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Lead Mechanical Engineer – Cryo/RF
| Company | Rigetti |
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| Location | Berkeley, CA, USA |
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| Salary | $170000 – $215000 |
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| Type | Full-Time |
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| Degrees | Master’s |
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| Experience Level | Senior, Expert or higher |
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Requirements
- M.S. degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent field
- 7+ years of industry experience in mechanical design and systems engineering
- Proficiency with 3D CAD software (SolidWorks preferred)
- Strong background in tolerance analysis and GD&T principles
- Experience in thermal and structural modeling and simulation
- Familiarity with documentation control, revision management, and PLM tools
- Excellent cross-disciplinary communication and project collaboration skills
- Demonstrated ability to develop and document assembly processes
Responsibilities
- Lead the mechanical design of complex hardware subsystems including cryostat internal architecture, custom components for signal chain and metal enclosures
- Develop and maintain detailed 3D CAD models, drawings, and Bills of Materials (BOMs)
- Drive end-to-end design of mechanical interfaces from room temperature down to the millikelvin regime
- Design thermal anchoring and shielding systems optimized for mechanical stability and quantum coherence
- Perform thermal, vibrational, and structural simulations using FEA tools to ensure performance and robustness
- Build and validate mechanical/cryogenic prototypes in lab
- Collaborate with quantum physics teams to ensure system-level functionality in live quantum experiments
- Work closely with hardware, cryo, RF, and systems teams to deliver integrated, scalable quantum hardware platforms
- Develop specifications for outsourced components and manage supplier relationships for critical assemblies such as vacuum flanges, cryo fixtures, and RF housings
- Author assembly documentation, and maintain design traceability in PLM system
Preferred Qualifications
- Familiarity with thermal-mechanical effects in cryogenic materials and multi-physics system design
- Experience with RF packaging and electronic device integration in cryogenic or vacuum environments
- Quality assurance experience including inspection methodologies and non-conformance resolution
- Hands-on machining or fabrication experience to support rapid prototyping and design iteration
