Trainee Material Science Postdoc Jobs in California

Berkeley Lab's Applied Mathematics Computational Research Division (AMCR) has an immediate opening in the Quantum Information Science and Technology Group (QuIST) for a Quantum Engineering Postdoctoral Fellow under the programs of Advanced Quantum Testbed (AQT) and Quantum System Accelerator (QSA). The primary goal of the position will focus on materials and circuit electric field engineering to understand the material-performance causality of superconducting qubits, including the optimization of electromagnetic design and development of new metrology and fabrication techniques. The position will have access to the state-of-the-art superconducting circuit fabrication facility, quantum measurement lab, and advanced material characterization tools at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The position will also be on the team for development and fabrication of multiqubit, multilayer quantum processor unit (QPU), where the candidate will work with all teams at Berkeley Lab to build up full-stack superconducting QPU for scientific research.

You will:

• Performing electromagnetic simulation of qubit circuits with novel designs to achieve high coherence qubits.

• Developing cleanroom metrology for superconducting qubit devices, especially CMOS in-line metrology, in lab as well as in collaboration with industrial partners.

• Fabrication process development and optimization to improve device materials and characterize the performance of superconducting qubit devices.

• Fabrication of multiqubit, multilayer quantum processor developed at Berkeley Lab.

• Present and publish experiment results in internal and external meetings and journals.

• Support and lead the collaboration projects with quantum computing industrial partners.

Desired Duties:

• Mentoring graduate students.

• Support or lead writing including but not limited to program reports, grants, and papers.

We are looking for:

• Ph.D. degree in Physics, Applied Physics, Electrical Engineering, Material Science, or a related field.

• Experience in cleanroom/nanofabrication processes, with an emphasis on the hands-on experience and knowledge on cleanroom metrology for device performance/yield characterization.

• Experience in one or more of the responsibilities/research areas in the following:

  • Solid state quantum computing platform, including but not limited to: superconducting qubits, spin qubit, semiconductor nanowire/topological qubits, rare-earth qubit, nanophotonic.

  • Microwave circuit design and simulation (e.g. EM solvers, network analysis)

  • Complex structure device fabrication, including CMOS multilayer devices, flip-chip devices, microwave airbridges, and/or RF circuit devices.

• Relevant publication record and demonstration of proficient written and verbal presentation of scientific results.

• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative environment.

• Ability to mentor and direct the work of students.

• Willingness to occasional traveling to collaborators' sites and conferences.

Desired skills/knowledge:

• Experience in superconducting qubits design, fabrication, and measurement. Especially in surface participation simulation and material loss tangent.

• Familiarity with material - device causality, i.e., connecting film microstructure, surface chemistry, to device physics and performance.

• Experience with surface treatment and surface metrology/measurement.

We're here for the same mission, to bring science solutions to the world. Join our team and YOU will play a supporting role in our goal to address global challenges! Have a high level of impact and work for an organization associated with 17 Nobel Prizes!

Why join Berkeley Lab?

We invest in our employees by offering a total rewards package you can count on:

• Exceptional health and retirement benefits, including pension or 401K-style plans

• Opportunities to grow in your career - check out our Tuition Assistance Program

• A culture where you'll belong - we are invested in our teams!

• In addition to accruing vacation and sick time, we also have a Winter Holiday Shutdown every year.

• Parental bonding leave (for both mothers and fathers)

• Pet insurance

Additional information:

• Application date: Candidate consideration will start on June 15, 2026, but applications will be accepted until the job posting is removed in a rolling basis.

• Appointment type: This is a full-time, 2 year, postdoctoral appointment with the possibility of renewal based upon satisfactory job performance, continuing availability of funds and ongoing operational needs. You must have less than 3 years of paid postdoctoral experience. Salary for Po