QKD — Network Integration · QKD — Network Integration
QKD Network Integration & Key Management Engineer
Integrate QKD-generated keys with HSMs, KMS, encryptors, optical networks and enterprise security controls while maintaining authentication, policy, availability and auditability.
Role mandate
Build the capability for the era ahead.
This team member will combine subject-matter depth, sound judgment and disciplined execution to move the mission from architecture to measurable results.
Responsibilities
- Own the QKD — Network Integration workstream for QKD Network Integration & Key Management Engineer and deliver measurable technical or operating outcomes.
- Architect quantum-ready systems that integrate post-quantum cryptography, QKD and conventional network controls.
- Model trust boundaries, key lifecycles, link performance and migration dependencies.
- Translate current research and standards into practical enterprise and mission architectures.
Required qualifications
- Experience in quantum communications, applied cryptography, photonics, network security or a closely related discipline.
- Working knowledge of PQC migration, key management and secure communications architecture.
- Ability to document, test and explain complex technical tradeoffs.
Preferred experience
- Graduate study or equivalent research experience in quantum information, physics, electrical engineering or computer science.
- Experience with regulated or mission-critical infrastructure.
Scientific and technical requirements
Physics, mathematics and engineering foundations
- Quantum information: qubits, superposition, measurement, no-cloning, entanglement, polarization and phase encoding.
- BB84, decoy-state, entanglement-based and measurement-device-independent security models; authenticated classical channels and composable security.
- Probability, information theory, Poisson photon statistics, linear algebra, hypothesis testing and finite-key statistical bounds.
Mathematics and working equations
- QBER = Nerror / Nsifted; separate optical misalignment, background, detector dark-count and timing contributions.
- Mean photons per pulse μ and Poisson probability P(n) = e^(−μ)μⁿ/n! govern weak-coherent-pulse and decoy-state analysis.
- Link transmission η = ηtx · ηchannel · ηrx · ηdet; loss LdB = −10 log10(η), including atmosphere, diffraction, pointing and receiver losses.
- Secret-key rate is bounded after parameter estimation, error correction and privacy amplification; state protocol, security proof and finite sample size.
Hardware, flight and infrastructure components
- Weak-coherent or entangled-photon source, intensity/phase/polarization modulators, decoy controller, attenuator and quantum random-number generator.
- Telescope or fiber channel, spectral/spatial filtering, APD or SNSPD receiver, time tagger, clock synchronization and authenticated classical modem.
- QKD post-processing engine, trusted key-management boundary, HSM/KMS interface, encryptor and monitored optical/thermal/mechanical assembly.
Software, laboratory and analysis tools
- Python, MATLAB or Julia for photon/link and finite-key simulation; QuTiP where appropriate; optical-system and pointing analysis.
- Single-photon counting, time-correlated photon counting, optical spectrum/power measurement, polarization analysis, interferometry and QBER/key-rate dashboards.
Verification and mission skills
- Measure source statistics, detector efficiency, dark counts, afterpulsing, timing jitter, QBER, secret-key rate, authentication failure and side-channel leakage.
- For space QKD, validate acquisition probability, turbulence/fading, daylight background, Doppler/timing, pointing stability, pass duration and key availability.
Authoritative technical references
The hiring sequence will follow operating milestones and project requirements. The position may begin through advisory, consulting or project-based work before moving into a full-time role.
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