of tests, develop test reports. 

• Identify key hardware needs for photonic testing and experimental demonstrations and oversee/maintain current lab hardware. 

• Use photonic probing systems and free space optics to conduct detailed testing and characterization of devices at the component, subsystem, and system levels.  

• Continuously stay up to date with advancements in quantum technologies, testing methods, and industry best practices. 

Multiple openings at various levels. The various position’s minimum education and experience requirements are as follows:

• T4: Bachelor’s degree in physics, applied physics, engineering, or related fields and 8+ years of prior relevant experience. Additional years of experience may be considered in lieu of degree requirements.

• T5: Bachelor’s degree in physics, applied physics, engineering, or related fields and 12+ years of prior relevant experience. Additional years of experience may be considered in lieu of degree requirements.

Basic Qualifications:

• Experience using photonic PIC probing hardware for basic testing, including optical coupling and alignment, insertion loss measurements, and spectral response analysis. 

• Hands-on experience overseeing and managing equipment such as laser sources, power meters, optical spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, and micromanipulator stages. 

• Desire to work in a fast-paced research environment

• Experience leading and managing teams

• Proficiency in python and labview

• Experience with optimization of photonic components using simulation tools

• Research experience in the areas of nonlinear optics, atomic physics, quantum information science, and/or quantum photonics

• Strong analysis, design, and problem-solving skills

• Experience with technical writing and/or proposal writing

• US Citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain a US government security clearance

Preferred Qualifications:

• PhD degree in physics, engineering, or other equivalent area of expertise

• Prior experience in the design, fabrication, or characterization of hybrid non-linear integrated photonics (such as TFLN or BTO). 

• Nanophotonic design using photonic simulation tools such as: FDTD, FEM, or optical mode solver (Lumerical/COMSOL/Tidy3D/or similar) 

• Expertise in free space optics, including the design, alignment, and testing of optical systems for quantum applications 

• Proficiency in aligning fiber arrayed probes to both edge-coupled and grating-coupled devices. 

• A record of publications in peer-reviewed journals or presentations at conferences with the desire to contribute to proposal writing. 

• Strong written and oral communication skills with the ability to brief non-technical audiences. 

• Experience with PDKs, semiconductor or nanofabrication processing, and packaging of photonic integrated circuits

• Experience creating nanofabrication CAD files (Klayout) from python scripting (GDS factory)

• Strong background in data analysis and visualization

• DoD Top Secret Clearance

At Leidos, we don’t want someone who "fits the mold"—we want someone who melts it down and builds something better. This is a role for the restless, the over-caffeinated, the ones who ask, “what’s next?” before the dust settles on “what’s now.”

If you’re already scheming step 20 while everyone else is still debating step 2… good. You’ll fit right in.

Original Posting:

January 5, 2026

Pay Range:

Pay Range $107,900.00 - $195,050.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.

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Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.