Advanced Mechanical Design Engineer - Cryo Vacuum Systems - 1088

Quantinuum • Broomfield, CO

6d • $130,000 - $165,000

About The Position

Quantinuum is seeking an Advanced Mechanical Design Engineer to help design and de-risk next-generation trapped-ion quantum computing hardware. The role is based in Broomfield, Colorado, and works closely with research scientists, system architects, design engineers, and lab engineers to develop mechanical systems for cryogenic operation, UHV/XHV environments, precision optical alignment, and scalable quantum computer architectures. The ideal candidate is a hands-on mechanical designer who can turn ambiguous technical risks into practical designs, prototype tests, and clear engineering recommendations.

The engineer will design mechanical hardware and support ion-trap packages, cryogenic assemblies, vacuum-compatible structures, thermal interfaces, optical alignment features, and precision optical subassemblies. The work addresses parasitic heat loads, thermal contraction, CTE mismatch, mechanical stability, vibration sensitivity, vacuum compatibility, and assembly tolerances. The role also involves prototyping and test fixtures, optical and fiber interconnect design, test planning, mechanical and thermal analyses, CAD and documentation, cross-functional interface resolution, and communication of design tradeoffs, risks, test results, and recommendations.

Applicants for safety-sensitive positions must submit to a pre-employment drug test. Contractual requirements specify that applicants must be a U.S. Person, defined as a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or green card holder, or a worker granted asylum or refugee status. Due to U.S. Government national security requirements, candidates must not be a People's Republic of China national or Russian national unless also a U.S. citizen.

The base salary range is $130,000–$165,000 annually. Actual compensation may vary based on skills, educational background, professional experience, and other qualifications. Quantinuum describes itself as a leading quantum computing company with more than 800 employees and operations across the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, and Singapore.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree minimum.
• At least 5 years of hands-on mechanical design experience with complex hardware systems; master’s and Ph.D. education are inclusive of the stated experience requirement.
• Must be a U.S. Person as defined in the posting: a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or green card holder, or worker granted asylum or refugee status.
• Must not be a People's Republic of China national or Russian national unless also a U.S. citizen, due to U.S. Government national security requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, applied physics, materials science, or a related technical field.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including clear documentation of design intent, risks, assumptions, and recommendations.
• Experience with cryogenic systems, UHV vacuum systems, lasers and precision optics, AMO physics experiments, trapped-ion systems, or semiconductor packaging.
• Experience designing mechanical components or assemblies requiring precision tolerancing, thermal management, and structural stability.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD tools and mechanical drawing release practices.
• Demonstrated ability to design hardware that can be fabricated, inspected, assembled, tested, and iterated.
• Ability to use analysis, test data, and engineering judgment to make mechanical design decisions.
• Experience selecting materials for vacuum, cryogenic, and low-magnetic environments.
• Experience with thermal modeling, parasitic heat-load estimation, FEA, tolerance analysis, modal analysis, or structural analysis.
• Experience designing test fixtures, prototype assemblies, or validation experiments for complex mechanical systems.
• Experience with GD&T, vendor management, machined parts, and design-for-assembly practices.
• Experience with vacuum cleanliness practices, bake-compatible design, leak checking, outgassing tests, RGA data, or cryogenic contamination control.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple design and de-risking efforts in parallel.

Responsibilities

• Design mechanical hardware for trapped-ion quantum computing systems, including cryogenic, UHV/XHV, and/or optical subsystems.
• Support the design of ion-trap packages, cryogenic assemblies, vacuum-compatible structures, thermal interfaces, optical alignment features, and precision optical subassemblies.
• Develop designs that manage parasitic heat loads, thermal contraction, CTE mismatch, mechanical stability, vibration sensitivity, vacuum compatibility, and assembly tolerances.
• Design prototype hardware and de-risking test fixtures that lab engineers can build and operate to validate materials, interfaces, and subsystem concepts.
• Work with optical physicists and engineers on fiber and free-space optical systems requiring high tolerances, mechanical and thermal/environmental stability, and strong optical performance.
• Design complex fiber-optic interconnect assemblies, connectors, routing structures, and mechanical interfaces that meet optical alignment, stability, packaging, and reliability requirements.
• Support test planning for materials, adhesives, thermal interfaces, coatings, cryogenic assemblies, and vacuum-compatible components.
• Work with lab engineers to evaluate outgassing, cryogenic thermal performance, mechanical stability, alignment repeatability, and failure modes.
• Perform mechanical, thermal, and tolerance analyses to guide design decisions.
• Generate CAD models, drawings, assemblies, interface definitions, and design documentation.
• Partner with vacuum, cryogenic, optical, electrical, trap fabrication, and system engineering teams to identify interface risks and develop practical solutions.
• Communicate design tradeoffs, assumptions, risks, test results, and recommendations to technical teams and program leadership.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation and the opportunity to work on groundbreaking technology.
• Flexible work arrangements that support work-life balance.
• Employer-subsidized medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with company match and student loan repayment benefit.
• Equity opportunities.
• Generous paid time off, sick leave, and 12 paid holidays annually.
• Paid parental leave.
• Employee discount programs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior