QKD — Space & Optical Links · QKD — Space & Optical Links
Space QKD Optical Link Engineer
Design ground-to-space and inter-satellite quantum optical links across photon budgets, atmospheric loss, pointing, acquisition, tracking, timing and secure-key availability.
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 — Space & Optical Links workstream for Space QKD Optical Link 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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