Production Technician Hardware

Frontdoor Defense; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Q-CTRL in Sydney, Australia is seeking an NPI Technician to help define assembly and test workflows for quantum sensing hardware. You will join the founding NPI team, collaborating with engineering and science groups to turn prototypes into robust, market-ready systems.

You will assemble, calibrate, and test complex electromechanical subsystems, document workflows, and contribute to manufacturability feedback and lab operations.

Qualifications

• Hands-on technical background with practical experience assembling, integrating and maintaining complex electromechanical, optical or instrumentation systems.
• Proactive builder mindset with initiative to improve tools, workflows and lab setups.
• Data-driven diagnostic approach using measured data to identify root causes.
• Experience operating standard lab tools to run structured validation tests and capture performance metrics.
• Ability to read schematics, wiring diagrams and CAD drawings with meticulous build records.

Responsibilities

• Hardware Assembly & System Integration: Build and modify prototypes, integrating subsystems into complete quantum sensing products.
• Testing & Hardware Characterization: Calibrate and operate instruments to validate performance and reliability.
• Diagnostics & Root-Cause Troubleshooting: Investigate defects and collaborate to verify corrective actions.
• Process Documentation & Configuration Tracking: Draft work instructions and maintain build/test records.
• Design for Manufacturability (DFM) Feedback: Identify bottlenecks and suggest tooling improvements.
• Lab Infrastructure & Operations: Stand up and maintain a safe, efficient NPI lab with clean workflows.

Skills

Hands-on technical background

Builder mindset

Data-driven diagnostics

Test & instrumentation literacy

Engineering literacy & quality focus

Collaborative communication

Education

Certificate III/IV, Diploma or trade background

Tools

Oscilloscopes

DMMs

Power supplies

DAQ systems

Job description

Production Technician

Define and implement repeatable assembly and test processes for quantum sensing hardware

Location: Sydney, New South Wales

About The Role

NPI Technician

Q-CTRL is making quantum technology useful, developing advanced technologies that solve real-world problems. We are establishing a New Product Introduction (NPI) team to bridge the gap between research, development, and commercially viable products.

As an NPI Technician, you will be on the front lines of transforming our cutting-edge sensing technologies into robust, market-ready systems. As a founding member of this new team, you will not just follow established procedures—you will help define them from the ground up. Working side by side with engineering, research scientists, and the NPI Team Lead, you will help design our workspace, establish core assembly and test protocols, and build the repeatable processes needed to scale novel hardware from early prototypes into finished products.

In this role, you will assemble, integrate, characterize, and troubleshoot complex electrical, mechanical, and optical subsystems. Success means being comfortable with ambiguity and taking pride in building both the hardware and the operational baseline: identifying failure modes early, documenting workflows, refining tooling, and establishing the quality standards that will define our manufacturing readiness for years to come.

What you'll be doing:

• Hardware Assembly & System Integration: Build, configure, and modify complex prototypes, seamlessly integrating electrical, electronic, mechanical, and optical subsystems into complete quantum sensing products.
• Testing & Hardware Characterization: Set up, calibrate, and operate test instrumentation to execute functional, performance, reliability, and environmental validation against defined criteria.
• Diagnostics & Root-Cause Troubleshooting: Investigate integration defects, unexpected behaviors, and anomalies, collaborating with R&D engineers and scientists to isolate root causes and verify corrective actions.
• Process Documentation & Configuration Tracking: Draft and refine work instructions, assembly guides, and test protocols while maintaining meticulous records of build configurations, test data, and modifications.
• Design for Manufacturability (DFM) Feedback: Evaluate early-stage builds to identify assembly bottlenecks, suggesting practical design and tooling improvements to make scaling and production more robust.
• Lab Infrastructure & Operations: Help stand up, organize, and maintain a safe, efficient NPI lab—building custom test fixtures, managing cabling, and ensuring equipment is prepped for testing, field trials, and demos.

Ideally you'll have:

• Hands-on Technical Background & Qualifications: Relevant technical qualifications (e.g., Certificate III/IV, Diploma, or trade background) or equivalent practical experience assembling, integrating, and maintaining complex electromechanical, optical, or instrumentation systems.
• Proactive & Builder Mindset: A positive, self-driven attitude with an eagerness to learn novel technologies, embrace ambiguity, and take initiative to improve tools, workflows, and lab setups.
• Data-Driven Diagnostic & Troubleshooting Skills: A methodical, evidence-based approach to investigating anomalies—using measured data and observations to identify root causes rather than relying on guesswork.
• Test & Instrumentation Literacy: Practical experience operating standard lab tools (e.g., oscilloscopes, DMMs, power supplies, DAQ systems) to run structured validation tests and accurately capture performance metrics.
• Engineering Literacy & Quality Focus: Comfort interpreting schematics, wiring diagrams, and CAD drawings, backed by a commitment to maintaining meticulous build records and clear technical documentation.
• Collaborative Communication: Strong interpersonal skills to partner effectively across engineering and research disciplines, knowing how to clearly articulate findings and when to elevate technical risks.

It would be fantastic if you have these skills/experience but not essential:

• Specialised Optics or Photonics Experience: Familiarity working with optical setups, lasers, fiber optics, or precision mechanical alignment in a clean or controlled lab environment.
• Rapid Prototyping & Fabrication Craft: Practical bench skills beyond standard assembly—such as high-reliability soldering (IPC standards), custom wiring harness fabrication, 3D printing, or light workshop machining.
• Test Automation & Scripting Basics: Experience using Python, LabVIEW, or shell scripts to automate data collection, interface with lab instrumentation, or speed up repetitive test cycles.

Q-CTRL is the global leader in AI-powered quantum control infrastructure software. We build the tools that make quantum technology useful, solving the hardest challenges in quantum computing and quantum sensing to deliver real-world impact.

Founded in 2017, we operate globally with offices in Sydney, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Huntsville, Berlin, and Oxford. Our teams bring together technical and multi-disciplinary expertise across the product lifecycle, and we're hiring talent to help scale every part of the business. We work quickly to turn cutting-edge science into deployable technology.

In 2024 we raised US$113 million in Series B funding, the largest aggregate investment for a quantum software company. Six months later we delivered the first commercial quantum advantage with Ironstone Opal, our field-validated quantum navigation solution for defense and industry.

At Q-CTRL, we prioritize outcomes over hours. We offer flexibility, equity potential, and competitive benefits that reflect our high-performance culture. If you're ready to help shape the future of quantum, we'd love to hear from you!