Jobs › Argonne National Laboratory

Postdoctoral Researcher – Quantum Devices and Experiments (NST)

Argonne National Laboratory · Lemont, IL · $72,879–$121,465 a year · Full time

Posted Jul 24, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

Apply at Argonne National Laboratory

Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a microwave or optical device you characterized. What did the data show that you didn't expect?

What they are checking: Whether they have hands-on measurement experience and learn from surprises.

Tell me about working with outside collaborators, such as at a university.

What they are checking: Whether they can work well with Argonne, UChicago and external partners.

How do you share credit and responsibility on a team project?

What they are checking: Whether they model teamwork and integrity, values the posting names.

What would you do

Your qubit's T1 dropped after a new fab run. How do you figure out why?

What they are checking: Whether they can trace problems back through fabrication and measurement steps.

What device would you most want to build here, and why?

What they are checking: Whether they bring their own ideas to the project.

About the work

How would you design a microwave-to-optical transducer, and what limits its efficiency today?

What they are checking: Whether they understand the main approaches and bottlenecks for quantum transduction.

What role do transducers play in a heterogeneous quantum network?

What they are checking: Whether they understand how superconducting qubits connect to optical networks.

Walk me through how you'd fabricate a superconducting qubit in a cleanroom. Which steps affect coherence most?

What they are checking: Whether they understand how fabrication choices like surfaces and junctions affect qubit quality.

How does optical pump light cause trouble for superconducting devices, and how would you reduce it?

What they are checking: Whether they know about quasiparticle generation and heating in transducers.

How would you set up an experiment to entangle two nodes across a network?

What they are checking: Whether they understand network quantum experiments, not just single devices.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Argonne National Laboratory from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by Argonne National Laboratory.

The Center for Nanoscale Materials (CNM) at Argonne National Laboratory is seeking postdoctoral researchers to work on quantum devices and experiments. The project aims to develop superconducting photonic quantum devices for a heterogeneous quantum network, including but not limited to superconducting qubits, microwave-optical quantum transducers, etc. The postdocs will design the devices, fabricate them in CNM cleanroom, and characterize them in CNM quantum labs. The postdocs will work with other team members and collaborators to perform local and network quantum experiments. The successful candidate will be part of a highly collaborative team and actively interact with Argonne and UChicago scientists as well as external collaborators. Position Requirements • Recent or soon-to-be-completed PhD (within the last 0-5 years) in field experimental physics, engineering, or a closely related field • Excellent written and verbal communication skills • Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a collaborative research environment • Ability to model Argonne’s core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity, and teamwork Preferred Qualifications • Experience with device nanofabrication • Experience in microwave and/or optical device measurement and characterization • Knowledge of quantum information science • Design, fabrication, and measurement of superconducting qubits • Research involving microwave-optical quantum transducers • Operation of dilution refrigerators and other cryogenic experimental systems Application Materials Please upload the following materials as attachments to your application in Workday: • CV/Resume • Unofficial Ph.D. transcripts • Copy of Ph.D. diploma (if degree has already been awarded) Job Family Postdoctoral Job Profile Postdoctoral Appointee Worker Type Long-Term (Fixed Term) Time Type Full time The expected hiring range for this position is $72,879.00-$121,465.00. Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as, but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, business considerations, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs. Additionally, comprehensive benefits are part of the total rewards package. Click here to view Argonne employee benefits! As an equal employment opportunity employer, and in accordance with our core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity and teamwork, Argonne National Laboratory is committed to a safe and welcoming workplace that fosters collaborative scientific discovery and innovation. Argonne encourages everyone to apply for employment. Argonne is committed to nondiscrimination and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by law. Argonne employees, and certain guest researchers and contractors, are subject to particular restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Sponsored or Affiliated Activities, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. You will be asked to disclose any such participation in the application phase for review by Argonne's Legal Department. All Argonne offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes an assessment of criminal conviction history conducted on an individualized and case-by-case basis. Please be advised that Argonne positions require upon hire (or may require in the future) for the individual be to obtain a government access authorization that involves additional background check requirements. Failure to obtain or maintain such government access authorization could result in the withdrawal of a job offer or future termination of employment.

Apply at Argonne National Laboratory