Senior Mechanical Engineer - Cryogenic

Job Description

Job Title: Senior Mechanical Engineer - Cryogenic. Location: Berkeley, California, USA

Duties:

Cryogenic Hardware Design

• Own the mechanical design of cryogenic hardware operating from 300 K down to millikelvin temperatures.

• Design thermal anchoring, RF wiring, flexible interconnects, coaxial routing, filter housings, and connector packaging across all temperature stages.

• Lead the complete design lifecycle, including concept development, CAD, GD&T drawings, bills of materials (BOMs), tolerance analysis, prototype builds, qualification testing, and manufacturing release.

• Define cryogenic mechanical interfaces and thermal conduction budgets;

• Work with external machine shops and precision vendors to ensure designs are suitable for manufacturing.

Simulation and Analysis

• Independently perform mechanical, thermal, and vibration analyses using COMSOL, ANSYS, or equivalent tools.

• Use simulation results to guide design decisions and improve hardware designs.

• Conduct tolerance stack-up analyses for multi-component assemblies in constrained cryostat environments.

Integration, Leadership and Collaboration

• Lead prototype builds, system integration, and cryogenic bring-up.

• Diagnose integration failures and perform root cause analysis.

• Serve as the mechanical lead in cross-functional projects involving quantum physicists, RF engineers, and systems teams.

• Mentor junior engineers and lead design reviews.

• Maintain accurate documentation, including CAD models, drawings, BOMs, and revision-controlled design records in the company PLM system.

Qualifications:

• B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering or a related field. M.S. preferred.

• At least 7 years of experience designing complex mechanical or electromechanical systems with end-to-end hardware ownership.

• Expert-level SolidWorks experience, including large assemblies, GD&T-compliant drawing packages, and design-for-manufacturing (DFM) workflows.

• Independent proficiency in SolidWorks and COMSOL or ANSYS for thermal and structural analysis;

• Experience working with hardware in cryogenic, vacuum, or extreme thermal environments.

• Strong mechanical engineering fundamentals, including stress analysis, tolerance stack-ups, materials selection, and failure mode analysis.

• Proven ability to lead technical projects and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams.

Preferred:

• Direct experience with dilution refrigerators, cryostats, or sub-Kelvin systems in quantum computing or precision instrumentation.

• Knowledge of superconducting quantum hardware architecture and millikelvin design constraints.

• RF/microwave packaging experience, including connector specification, hermetic sealing, and cable routing in cryostats.

• Familiarity with cleanroom protocols, vacuum-compatible assembly, and contamination-sensitive environments.

Benefits / Instructions:

• Annual base salary: $165,000–$190,000. Final compensation depends on relevant experience, skills, and geographic location.

• Competitive salary and equity opportunities.

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.

• 401(k) retirement plan.

• Paid parental leave.

• Rejuvenation days.

• Vacation policy aligned with local regulations and industry standards.

• Rigetti encourages applications from women, minorities, and other underrepresented groups.

• Rigetti is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on protected characteristics.

• The company may use AI tools to assist with application reviews, resume analysis, and candidate assessments. Final hiring decisions are made by humans.

• Applicants can contact the company for more information about how their application data is processed.

Additional Company Information:

Rigetti Computing is a full-stack quantum computing company that designs and manufactures its own quantum processors.

• Operates quantum computers through the cloud since 2017.

• Serves enterprise, government, and research customers worldwide.

• Provides Rigetti Quantum Cloud Services;

• Developed a multi-chip quantum processor for scalable quantum computing.

• Manufactures quantum chips at its own facility, Fab-1.

• Founded in 2013, with more than 150 employees.

• Has offices in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia.