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Product Manager – Quantum System
Photonic
Source: Headcount Labs · original listing ↗
Job data: Headcount Labs, ODbL 1.0. Job descriptions belong to their employers.
Source date: 10/30/2026
About this role
As the Product Manager – Quantum Systems , you will own the product definition, roadmap, and delivery of Photonic’s Physical Qubit Layer, the foundation of our quantum computing technology stack. You will sit at the boundary between hardware engineering and the rest of the technology stack, defining clean interfaces up and down, building clear roadmaps, and keeping them aligned with the other layers so that every milestone lands on time. While the Physical Qubit Layer is your primary focus, you will be expected to take ownership of additional products across the portfolio. This role suits a hands-on product manager who is comfortable in a highly R&D-focused environment, can make sound technical tradeoffs, and stays focused on hitting roadmap milestones. You will coordinate across multiple technical teams, create alignment where priorities compete, and work closely with the PMO to drive requirements to completion and report on progress. You will work with engineering, architecture, and program leadership to define and deliver products built on Photonic’s Entanglement First™ architecture and silicon spin qubit platform. Please include a cover letter with your resume (in one file) describing how you would be a great fit at Photonic and what attributes you could bring to our growing team. Product Ownership – Physical Qubit Layer Own the product strategy, requirements, and roadmap for the Physical Qubit Layer, translating hardware capabilities and R&D results into clear, prioritized product goals. Act as the primary product interface to the hardware teams, building a deep working understanding of the technology so you can challenge assumptions, understand constraints, and make informed decisions. Manage the product lifecycle from concept through validation and release, including release planning, readiness criteria, and milestone tracking. Conduct market research and competitive analysis, tracking the quantum hardware landscape and emerging technologies to inform product positioning, requirements, and roadmap priorities. Own go-to-market readiness for your products, including positioning, launch planning, and technical product collateral, and bring products to market in partnership with business development and marketing Interface Definition & Architecture Alignment Define, document, and maintain clean, well-versioned interfaces between the Physical Qubit Layer and the layers above and below it, including the requirements and performance specifications each side depends on. Work with architecture and engineering teams to manage interface changes, dependencies, and compatibility across the technology stack. Ensure requirements are traceable, testable, and agreed on by all stakeholders before development commitments are made. Roadmap & Cross-Layer Alignment Build and maintain clear, credible roadmaps with defined milestones, and align them with the roadmaps of the other layers in the technology stack. Identify cross-layer dependencies, conflicts, and risks early, and drive resolution with the owning teams. Balance short-term milestones against long-lead development items, using technical data and stakeholder input to keep the roadmap realistic and ambitious. Execution & Delivery in an R&D Environment Make timely technical and product tradeoffs, weighing performance, schedule, risk, and scope, while staying focused on hitting roadmap milestones. Coordinate across several technical teams (such as hardware, device, fabrication, test, controls, and software) and build alignment around shared goals and priorities. Define product and milestone metrics, and communicate progress, risks, and decisions clearly to engineering teams and leadership. Program Management & Reporting Work closely with the PMO to drive requirements to completion, track progress against milestones, and report on status, risks, and issues. Maintain clear, up-to-date product documentation, requirement baselines, and decision records. Establish and refine lightweight product management practices that fit a fast-moving R&D environment. Broader Product Responsibilities Take ownership of additional products or product areas as the portfolio evolves, applying the same discipline in requirements, roadmapping, and delivery. Support technical communication for internal and external audiences, including partners and customers, as needed. 5-8 years of product management experience, with a proven track record of taking products to market, from definition through launch and commercialization (not only contributing to development). Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physics, computer science, or a related technical field (or equivalent experience). An exceptional candidate will bring Required: demonstrated experience taking a hardware or combined hardware and software product to market, including defining go-to-market readiness and owning the product through launch. Required: hands-on experience conducting market research and competitive analysis, and using the results to shape product requirements, positioning, and roadmap priorities. Required: hands-on experience with combined hardware and software products, including defining requirements and interfaces that span both. Direct experience working with hardware engineering teams and defining clean, well-documented technical interfaces between system layers or subsystems. Proven ability to build clear product roadmaps and align them with adjacent teams and dependent products in a layered or modular technology stack. Comfort operating in a highly R&D-focused environment, with the judgment to make technical tradeoffs under uncertainty while staying focused on roadmap milestones. Experience coordinating multiple technical teams and creating alignment across groups with competing priorities. Experience working with a PMO or program office to drive requirements to completion, track progress, and report on status and risks. Strong communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with scientists, engineers, program managers, and executives. Ability to own and manage more than one product or product area at a time. Experience with quantum computing hardware, particularly physical qubit technologies and the control and measurement systems that support them. Familiarity with semiconductor or photonic device development, fabrication, characterization, or test. Experience with qubit performance metrics (such as coherence, fidelity, and yield) and how they translate into system-level requirements. Experience in high-growth, research-driven environments where requirements evolve as the science matures. Get involved with a quantum startup company set to redefine computing Work closely with some of the brightest innovators in quantum technologies Enjoy a fast-paced and fun environment where you can try new things while solving innovative challenges every day Inclusive company culture Competitive salary, benefits (including life insurance, extended health, dental, long term disability, and a flexible spending account), and potential upside 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! We are also committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion. We embrace and encourage our employees’ differences, knowing that these very differences inspire innovation and build better teams. If there are any accommodations our team can make throughout our hiring process, please let us know.