HPC Integration - Bruyères-le-Châtel - Quandela SA

Description

About Quandela

Quandela is a French deeptech spin-off from CNRS, building Europe's first general-purpose photonic quantum computers.
We deliver across the full stack - from single-photon sources and photonic chips to simulation libraries (Perceval), programming platforms (Merlin), and cloud access (Quandela Cloud).

Lucy, a 12-qubit photonic quantum computer developed under the EuroQCS-France / EuroHPC programme, will soon be hosted on-site at CEA's TGCC in Bruyères-le-Châtel and coupled directly with the Joliot-Curie supercomputer.
In this hybrid HPC–quantum setup, there is no remote factory access and no standard back-office monitoring.
Everything runs locally ; making integration, on-site operations, and system reliability absolutely critical.

Why this role matters?

We are building a dedicated support cell to accompany Lucy's deployment.

This is not "classic" support. It's about ensuring the world's first large-scale photonic QPU integrated with HPC runs reliably, day after day.

Your role covers monitoring, documentation, reporting, and user enablement, while escalating deeper hardware issues to specialists when needed.
Beyond troubleshooting, you'll contribute to the practices and metrics that define how researchers interact with Lucy.

What will you do:

Your mission covers the full QPU lifecycle: from daily operations and maintenance, to user support, performance tracking, and external interface.

• Operate and monitor the system: Perform daily health checks and predefined test protocols across Lucy's modules (optics/photonics, control electronics, HPC interfaces). Collect logs, identify anomalies, document precisely, and upscale when needed.
• Automate reliability: Develop Python/Linux scripts to automate checks, parse logs, generate alerts, and build simple dashboards. Turn repeated manual work into scheduled jobs (cron, ETL-style pipelines)
• Diagnose integration issues: uptime, gate fidelity, error rates, response times – providing clear visibility to CEA/GENCI and to Quandela's R&D.
• Support researchers: Handle tickets, maintain documentation, manage access, and assist researchers interacting with Lucy through HPC workflows.
• Coordinate with TGCC/HLST: act as SPOC with TGCC/HLST, join weekly reviews, ensure compliance with reporting standards, and secure operational continuity.

*NB: You will not directly repair or calibrate optics/photonics modules yourself. Your role is to interact with these systems through monitoring and predefined tests, verify that modules are functioning correctly, and escal…

On-site presence :

• 5 days/week at TGCC (Bruyères-le-Châtel, Essonne)
  (Some flexibility may be possible later, but the role is primarily on-site given its operational nature)
• On-call duties (astreintes) may be part of the role — details to be confirmed with HLST procedures.
  

How you'll grow :

• 0–3 months: onboard on TGCC/HPC workflows, handle standard QPU tickets, deliver first documentation.
• 3–6 months: trusted SPOC for GENCI/CEA, ensure machine reliability, identify recurring issues, propose fixes.
• 6–12 months: Take part in coordination: anticipate upgrades, align stakeholders, structure KPIs, and drive proactive enablement.
  

Longer term: Potential evolution toward a Technical Account Manager role, bridging clients, HPC teams, and R&D/Product for future quantum deployments.

Profile we value :

Must-have

• Python & Linux (advanced): scripting, automation, troubleshooting. Comfortable working in a production-like environment (services, processes, system checks).
• Operational reliability: able to run/document system checks (module start/stop, execute test protocols, collect logs) read/interpret logs, and upscale clearly.
• Diagnostic mindset: Able to trace issues across a chain (service → scheduler → data flow → module) and isolate whether the problem is OS, network, scheduler, or system-side.
• Communication & Documentation: structured documentation, clear escalation, effective collaboration with both researchers and HPC infra teams.
• Languages: professional English + conversational French (daily work with CEA/GENCI).

Nice to have (can grow)

• HPC awareness: Basic understanding of job schedulers (Slurm or similar), batch workflows, cluster constraints, and service integration in HPC environments..
• System integration mindset: Comfortable testing interfaces between systems, verifying service behavior, identifying where communication breaks, and working with infra teams to resolve it.
• Continuous improvement: ability (or appetite) to identify recurring issues, propose durable fixes (documentation, workflows, training), and support user adoption.

Bonus

• Experience with EuroHPC, CNRS, CERN, or Tier-1 datacenter ops.
• Previous involvement in hybrid HPC–Quantum projects.
• Photonics/electronics exposure
  

Academic background:
For this role, we are looking for a Master's degree or engineering school background in physics, applied mathematics, computer science, or related fields. Familiarity with instrumentation (optics, electronics, HPC environments) can be a plus, but what matters most is the ability to navigate complex systems and turn technical insights into reliable operations.

Backgrounds that could fit / We particularly value experience from fields (3-5y) :

• HPC or infra support engineers with strong Python/data skills.
• Researchers (physics, applied maths, CS) moving into system operations.
• IoT/Cloud engineers with monitoring & integration experience.

What we offer :

Salary range: €45–60k, depending on background and autonomy.

• €45–50k: solid HPC/infra engineer ready to grow into QPU.
• €50–55k: autonomous on HPC monitoring + user enablement.
• €55–60k+: senior profile, able to coordinate and step into a Technical Account Manager scope.
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On top of base salary: annual profit-sharing, company savings plan, 100% health coverage (Alan), 50% transport reimbursement or mobility bonus, Swile meal vouchers, and access to Gymlib.


Why join ?

• Be part of Lucy's deployment, the first large-scale photonic QPU in Europe.
• Work at the intersection of quantum, HPC, and national infrastructure.
• Collaborate directly with CEA, GENCI, and top researchers.
• Grow from support into coordination and technical account management.
• Contribute to Europe's quantum roadmap - with impact today, and vision to 2030 and beyond.

A final word




At Quandela, support is not a back-office function. It is where science meets reality.

As Support Engineer today — and Technical Account Manager tomorrow — you'll be the bridge between pioneering researchers and a working quantum machine. The reliability you ensure, and the insights you provide, will define how Lucy and future QPUs serve Europe's scientific community.

So… if you're ready to make Europe's first offline QPU your mission, let's talk