Senior Real-Time SW Engineer

Description Quantum Machines is a global leader in hybrid control systems for quantum computing, a field on the verge of exponential growth. Our innovative hardware and software offer a groundbreaking approach to controlling quantum computers, scaling from individual qubits to arrays of thousands. At the heart of QM is a passionate, ambitious team committed to transforming the construction and operation of quantum computers. Our deep understanding of customer needs drives us to deliver unmatched solutions in this revolutionary field. We are looking for a highly skilled Real-Time C++ Engineer who embodies ambition and positivity — someone who takes ownership of complex, performance-critical problems and collaborates effectively with remote and on-site teams to meet and exceed our objectives and fulfill the evolving needs of our expanding customer base. The Real-Time C++ component is at the core of our Quantum Orchestration Platform — it serves as the driver for the Pulse Processing Unit (PPU), our proprietary VLSI-based engine. This component is responsible for preparing, loading, and launching the execution of quantum-computing workloads, operating at extreme performance levels to maximize hardware utilization and minimize software overhead. Responsibilities Develop and maintain the real-time C++ layer that drives the Pulse Processing Unit (PPU), QM's proprietary VLSI-based processor. Design and implement high-performance software for preparing, loading, and launching quantum-computing workloads with minimal latency and maximal hardware utilization. Drive relentless optimization of the software stack to minimize SW overhead in the critical path, ensuring the hardware operates at peak throughput. Collaborate closely with VLSI, compiler, and architecture teams to ensure seamless software-hardware integration across the quantum control stack. Contribute hands-on to the codebase — designing, implementing, reviewing, debugging, and profiling performance-critical code paths. Uphold the team's engineering standards, code quality practices, and performance benchmarking methodologies, and help raise the bar over time. Participate in technical planning and roadmap discussions, aligning your work with product and customer needs. Requirements At least 5 years of hands-on C++ development experience in performance-critical or real-time systems — Must. BSc. in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a relevant technical field (advanced degrees are an advantage) — Must. Deep understanding of systems programming, memory management, concurrency, and low-level optimization techniques — Must. Experience with profiling, benchmarking, and performance tuning of latency-sensitive software — Must. Experience developing drivers or software interfacing with VLSI, hardware accelerators, or embedded processors — Advantage. Experience working in a multidisciplinary environment alongside hardware, VLSI, and algorithm teams — Advantage.