Build the software that lets physicists calibrate and scale quantum devices at AWS

A Research Software Engineer role inside Amazon's MQS Center for Quantum Computing, translating experimental-physics calibration needs into performant Python frameworks, data pipelines, and dashboards. You'll partner directly with quantum physicists to scale calibration as device counts grow, and own cloud infrastructure for the research stack. Requires a PhD or 6+ years of applied research experience plus hands-on quantum calibration background — a rare hybrid of software engineering rigor and physical-science collaboration.

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What this interview tests

Translating ambiguous science requirements into software design
Calibration/experimental data pipelines and dashboards
Cloud infrastructure ownership (AWS) for research workflows
Cross-discipline collaboration with physicists/scientists
Driving projects end-to-end with limited specification

Common question themes

Design a scalable framework for running experiments and analyzing calibration data

Tell me about a time you translated a science requirement into a software design proposal

How have you optimized experiment/analysis tool performance under throughput pressure

Describe mentoring scientists to contribute to a shared codebase

Experience building dashboards for inspecting/controlling device or system state

How candidates describe it

Real Research Software Engineer interview stories — retold from candidates' public write-ups, with sources.

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