Mechanical Technician — Hardware Engineering

QuEra Computing•Boston, MA

About The Position

QuEra Computing is hiring a hands-on Mechanical Technician to support its Hardware Engineering team as it develops repeatable, production-quality builds for neutral-atom quantum computers. The technician will advise on designs and fabricate, assemble, test, and troubleshoot mechanical and fluid systems, while helping convert in-house knowledge into procedures and fixtures for current and future contract manufacturers. The role works directly with mechanical, electrical, and optical engineers and physicists on operating machines. It includes ownership of the mechanical development room and machine shop, hands-on support for machine builds and rework, and contributions to measurable, repeatable, and safe manufacturing processes. The technician will also maintain lab mechanical infrastructure, support contract manufacturers, and mentor junior technicians and engineering co-ops.

Requirements

2–5 years of experience as a mechanical technician or mechanical assembler.
Knowledge of small shop practices and organization.
Experience with fluid systems (1/8-inch to 1/2-inch diameter), machined piece-part fabrication and assembly, and small electronics buildup.
Ability to receive coaching and quickly learn and adopt new skills.
Basic understanding of machining practices and processes.
Organized and self-motivated, with a positive attitude.
Ability to lift 50 pounds, work on ladders and under tables, and spend most of the day on one's feet in a lab.
Clear written and verbal communication skills and knowledge of task documentation processes.

Nice To Haves

Soldering and cable construction.
CNC programming (conversational or CAM) and experience standing up a small shop.
Basic CAD skills in SolidWorks or Inventor to model fixtures or correct a drawing.
Experience writing work instructions or SOPs, or training others to a procedure.
Familiarity with vacuum hardware, opto-mechanics, and/or cleanroom practice.
Experience supporting the transition of in-house designs to contract manufacturing, including first-article inspection, supplier visits, and process qualification.
Welding, brazing, or sheet-metal fabrication.

Responsibilities

Build and integrate machine mechanical subassemblies, including electronics racks, enclosures and frames, cold plates and liquid-cooling manifolds, cable management, and opto-mechanical module hardware.
Perform precision assembly to documented procedures, including torque specifications, cleanliness requirements, fastener control, and serialization.
Support installation and rework on operating machines in coordination with scientists and engineers.
Execute pressure and leak tests, flow checks, and mechanical inspections; record results and flag out-of-spec conditions.
Diagnose mechanical and fluid-system problems and drive them toward resolution; escalate design issues to engineering with clear evidence.
Support root-cause investigations through hands-on teardown, measurement, and recreation of failure modes.
Run and maintain the mechanical development room and machine shop, including its tools, organization, stock, and safety.
Machine fixtures, brackets, adapters, and one-off parts from engineering drawings or sketches, making appropriate judgments about tolerances, materials, and finish.
Train engineers and co-ops in safe tool use.
Create build-ready work instructions, travelers, and fixture designs from engineering intent; red-line drawings when parts do not match the prints.
Perform incoming inspection and first-article inspection on supplier and contract-manufacturer parts and assemblies.
Occasionally travel to contract manufacturers to train technicians, qualify processes, and troubleshoot builds.
Maintain lab mechanical infrastructure, including chillers and cooling loops, racks and tables, compressed gas, and utilities.
Follow and help improve safety practices, including lockout/tagout, liquid-cooling shutoffs and leak detection, and laser-lab conduct.
Mentor junior technicians and engineering co-ops.