Manager, Pilot Line Technician Team

Are you that rare leader who excels at building and developing a high-performing technician team while ensuring the highest standards of safety, quality, and throughput in a lab environment? Do you thrive on coaching people, structuring daily operations, and driving disciplined execution against SOPs? Do you move seamlessly from shift planning to root-cause discussions to one-on-one coaching? Do you enjoy working at the nexus of people and cutting-edge technology? If you answered yes to this, we're looking for you to join us at Photonic! The Test and Assembly Integration Engineering team is an integral part of the Development & Engineering group at Photonic, where we're building scalable, fault-tolerant quantum computers based on photonically-linked silicon spins. In this role, you will lead a team of test and assembly technicians responsible for executing chip test and assembly operations across our pilot line — running stations, following SOPs with precision, and delivering fully characterized chips into our quantum computers. WHAT WE NEED YOU TO DO People Leadership Lead, coach, and develop a team of test and assembly technicians — setting daily priorities, balancing workload across test stations, and managing shift coverage to maximize lab utilization Recruit, onboard, and performance-manage technicians in partnership with HR; provide cross-training opportunities and support internal career growth Foster a high-performance, results-driven, and inclusive team culture where technicians feel ownership of their stations and pride in their craft Build a clear 30/60/90 onboarding framework for new technicians and own ongoing technician qualification on each station Conduct regular 1:1s, performance reviews, and career development conversations Operational Execution Own day-to-day execution of the test and assembly flow, ensuring technicians follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) precisely and consistently Maintain qualification records, training logs, and certification status for every technician–station pairing Partner with Test and Device Engineering to translate new test methods into clear, technician-executable SOPs, work instructions, and checklists Manage equipment readiness — coordinate calibration, preventive maintenance, and qualification schedules in partnership with Engineering and Facilities Serve as the first-line escalation point for technicians on station issues, routing non-routine troubleshooting and failure investigations to the appropriate Engineering owner Safety, Quality & Process Discipline Champion a strong safety culture, ensuring all activities protect personnel, equipment, and chips; enforce lab cleanliness, PPE, and handling protocols for sensitive materials Ensure rigorous adherence to change control — no procedure, recipe, or station configuration changes without proper authorization and updated SOPs Promote a culture where technicians are empowered to stop work, escalate concerns, and seek resolution whenever safety, quality, process compliance, or equipment integrity could be compromised. Maintain accurate records of test runs, anomalies, and station logs to support traceability and root-cause analysis Performance & Continuous Improvement Develop and maintain systems for tracking and reporting key technician-team KPIs (throughput, yield, cycle time, station uptime, SOP compliance), ensuring data-driven decision making Partner with Test Engineering on the failure-analysis feedback loop, ensuring technician observations are captured and fed back into process improvements Identify opportunities to simplify, standardize, and automate repetitive tasks so technicians can focus on high-value execution Communicate across an interdisciplinary team of device, hardware, software, and operations engineers to align on requirements, schedules, and deliverables WHAT YOU BRING TO OUR TEAM Leadership Skills: 3+ years leading technician, operator, or junior-engineer teams in a semiconductor, photonics, optics, or cryogenic R&D / pilot-manufacturing environment, with demonstrated ability to deliver with quality, velocity, and safety Operational Discipline: Proven experience running a lab or pilot line on SOPs — scheduling shifts, qualifying staff on stations, and enforcing change control Technical Foundation: Solid working knowledge of semiconductor, optical, or cryogenic test environments; a degree (Diploma, BSc, or higher) in physics, electrical engineering, photonics, mechatronics, or a related discipline. Deep hands-on photonic expertise is not required — the role is about leading skilled executors, not being the deepest expert in the room Process Authorship: Experience authoring and maintaining SOPs, work instructions, training programs, and qualification records for a technician team Safety Mindset: Demonstrated commitment to personnel safety, equipment protection, and risk mitigation in a lab setting Analytical Skills: Comfortable tracking KPIs (yield, throughput, uptime, OEE) and using data to drive prioritization and improvement Problem-Solving Ability: Calm and structured when acting as the first escalation point for hands-on issues; knows when to triage vs. when to call Engineering Talent Management: Track record of attracting, motivating, coaching, and retaining technical talent; experience building inclusive, high-performing teams from a mix of backgrounds and experience levels Stakeholder Management: Effective in working across Test Engineering, Device Engineering, Hardware, and Operations to align on station readiness, schedules, and deliverables Interpersonal Skills: Excellent interpersonal and written communication abilities; outstanding teamwork skills; able to translate technical direction into clear, actionable instructions for the team WHY YOU SHOULD WORK WITH US Work closely with some of the brightest innovators in quantum technologies to drive breakthroughs that redefine computing Enjoy a fast-paced, collaborative environment where you can try new things while solving innovative challenges every day Inclusive company culture that values collaboration Regular social events and fun activities keep our global team connected Competitive compensation package including base salary, stock options, and relocation assistance for global talent Comprehensive benefits including extended health, dental, life, long-term disability, an employee assistance program, parental leave top-ups, and a flexible spending account The description above is what we think an ideal candidate would look like for this role. At Photonic, we understand that everyone has a different work and life journey. If you feel your experience is close to what we've described, but you might not meet all the requirements, please still apply! While artificial intelligence (AI) tools may be used to assist in reviewing applicant profiles, they do not determine candidate outcomes. Our hiring decisions are made by people, not algorithms. We are committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion.