Lead Software Engineer - Photonic Applications (f/m/d)

Your mission

The future of AI computing builds on light. Q.ANT is building photonic processing systems that compute with light - delivering a scalable, energy-efficient alternative to transistor-based architectures for next-generation AI and HPC applications.

As Lead Software Engineer - Photonic Applications (f/m/d), you'll bridge cutting-edge photonic hardware and real-world applications. Your work creates the evidence that photonic computing works: compelling demos, developer enablement, and direct partner collaboration that turn hardware capabilities into tangible success stories.

You'll work across the full stack – from performance-optimized algorithms to developer-facing documentation – helping partners, clients, and investors understand why computing with light is the future.

What You Will Do

• Figure out how algorithms make a difference with photonics
• Optimize algorithms and develop performance-critical code (Python, C/C++, Rust) to demonstrate the full potential of photonic hardware through compelling performance benchmarks
• Collaborate with algorithms and software ecosystem teams to refine architectural designs and provide structured feedback from real-world applications
• Work with external partners and clients on use cases and proof-of-concepts that demonstrate the value of photonic computing for AI and scientific workloads
• Build developer-facing assets: tutorials, reference implementations, demos, benchmarks, Jupyter notebooks, and documentation that enable developers to write optimized code for photonic hardware
• Deliver public presentations, workshops, and technical briefings on photonic computing applications
• Manage stakeholder expectations and project timelines across client engagements and partner collaborations
• Contribute to Q.ANT's Open Source initiatives and developer ecosystem

Your profile

• 5+ years in software engineering across the stack with strong proficiency in Python plus C/C++ respectively Rust for performance-critical components
• 5+ years working in the context of external partners, clients, or developer communities
• Deep expertise in AI algorithms and scientific computing (PyTorch, JAX, TensorFlow) with understanding of hardware acceleration architectures and performance optimization
• Experience developing demos/PoCs for novel hardware platforms and creating technical enablement content for developers is a plus
• Familiarity with Open Source development workflows and tooling (GitHub, CI/CD pipelines, test frameworks, Jupyter notebooks, package distribution)
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or related technical field
• Fluent in English; German is a plus

Why us?

• Make impact at scale: Help solve one of computing's biggest challenges – making growing demand in compute and sustainability go hand in hand
• Work on the leading edge: Photonic AI acceleration technologies that will define the next decade of computing – already validated in production HPC environments
• Own your work from day one: Shape design and code of software, client solutions, and public collaterals on your own, with direct impact on product success and the future of AI infrastructure
• Fast-track your growth: Work on challenges with few industry precedents – every problem you solve becomes new institutional knowledge and potentially industry-defining IP
• Be the multiplier: Your work enables entire developer communities and directly helps clients succeed with photonic computing
• World-class team: Collaborate alongside a passionate, international, cross-functional team of experts in photonics, processor design, and AI software
• Direct access to leadership: Work closely with the company's founders, including CEO Dr. Michael Förtsch, and the Q.ANT senior leadership team
• Collaborative culture: Innovative work environment that values technical excellence, open communication, and pragmatic problem-solving
• Be part of history: Join at the inflection point where photonic computing transitions from research to mainstream – your contributions will shape this transformation

We're looking for a technical problem-solver who gets energized by turning cutting-edge research into production-ready applications, working directly with partners to solve real challenges, and enabling developers to unlock the full potential of photonic computing.

Ready to show the world that photonic computing works? We are looking forward to receiving your application!

Q.ANT is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

About us

Who we are and what we doQ.ANT is a deep-tech scale-up developing photonic processing solutions that compute natively with light and deliver a scalable alternative to transistor-based systems. The analog co-processors are optimised for complex computations and enable energy-efficient performance for next-generation AI and HPC applications. In collaboration with the Institute for Microelectronics Stuttgart IMS CHIPS, Q.ANT operates its own pilot line for photonic chips, based on the material system Thin-Film Lithium Niobate TFLN. Q.ANT was founded by Michael Förtsch in 2018 and is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany.