Instrument Control Engineer, Software

Job Description

Job Title: Instrument Control Engineer, Software. Location: Pasadena, CA, USA

Responsibilities:

• Act as a subject matter expert on software interfaces for control hardware.
• Collaborate with internal hardware developers and external vendors to refine integration strategies.
• Implement instrument drivers and control logic in Python and/or low-level languages such as C++ or Rust.
• Contribute to the compiler backend to efficiently execute OpenQASM-based experiments on next-generation control hardware.
• Benchmark system performance and define key performance metrics;
• Integrate new features into Amazon’s Python-based experimental software stack.
• Partner with scientists to mentor, contribute to the codebase, and document software solutions.
• Translate high-level scientific requirements into performant, scalable, and intuitive software implementations.

Qualifications:

• PhD, or Bachelor’s degree with 4+ years of applied research experience.
• 2+ years of professional programming experience in modern languages such as Python, C++, Java, or C#.
• 1+ years of experience with control systems for experimental quantum computing.
• Experience collaborating with scientists in a research environment;
• Familiarity with the full software development life cycle, including coding standards, code reviews, source control, build processes, testing, and operations.

Preferred:

• Experience with embedded software development, including low-level device drivers or kernel development.
• Experience with digital signal processing.
• Familiarity with RFSoC platforms and standard communication interfaces (USB, PCIe, Ethernet).
• Experience in compiler development, including optimizations or backend code generation.
• Knowledge of low-latency networking technologies such as RDMA;
• Experience with monitoring and telemetry platforms such as OpenTelemetry.

Benefits and Compensation:

• Annual base salary range: $142,800–$193,200 USD, based on experience and qualifications.
• Sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs) included;
• Comprehensive health benefits: medical, dental, vision, prescription coverage, Basic Life & AD&D, and optional supplemental life insurance.
• Flexible Spending Accounts, Mental Health Support, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage.
• 401(k) matching.
• Paid time off and parental leave.
• Career growth opportunities through mentorship, training, and collaboration within a multi-disciplinary team.

Other Information:

• Candidates must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, refugees, granted asylum, or able to obtain a U.S. export license due to applicable export control laws.
• Amazon fosters an inclusive, diverse, and supportive workplace culture.
• Work is performed onsite in Pasadena, CA;
• Applications from individuals with diverse experiences, including non-traditional career paths, are encouraged.
• The role involves close collaboration with experimental physics and hardware teams to enable scalable software for quantum computing.