Advanced Mechanical Design Engineer - Cryo, Optical, Vacuum Systems - 1088

Quantinuum; Broomfield (CO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Quantinuum in Broomfield, CO is seeking an Advanced Mechanical Design Engineer for cryogenic, optical, and vacuum systems to support next‑generation trapped-ion quantum computing hardware. You will design and de-risk complex mechanical subsystems, prototypes, and test fixtures in collaboration with scientists and engineers.

The role requires hands-on design with precision tolerancing, thermal management, and compatibility with cryogenic and high‑vacuum environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree minimum.
• 5+ years hands‑on mechanical design experience with complex hardware.
• U.S. Person required by contract; U.S. citizen or green card holder.
• U.S. government security requirements restrict PRChina/PRRussia nationals.

Responsibilities

• Design mechanical hardware for trapped-ion quantum computing systems.
• Support cryogenic, UHV/XHV, and optical subsystems with precise tolerances.
• Develop designs that manage thermal loads, contraction, and stability.
• Create CAD models, drawings, assemblies, and interface definitions.
• Lead prototype hardware and de-risk test fixtures for validation.

Skills

Mechanical design

3D CAD tools

Thermal analysis

FEA

Vacuum systems

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering

Tools

3D CAD software

Mechanical drawing release

Job description

Advanced Mechanical Design Engineer - Cryo, Optical, Vacuum Systems - 1088 at Quantinuum, US Broomfield, CO. A mid-level full time position in the Quantum Computing Hardware team, listed under hardware engineering.

We are seeking an Advanced Mechanical Design Engineer – Cryo, Optical, Vacuum Systems in our Broomfield, CO location to help design and de-risk next-generation trapped-ion quantum computing hardware. This role will work closely with research scientists, system architects, design engineers, and lab engineers to develop mechanical systems compatible with cryogenic operation, UHV/XHV environments, precision optical alignment, and scalable quantum computer architectures. The ideal candidate is a hands‑on mechanical designer who can turn ambiguous technical risks into practical designs, prototype tests, and clear engineering recommendations.

All applicants for placement in safety-sensitive positions will be required to submit to a pre-employment drug test.

We Value

• Advanced degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, applied physics, materials science, or a related technical field preferred
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including clear documentation of design intent, risks, assumptions, and recommendations.
• Experience with cryogenic systems, UHV vacuum systems, lasers and precision optics, AMO physics experiments, trapped-ion systems, or semiconductor packaging.
• Experience designing mechanical components or assemblies requiring precision tolerancing, thermal management, and structural stability.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD tools and mechanical drawing release practices.
• Demonstrated ability to design hardware that can be fabricated, inspected, assembled, tested, and iterated.
• Ability to use analysis, test data, and engineering judgment to make mechanical design decisions.
• Experience with material selection for vacuum, cryogenic, low-magnetic environments
• Experience with thermal modeling, parasitic heat-load estimation, FEA, tolerance analysis, modal analysis, or structural analysis.
• Experience designing test fixtures, prototype assemblies, or validation experiments for complex mechanical systems.

Responsibilities

• Design mechanical hardware for trapped-ion quantum computing systems, including cryogenic, UHV/XHV, and/or optical subsystems
• Support the design of ion-trap packages, cryogenic assemblies, vacuum-compatible structures, thermal interfaces, optical alignment features and precision optical subassemblies
• Develop designs that manage parasitic heat loads, thermal contraction, CTE mismatch, mechanical stability, vibration sensitivity, vacuum compatibility, and assembly tolerances.
• Design prototype hardware and de-risk test fixtures that lab engineers can build and operate to validate new materials, interfaces, and subsystem concepts.
• Work with optical physicists and engineers to design fiber and free-space optical systems with extremely high tolerances, mechanical stability, thermal/environmental stability, and exceptional optical performance
• Design complex fiber optic interconnect assemblies, connectors, routing structures, and mechanical interfaces that meet stringent optical alignment, stability, packaging, and reliability requirements.
• Support test planning for new materials, adhesives, thermal interfaces, coatings, cryogenic assemblies, and vacuum-compatible components.
• Work with lab engineers to evaluate outgassing, cryogenic thermal performance, mechanical stability, alignment repeatability, and failure modes.
• Perform mechanical, thermal, and tolerance analyses to guide design decisions.
• Generate CAD models, drawings, assemblies, interface definitions, and design documentation.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree minimum
• Minimum of 5+ years (Masters and PhD inclusive) of hands‑on mechanical design experience with complex hardware systems.
• Due to Contractual requirements, must be a U.S. Person. defined as, U.S. citizen permanent resident or green card holder, workers granted asylum or refugee status
• Due to national security requirements imposed by the U.S. Government, candidates for this position must not be a People's Republic of China national or Russian national unless the candidate is also a U.S. citizen.