Senior Cryogenic Hardware Engineer

OQC; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

OQC is seeking a Senior Hardware Engineer to own the thermal simulation and optimisation of the cryogenic hardware surrounding our quantum processors. You will turn simulation results into practical design rules to scale QPU packaging for future Titan and Athena programmes.

This senior R&D role requires deep expertise in thermal and mechanical behaviour at millikelvin temperatures, collaboration across engineering disciplines, and the ability to translate data into engineering decisions that

Qualifications

• Strong experience performing thermal simulations using Ansys Mechanical or equivalent.
• Experience developing hardware in a demanding engineering or R&D environment.
• Understanding of thermal and mechanical behaviour and material interfaces.
• Ability turning simulation and experimental data into practical engineering decisions and documentation.
• Ability to communicate complex technical findings across multidisciplinary teams.
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering or equivalent experience.
• Willingness to own open-ended technical challenges from investigation to implementation.

Responsibilities

• Own cryogenic thermal simulation and optimisation of OQC's QPU packaging, coupling system thermal budgets with quantum hardware requirements.
• Develop and validate thermal models at millikelvin temperatures.
• Explore material behaviour, thermal contraction, heat flow and interface performance to improve package performance.
• Translate simulation and engineering insight into design rules, specifications, material boundaries, dimensions and tolerances.
• Work across mechanical, electrical and thermal interfaces, including DC/RF requirements and the integration with wider cryogenic systems.
• Partner with Quantum Test Engineers to interpret measurement data and feed back into package design.
• Develop novel technologies and processes to scale QPU hardware for future generations.

Skills

Thermal simulations

Ansys Mechanical

Cryogenic engineering

Materials interfaces

Engineering documentation

Python coding

Cryogenic hardware

Quantum computing familiarity

PhD in engineering or physics

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Engineering or relevant technical discipline

Tools

Ansys Mechanical

Job description

OQC is seeking a Senior Hardware Engineer to own the thermal simulation and optimisation of the cryogenic hardware surrounding our quantum processors. You will turn simulation results into practical design rules to scale QPU packaging for future Titan and Athena programmes.

This senior R&D role requires deep expertise in thermal and mechanical behaviour at millikelvin temperatures, collaboration across engineering disciplines, and the ability to translate data into engineering decisions that