Senior (Opto-) Mechanical Engineer

Entangled Future; Garching bei München; Hybrid; EUR 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hours

Hybrid work

Company pension

Health days

Bike plan

Learning & conferences

Team events

Job summary

planqc is seeking an experienced Opto-Mechanical Engineer to design mechanical, optomechanical and mechatronic components for neutral-atom quantum computers. From sketches to prototyping and testing, you will ensure manufacturability and stability while collaborating with experimental physicists and suppliers.

The role sits in a multidisciplinary mechanical engineering group near Munich, with hands-on lab work and cross-disciplinary collaboration to advance quantum hardware development.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in mechanical, aerospace or mechatronics engineering or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in mechanical/optomechanical engineering or related areas such as semiconductors, optics, laser physics or aerospace.
• Strong 3D design skills and knowledge of manufacturing processes.
• Experience with production and procurement of mechanical parts, including subcontractors.
• Experience with structural and thermal simulations, ideally COMSOL.
• Solid coding skills in Python, MATLAB or similar.

Responsibilities

• Own the development of mechanical, optomechanical and mechatronic components from first sketch to full maturity.
• Translate physicists' requirements into robust, manufacturable designs.
• Design for thermal and structural stability and validate with simulations.
• Improve stability and maintainability of existing components and assemblies.
• Test designs in the lab and analyze the resulting data.
• Manage part procurement and production with subcontractors.
• Post process parts and build quick solutions for experiments.
• Collaborate with hardware, scientists, software and algorithms teams across the full system.

Skills

3D design

manufacturing processes

Python

MATLAB

Education

Master's degree in mechanical, aerospace or mechatronics engineering

Tools

COMSOL Multiphysics

TracePro

Zemax

Job description

As a (Senior) Opto-Mechanical Engineer , you will design mechanical, optomechanical and mechatronic components for our quantum computers. You take them from the first sketch through prototyping and testing to full maturity. You work with our experimental physicists to turn their requirements into stable, manufacturable designs. You also manage part production with our suppliers.

The role sits in our mechanical engineering department, at the interface of physics, optics, electronics and software. It suits an experienced engineer who thinks across disciplines, enjoys hands on work in the lab and wants to learn how neutral atom quantum computers work.

What characterizes you

• You think across disciplines to find the best solution for the whole system
• You take ownership of your designs from first sketch to finished product
• You are hands on and happy to work in the lab when a design needs testing
• You care about precision and stability down to the smallest detail
• You are eager to learn about neutral atom quantum computing and use that knowledge to improve our machines
• You communicate clearly with physicists, suppliers and engineers from other disciplines

Joining us means

• Working on cutting-edge neutral atom quantum hardware
• Taking ownership of optomechanical systems from day one
• Collaborating with an exceptional, international team across disciplines
• Contributing to a fast-growing quantum startup at a pivotal stage

If you're excited about designing the precision mechanics that keep neutral atom quantum computers stable, we'd love to hear from you.

What you'll do

• 01 Own the development of mechanical, optomechanical and mechatronic components, from first sketch to full maturity
• 02 Translate requirements from our experimental physicists into robust, manufacturable designs
• 03 Design for thermal and structural stability and validate your designs with simulations
• 04 Continuously improve the stability and maintainability of existing components and assemblies
• 05 Test your designs in the lab and analyze the resulting data
• 06 Manage part procurement and production with subcontractors
• 07 Post process parts and build quick solutions when an experiment needs them
• 08 Work closely with hardware specialists, scientists, and software and algorithm experts across the full system

What they're looking for

• Master's degree in mechanical, aerospace or mechatronics engineering or a related field
• 5+ years of experience in mechanical or optomechanical engineering, or a related field such as semiconductors, optics, laser physics or aerospace
• Strong 3D design skills and in depth knowledge of mechanical design principles and manufacturing processes
• Experience with production and procurement of mechanical parts, including work with subcontractors
• Experience with structural and thermal simulations, ideally COMSOL
• Experience in an experimental setting, including testing and data analysis
• Solid coding skills in Python, MATLAB or similar

Nice to have

• PhD in a relevant field
• Experience designing and assembling vacuum systems, ideally UHV or XHV
• Cross disciplinary knowledge in electronics, optics or lasers
• Optical simulation experience with TracePro, Zemax or similar
• Project management experience, ideally agile or Scrum
• First experience with intellectual property topics or patent research
• Experience with quality assurance and PDM systems

Pay and benefits

• Flexible working: Flexible hours and hybrid work where the role allows.
• Company pension: Betriebliche Altersvorsorge with an employer contribution.
• Health and fitnes: EGYM Wellpass for gyms, pools and studios, plus regular Health Days.
• Job bike: Lease a bike through planqc.
• Learning and development: Trainings and conference participation, including international conferences. Plus regular internal learning sessions where colleagues share their knowledge.
• Four locations: Headquarters in Garching, an office in central Munich, plus sites in Ulm and Innsbruck.
• Team culture: Regular team and company events throughout the year, from after work socials to our summer and Christmas parties.

Interested in this role?

planqc is a German neutral-atom quantum computing company built on research from the Max-Planck-Institute for Quantum Optics. Its technology uses individual atoms confined in crystals of light as qubits, and the company has demonstrated scaling of neutral atoms to 1,200 qubits.