Senior Production Engineer - Equipment Setup & System Integration (m/f/d)

Your mission

The future of AI computing is light, not electrons.

Q.ANT is building photonic processing systems that compute with light – delivering a scalable, energy-efficient alternative to transistor-based architectures for next-generation AI and HPC applications.

Turning breakthrough technology into real products requires more than innovation in the lab. It requires robust equipment, stable processes, and reliable system integration that can transform prototypes into scalable manufacturing systems.

As our Senior Production Engineer (m/f/d) , your mission is to bring photonic computing systems from prototype to production. Through hands-on equipment setup, system integration, and process optimization, you ensure that production systems are reliable, efficient, and ready for manufacturing ramp-up. Your work establishes the operational backbone that enables cutting-edge technology to become scalable, high-performance products.

Your responsibilities

• Install, set up, and qualify production equipment to ensure reliable and efficient manufacturing operations.

• Perform hands-on assembly, integration, and troubleshooting of photonic and electronic systems during bring-up and validation.

• Develop and standardize equipment setup procedures, assembly sequences, and work instructions for scalable production.

• Identify and resolve system or equipment issues through structured root cause analysis and corrective actions.

• Collaborate with suppliers, technicians, and internal teams to optimize equipment performance and system integration.

• Drive continuous improvement in production using Lean, 6S, and similar methodologies to increase efficiency and reduce downtime.

Your profile

• Hands-on engineering background in mechanical, electrical, or manufacturing engineering (Master’s degree, technician/meister, or equivalent practical experience).

• Proven experience installing, qualifying, and optimizing production equipment (IQ, OQ, PQ, calibration, validation).

• Strong practical skills in system assembly, debugging, and integration of complex electronic or photonic systems.

• Experience working with production equipment and tools such as oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, or similar.

• Familiarity with Lean manufacturing, structured problem solving (e.g., 8D, FMEA), and process documentation.

• Fluent in English; German or another European language is a plus.

Why us?

• We hire for attitude and train for skills.
• We encourage self responsibility and accelerate professional development.
• We move fast and encourage experimentation.
• You have the opportunity to be part of developing breakthrough photonic computing technology and have a lasting impact on the future of computing.
• You can be part of a passionate international, highly skilled cross functional team.
• You will have access to the founders of the company.

About us

Who we are and what we do

Q.ANT is a deep-tech scale-up developing photonic processing solutions that compute natively with light and deliver a scalable alternative to transistor-based systems. The analog co-processors are optimised for complex computations and enable energy-efficient performance for next-generation AI and HPC applications. In collaboration with the Institute for Microelectronics Stuttgart IMS CHIPS, Q.ANT operates its own pilot line for photonic chips, based on the material system Thin-Film Lithium Niobate TFLN. Q.ANT was founded by Michael Förtsch in 2018 and is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany.