Senior Analog & Mixed-Signal Engineer (Precision Timing)
About The Position
Mesa Quantum is building the manufacturing backbone of the quantum economy, specializing in chip-scale quantum devices like clocks and sensors to provide resilient Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) for defense, telecom, space, and critical infrastructure. Our team combines expertise in AMO physics, photonics, microfabrication, and engineering to develop scalable technology. We are seeking a Senior Analog & Mixed-Signal Engineer to lead the development of precision control electronics for our chip-scale atomic clock platform. This role involves owning the analog front-end, signal conditioning, and control loop architecture, transitioning the physics package from validation to a fielded product. The position requires hands-on execution of analog circuit design, schematic capture, simulation, and bench testing. The ideal candidate is passionate about circuit design, takes pride in elegant analog topologies, and prefers hands-on work. The role encompasses precision analog, mixed-signal PCB design, and RF synthesis, with collaboration with embedded and digital teams. The position reports to the CTO and is a full-time, on-site role in Boulder, CO.
Requirements
- 10+ years of analog and mixed-signal hardware design, including at least one product taken from prototype through volume production
- Deep expertise in low-noise precision analog: signal conditioning, low-noise amplifiers, ADC/DAC interfacing, and rigorous noise budgeting
- Mixed-signal PCB design: multi-layer stack-ups with sensitive analog, RF, and digital domains on a single board; controlled impedance; thermal management; debug experience under signal integrity constraints
- RF circuit design through GHz, with hands-on experience in low phase noise frequency synthesis, PLLs, and VCOs
- Strong SPICE simulation and circuit analysis skills, including noise, stability, and tolerance analysis
- Hands-on proficiency with oscilloscopes, spectrum and phase noise analyzers, network analyzers, source measure units, and signal generators
- Scripting experience for instrument control, characterization, and data analysis
- Disciplined Git workflows for hardware version control
- Due to U.S. Department of Defense funding on several of our programs, this role is restricted to U.S. persons (citizens or lawful permanent residents) or those eligible to obtain a U.S. security clearance.
Nice To Haves
- Chip-scale atomic clocks, rubidium or cesium oscillators, OCXOs, or other precision frequency references
- Optoelectronics: VCSEL drive design, photodetector readout, laser frequency locking
- Embedded firmware in C/C++ on ARM Cortex-M class microcontrollers
- FPGA development in Verilog or SystemVerilog, including real-time DSP IP (lock-in detection, PID, digital filtering)
- Mixed-signal ASIC familiarity, particularly mixed-signal block specification, verification, or characterization
- Hardware design under hard size and power budgets (low SWAP-C)
- Production partnerships with contract manufacturers and PCB houses, including DFM and DFT contribution
- Defense, aerospace, or space-qualified hardware experience
- Familiarity with atomic physics or other quantum sensing modalities
Responsibilities
- Own the precision analog front-end: photodetector signal conditioning, low-noise transimpedance and instrumentation amplification, and lock-in detection for weak atomic signal recovery
- Architect and deliver successive generations of the control electronics, driving size, power, and noise improvements at each iteration
- Design and validate the microwave synthesis chain that drives atomic interrogation, including PLL and VCO architecture, phase noise optimization, and reference distribution
- Implement precision VCSEL current drive and thermal control electronics for the laser and physics package
- Build characterization protocols, test fixtures, and automation to validate clock performance against Allan deviation, phase noise, and holdover targets
- Drive Design for Manufacturability and Design for Test with PCB houses and contract manufacturers as we scale toward high-volume production
- Mentor junior engineers and act as the senior technical voice in hardware design reviews
Benefits
- Competitive base salary in the range of $150K to $230K, commensurate with experience, skills, qualifications, and education.
- Meaningful equity in a deep-tech company at the inflection point between prototype and product
- Comprehensive benefits package
- Direct ownership of a critical subsystem with measurable impact on a product that matters to U.S. national security
- A team that includes deep AMO physics, RF, photonics, and microfabrication expertise
- Boulder location with access to Colorado's strongest tech and outdoor communities
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
No Education Listed
