Scientific Software Engineer

About Alice & Bob

Alice & Bob is developing the first universal, fault-tolerant quantum computer to solve the world’s hardest problems.

The quantum computer we envision building is based on a new kind of superconducting qubit: the Schrödinger cat qubit. In comparison to other superconducting platforms, cat qubits have the astonishing ability to implement quantum error correction autonomously!

We're a diverse team of 250+ brilliant minds from over 35 countries united by a single goal: to revolutionise computing with a practical fault-tolerant quantum machine. Are you ready to take on unprecedented challenges and contribute to revolutionising technology? Join us, and let's shape the future of quantum computing together!

Every chip Alice & Bob builds starts as Python code. As we scale from tens of qubits to thousands, our chip-design software becomes the backbone of the entire design pipeline, and it has to support chips that could never be drawn by hand.

Responsibilities

Scientific Software Engineer

• Design and Implementation team, you’ll own the internal framework our engineers use to turn a quantum circuit into a layout and send it to electromagnetic and circuit simulators. You’ll keep it robust and fast, grow its component library, and build the automation our layout and scale-up engineers need to design large chips.
• Own and maintain the internal design backend API and qubit design framework: code quality, testing, CI, releases, documentation
• Develop new parametric components and layout primitives with the chip designers who use them
• Extend and harden the export pipeline to electromagnetic and circuit simulation tools
• Build the automation layer for large-scale, hierarchical chip layouts in close partnership with our physical-design and scale-up engineers
• Support internal users: onboarding, debugging, API design, and turning recurring pain points into features

Requirements

• 5+ years of professional Python development, with strong software engineering fundamentals: testing, packaging, versioning, CI/CD, code review
• Solid experience building and maintaining a library or framework used by other engineers, and a taste for clean, well-documented APIs
• Comfort with computational geometry or CAD/layout data (GDSII, polygons, transformations) — or eagerness to learn it fast
• Ability to work closely with hardware engineers and translate their needs into software
• Fluent English and excellent written and verbal communication skills

Preferred

• Experience with gdstk, gdsfactory, KLayout, or other layout tooling
• Familiarity with electromagnetic simulation tools (HFSS/AEDT, Palace) or circuit simulators
• Background in superconducting circuits, RF/microwave engineering, or semiconductor design automation (EDA)

Benefits

• Our success is your success: own it with our BSPCE plan
• Direct IP Compensation: Earn substantial bonuses for driving the core patents that define our quantum architecture.
• Flexible remote policy, up to 40 % a month
• A Parental plan including additional benefits such as crèche support or additional days-off to take care of under 12 years old children
• Subsidized membership with Urban Sports Club

Mental health support with moka.care

• 25-day vacation policy (as per French law) + RTT
• Half of transportation cost coverage (as per French law), or yearly allowance for the die-hard bicycle users
• Competitive health coverage, with Alan.
• Meal vouchers with Swile, as well as access to a fully equipped and regularly stocked kitchen
• French language courses covered by the company for those interested
• Research shows that women might feel hesitant to apply for this job if they don't match 100% of the job requirements listed. This list is a guide, and we'd love to receive your application even if you think you're only a partial match. We are looking to build teams that innovate, not just tick boxes on a job spec.
• You will join of one of the most innovative startups in France at an early stage, to be part of a passionate and friendly team on its mission to build the first universal quantum computer!
• We love to share and learn from one another, so you will be certain to innovate, develop new ideas, and have the space to grow.

Recruitment Process

• Screening Call with Grace, Talent Acquisition Specialist (30 min)
• Hiring Manager Interview with Felix (45 min)
• Technical Interview/Presentation with the Team (120 min)
• Leadership Team Interview (30 min)
• Fit Interview (45 min)
• Reference check