Senior Lab and Field Technician, Quantum Sensing

Lever, Inc.; Sydney; On-site; AUD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Q-CTRL is seeking a skilled Lab and Field Technician to support Gravimetry research and field trials. You will handle preparation, deployment, packaging, transport, and on-site installation of delicate prototype hardware, ensuring high-stakes deployments succeed with careful problem solving.

You will work with quantum scientists and engineers, performing routine maintenance, basic CAD work, and light machining to keep experiments moving forward.

Qualifications

• Field deployment experience across complex hardware in lab-to-field transitions.
• Hands-on electronics, optics and laser lab environments; troubleshooting electronics and handling optics.
• Programming experience, notably Python, for data handling and control tasks.
• Experience collaborating with scientists and research staff in an R&D setting.
• Understanding of laser safety protocols and lab safety practices.

Responsibilities

• Assist in conduction of field trials: prepare, deploy, test, transport, install, and operate sensors on various platforms.
• Troubleshoot and fix complex mechanical, electrical, and other hardware issues during trials.
• Maintain and train others to use lab equipment (3D printers, laser cutters, etc.).
• Perform simple CAD design for brackets and enclosures to support builds.
• Carry out light machining and fabrication as needed to adapt components.
• Collaborate with quantum scientists, mechanical and electrical engineers to iteratively improve hardware concepts.

Skills

Field deployment

Electronics & optics lab

Python programming

R&D collaboration

Laser safety basics

Job description

About the team

Q-CTRL’s Quantum Sensing Research team performs basic and applied research in quantum sensing and quantum-enabled navigation. It is a highly dynamic team comprising approximately 30 specialists in theoretical and experimental atomic physics, cold-atom interferometry, navigation modeling, and modern Bayesian estimation and signal processing techniques.

The Quantum Sensing Research and Quantum Sensing Engineering teams work closely together, translating novel quantum sensing research into a useful capability and product. We are focussed on pushing the boundary of what is possible in quantum sensing and ensuring our R&D has real-world impact.

About the role

We are seeking an exceptionally skilled and intuitive Lab and Field Technician to join our fast-paced Quantum Sensing team. In this role, you will work across our cutting-edge Gravimetry Research groups to make sure our prototype field trials lead to successful, world first outcomes. You will be working almost exclusively on the preparation, deployment and logistics of taking custom, one-off or low volume prototypes and ultra-delicate assemblies to real world field trials. We need a natural problem solver—someone with outstanding intuition who identifies problems before they occur and takes action towards a solution. You are someone who thrives in an R&D environment, handles high‑stakes precision hardware with extreme care, and can figure out how to succeed when faced with the realities of the unexpected in the field.

A key focus of the role will be the participation in all aspects of field trials of our hardware including in lab preparation/testing, packaging/transport, and installation/unloading, as well as solving problems of all natures that occur when conducting high stakes prototype deployment. You will be operating in the crossover of ultra precise next generation quantum sensors with the possibilities for cutting edge new capabilities they enable in the field.

What you’ll be doing:

• Assist in conduction of field trials: Contribute to both in-lab preparation and on trial activities including testing, logistics, transport, installation, setup and operation for our state of the art sensors. Own just-in-time solutions to unforeseen problems of deploying and operating these sensors on a range of platforms and locations.


• R&D Troubleshooting & Fixing: Diagnose, troubleshoot, and fix complex mechanical, logistical, and other hardware issues. You'll be our go‑to "fixer" when components don't fit quite right, or trial plans are adjusted.


• Upkeep of lab: use, maintain and train others to keep our 3D printers, laser cutter, tools and other equipment smoothly. Contribute to making our lab space an efficient and organised place


• Simple CAD Design: Utilize Inventor CAD modeling to design simple brackets, enclosures, boxes, and mounting hardware, taking load off the engineering team and keeping builds moving forward.


• Basic Machining & Fabrication: Perform light manual machining, modification, and custom fixture fabrication in-house to rapidly adapt components on the fly.


• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner directly with quantum scientists, mechanical engineers, and electrical engineers to assemble, test, and iteratively improve hardware concepts.

Note on Quantum Experience:

You do not need a background in quantum mechanics or quantum hardware! We have world-class scientists to handle the physics—we need your exceptional problem solving abilities to ensure success for our field trials and deployments.

Ideally you’ll have:

• Field Deployment: Experience in the deployment of cutting edge hardware and the demonstrated ability to contribute to the success of complex field trial activities


• Electronics, Optics & Laser Lab Experience: Hands-on familiarity working in electronics, optics or laser laboratory environments (e.g., troubleshooting electronics, handling optics, or basic laser safety protocols).


• Programming:Experience with basic programming and networking including Python


• R&D & Scientific Collaboration: Experience working in an academic or industrial research environment, with a proven ability to communicate effectively and collaborate side-by-side with scientists and research physicists.

About Q-CTRL

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.