Mechanical Technician — Hardware Engineering

QuEra Computing, Inc.•Boston, MA

2d•$125,000

About The Position

QuEra Computing is hiring a hands-on Mechanical Technician to support its Hardware Engineering team as it builds neutral-atom quantum computers. The role involves advising on designs and fabricating, assembling, testing, and troubleshooting mechanical and fluid systems, including electronics racks, enclosures and frames, cold plates, liquid-cooling manifolds, cable management, and opto-mechanical module hardware. The technician will work closely with mechanical, electrical, and optical engineers and physicists, including supporting installation and rework on operating machines. The position also owns the mechanical development room and machine shop, creates fixtures and one-off parts, and helps translate engineering designs into repeatable manufacturing procedures. Responsibilities include inspection and testing, documenting results, investigating failures, maintaining lab infrastructure, supporting suppliers and contract manufacturers, and promoting safe work practices. Occasional travel to contract manufacturers is required.

Requirements

2–5 years of experience as a mechanical technician or mechanical assembler, with 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 be coached and quickly learn and adopt new skills.
Basic understanding of machining practices and processes.
Organized and self-motivated, with a positive attitude.
Able to lift 50 pounds, work on ladders and under tables, and spend most of the day on their 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 establishing a small shop.
Basic CAD skills using SolidWorks or Inventor to model fixtures or revise drawings.
Experience writing work instructions or SOPs, or training others to follow a procedure.
Familiarity with vacuum hardware, opto-mechanics, and/or cleanroom practices.
Experience transitioning in-house designs to contract manufacturing, including FAI, supplier visits, and process qualification.
Welding, brazing, or sheet-metal fabrication.

Responsibilities

Build and integrate mechanical subassemblies, including electronics racks, enclosures and frames, cold plates, liquid-cooling manifolds, cable management, and opto-mechanical module hardware.
Perform precision assembly according 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.
Conduct pressure and leak tests, flow checks, and mechanical inspections; record results and flag out-of-specification findings.
Diagnose mechanical and fluid-system problems and escalate design issues to engineering with clear evidence.
Support root-cause investigations through teardown, measurement, and recreation of failure modes.
Run and maintain the mechanical development room and machine shop, including its tools, equipment, organization, stock, and safety.
Machine fixtures, brackets, adapters, and one-off parts from engineering drawings or sketches, using judgment about tolerances, materials, and finish.
Train engineers and co-ops on safe tool use.
Create build-ready work instructions, travelers, and fixture designs; red-line drawings when parts do not match prints.
Perform incoming and first-article inspections on supplier and contract-manufacturer parts and assemblies.
Travel occasionally to contract manufacturers to train technicians, qualify processes, and troubleshoot builds.
Maintain lab mechanical infrastructure, including chillers, cooling loops, racks, tables, compressed gas, and utilities.
Follow and help improve safety practices, including lockout/tagout, liquid-cooling shutoffs, leak detection, and laser-lab conduct.
Mentor junior technicians and engineering co-ops.