VP, Software Engineering
- Coquitlam, BC, Canada
$238,700 to $328,300 CAD / year · Full-time
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Job details
- Pay
- $238,700 to $328,300 CAD / year
- Job type
- Full-time
- Apply by
- Posting language
- English
- Posted
Original job description
Application Deadline: 30 November 2026
Department: Software Engineering
Location: British Columbia, Canada (Hybrid)
Compensation: CA$238,700 - CA$328,300 / year
Description
Photonic is building first-of-their-kind quantum computing capabilities at the intersection of photonics, silicon spin qubits, advanced software systems, and large-scale technical integration.
As VP, Software Engineering, you will define and lead the software strategy that enables Photonic's path from research to scalable quantum computing systems. You will oversee software engineering across core platforms, simulations, compilers, AI, development infrastructure, and software-hardware co-development practices. This role requires a leader who can simultaneously build high-performing software teams, improve engineering execution, and leverage modern AI and agentic development approaches to dramatically increase organizational productivity. You will partner closely with hardware, systems, integrated photonics, product, and research leaders to ensure software capabilities accelerate innovation, improve engineering effectiveness, and enable successful delivery of increasingly sophisticated quantum computing systems.
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.
What We Need You To Do
About Photonic
Photonic Inc. is a leading quantum technology company developing commercial-scale quantum computers and quantum networks to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges in materials science, drug discovery, climate change, and security. The company’s approach unlocks performance at scale through unmatched distributed quantum computing capabilities. Photonic’s high-connectivity Entanglement First™ architecture leverages a unique qubit modality - optically linked silicon spin qubits - to enable powerful computation, efficient error correction, and seamless integration with existing data center and telecom environments. Headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, with operations in the United States and United Kingdom, Photonic’s team is advancing quantum technologies alongside leading investors, partners, and customers worldwide.
Department: Software Engineering
Location: British Columbia, Canada (Hybrid)
Compensation: CA$238,700 - CA$328,300 / year
Description
Photonic is building first-of-their-kind quantum computing capabilities at the intersection of photonics, silicon spin qubits, advanced software systems, and large-scale technical integration.
As VP, Software Engineering, you will define and lead the software strategy that enables Photonic's path from research to scalable quantum computing systems. You will oversee software engineering across core platforms, simulations, compilers, AI, development infrastructure, and software-hardware co-development practices. This role requires a leader who can simultaneously build high-performing software teams, improve engineering execution, and leverage modern AI and agentic development approaches to dramatically increase organizational productivity. You will partner closely with hardware, systems, integrated photonics, product, and research leaders to ensure software capabilities accelerate innovation, improve engineering effectiveness, and enable successful delivery of increasingly sophisticated quantum computing systems.
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.
What We Need You To Do
- Build, lead, and scale a world-class software engineering organization across software systems, simulation, compilers, AI, and software infrastructure
- Lead the adoption of AI-assisted and agentic development across Photonic, defining the strategy, operating model, tooling, governance, and organizational changes required to embed these capabilities into everyday engineering work
- Build the platforms, workflows, and enablement practices required to scale AI adoption across engineering while improving quality, security, and developer effectiveness
- Identify and prioritize opportunities to improve engineering productivity, reduce development latency, shorten learning cycles, and accelerate technical progress
- Define and execute the software strategy required to support Photonic's engineering, product, and commercialization objectives
- Partner closely with Product and Program Management to establish effective end-to-end development processes spanning requirements, prioritization, development, validation, and delivery
- Partner closely with hardware, systems, integrated photonics, and research teams to enable effective software-hardware co-development and ensure software capabilities scale with the increasing complexity of Photonic's quantum computing platform
- Build and mentor a strong software leadership team while establishing modern software engineering practices, technical governance, tooling, automation, execution discipline, and proactive management of software and delivery risks across the organization
- Proven success leading AI-enabled engineering transformation, including the adoption of AI-assisted and agentic development practices that delivered measurable improvements in productivity, quality, velocity, or organizational effectiveness
- Experience building and scaling software engineering organizations responsible for complex technical products, platforms, or development ecosystems
- Strong technical credibility across modern software architecture, developer platforms, AI-enabled development tools, automation, and software lifecycle management
- Demonstrated success building high-performing engineering cultures that balance innovation, execution, accountability, and technical excellence
- Experience leading software organizations supporting complex hardware, scientific computing, semiconductors, deep-tech platforms, or similarly integrated technical systems
- Deep understanding of software-hardware co-development and its impact on system performance, scalability, reliability, and manufacturabilities
- Strong product and operational mindset, with the ability to connect software investments to defined problems, measurable outcomes, and business priorities
- Excellent leadership, communication, and change-management skills
- Experience in quantum computing, photonics, semiconductors, scientific computing, or similarly complex deep-tech environments
- Experience building AI-enabled engineering platforms, developer ecosystems, or software organizations that acted as force multipliers across large technical teams
- Work closely with some of the brightest innovators in quantum technologies to drive breakthroughs that redefine computing
- Enjoy a fast-paced and fun 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
About Photonic
Photonic Inc. is a leading quantum technology company developing commercial-scale quantum computers and quantum networks to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges in materials science, drug discovery, climate change, and security. The company’s approach unlocks performance at scale through unmatched distributed quantum computing capabilities. Photonic’s high-connectivity Entanglement First™ architecture leverages a unique qubit modality - optically linked silicon spin qubits - to enable powerful computation, efficient error correction, and seamless integration with existing data center and telecom environments. Headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, with operations in the United States and United Kingdom, Photonic’s team is advancing quantum technologies alongside leading investors, partners, and customers worldwide.
More about this job
Responsibilities
Lead and scale Photonic’s software engineering organization and define the software strategy across platforms, simulation, compilers, AI, and infrastructure. Drive AI-enabled engineering practices, improve execution and productivity, and partner with product, hardware, systems, photonics, and research teams to deliver scalable quantum computing systems.
Requirements
The role calls for an experienced executive who has scaled software engineering organizations and led AI-assisted or agentic development transformations with measurable results. Candidates should bring strong technical and product judgment, experience with complex integrated systems, and the leadership and communication skills to build high-performing teams and effective software-hardware collaboration.
Skills
- Software Engineering Leadership
- AI-Assisted Development
- Agentic Development
- Software Strategy
- Engineering Organization Scaling
- Software Architecture
- Developer Platforms
- Automation
- Software Lifecycle Management
- Software-Hardware Co-Development
- Simulation
- Compilers
- Engineering Productivity
- Technical Governance
- Change Management
- Quantum Computing
Benefits
- Stock Options
- Relocation Assistance
- Extended Health Benefits
- Dental Benefits
- Life Insurance
- Long-Term Disability Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program
- Parental Leave Top-Ups
- Flexible Spending Account
Visa sponsorship
Not detected in the job text
Categories
- Software
- Technology
- Management & Leadership
- Engineering
- Science & Research
Keywords
- Quantum Computing
- Quantum Networks
- Software Engineering
- AI-Assisted Development
- Agentic Development
- Software Platforms
- Simulation
- Compilers
- Developer Infrastructure
- Software-Hardware Co-Development
- Engineering Productivity
- Software Architecture
- Developer Platforms
- Automation
- Software Lifecycle Management
- Technical Governance
- Product Management
- Program Management
- Integrated Photonics
- Silicon Spin Qubits
- Scientific Computing
- Semiconductors
- Deep Tech
- System Integration
- Error Correction
- Distributed Quantum Computing
- Engineering Transformation