Field Engineer: Cryogenics & RF Hardware

Rigetti And Company Inc; Berkeley, Fremont (CA, CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Rigetti Computing seeks an experienced Cryogenics and RF Field Engineer to support customer facilities worldwide. This hands-on role travels to sites, operating and maintaining RF, cryogenic, and vacuum systems to ensure reliable performance in production-like environments.

You will collaborate with physicists and technicians, test RF control systems with scopes and network analyzers, and contribute to SOPs and procedures. International travel is required.

Qualifications

• Technical background in Physics, Engineering, or related field; MS/PhD a plus.
• Strong proficiency with general-purpose electronic test equipment (oscilloscopes, network analyzers, multimeters, DC power supplies).
• Direct, hands-on experience operating and troubleshooting dilution refrigerators (required).
• Experience with sub-Kelvin cryogenic systems.
• Experience operating high-availability lab or industrial equipment.
• Experience assembling, servicing, and maintaining scientific instruments or complex electro-mechanical systems.
• Familiarity with vacuum systems and helium leak detection.
• Statistical methods for test and validation (DOE, Six Sigma, simulation).
• Attention to documentation and communication skills.
• Willingness to travel internationally on short notice.

Responsibilities

• Test, validate, and debug RF control systems using advanced test equipment.
• Operate, monitor, and debug dilution refrigerators and cooldowns.
• Service cryogenic and vacuum systems, pumps, and cryo components.
• Perform helium leak detection and thermal system management.
• Assemble and install complex electro-mechanical, cryogenic, vacuum, and RF assemblies.
• Contribute to test plan development and validation testing for next-gen RF hardware.
• Participate in on-call rotation to support system uptime across time zones.
• Prepare, inspect, and package quantum chip assemblies for testing.
• Read CAD drawings and engineering specs to support operations.

Skills

Cryogenics

RF engineering

Dilution refrigerators

Hardware debugging

Lab equipment

Documentation

Travel international

Education

MS or PhD in physics or engineering

Tools

Oscilloscopes

Network analyzers

Multimeters

DC power supplies

Cryogenic equipment

Job description

About Rigetti

Rigetti Computing is building the world’s most powerful computers to help solve humanity’s most pressing problems. Our quantum computing technology has the potential to transform nearly every industry over the coming decades. As a public company with deep roots in research and engineering, we are expanding our Engineering Operations team to support rapid advances in quantum hardware.

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced Cryogenics and RF Field Engineer to support Rigetti systems deployed at customer facilities around the world. This is a hands-on, operations-focused role that travels to customer sites globally, working closely with both Rigetti teams and customer stakeholders in a highly collaborative, research-driven environment. The role is not tied to a single site — you'll be deployed to wherever Rigetti systems are installed, with assignments varying in length and location based on program needs.

In this role, you will work closely with physicists, engineers, and technicians to operate, maintain, and troubleshoot advanced RF and cryogenic systems that enable next-generation quantum processors. You will be responsible for ensuring reliable system performance in a production-like environment, including direct ownership of cryogenic infrastructure, RF hardware validation, and rapid debugging of complex, cross-disciplinary issues spanning RF, vacuum, cryogenics, and electronics.

The ideal candidate brings deep laboratory experience with R&D hardware, has worked in customer-facing or field-deployed environments, is comfortable with international travel and working across time zones and cultures, and has direct hands-on experience operating and debugging dilution refrigerators.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Test, validate, and debug custom RF control systems using advanced electronic test equipment such as network analyzers, oscilloscopes, DMMs, and internally developed tools
• Operate, monitor, and debug dilution refrigerators, including cooldowns, steady-state operation, and fault diagnosis
• Operate, troubleshoot and service cryogenic and vacuum systems, including scroll pumps, turbo pumps, cryo compressors, high-vacuum components, and cold traps
• Perform helium leak detection, pump rebuilds, and thermal system management
• Assemble, validate, and install complex electro-mechanical, cryogenic, vacuum, and RF assemblies with exceptional attention to detail
• Contribute to test plan development and execute validation testing for next-generation RF hardware
• Participate in an on-call rotation to support system uptime in a customer-facing environment, potentially spanning multiple time zones
• Prepare, inspect, and package quantum chip assemblies for testing
• Follow established procedures and contribute to the creation and improvement of standard operating procedures and best practices
• Read and interpret CAD drawings, schematics, and engineering specifications
• Work directly with customer teams across different regions to support system operation, issue resolution, and ongoing optimization
• Navegate logistics of international travel, including customs/import considerations for tools and equipment, visas, and site-specific access requirements
• 35+% travel required, including international travel to customer sites; frequency and destinations will vary by program

What You Bring

• Technical background in Physics, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent industrial experience (MS or PhD a plus)
• Strong proficiency with general-purpose electronic test equipment (oscilloscopes, network analyzers, multimeters, DC power supplies, etc.)
• Direct, hands-on experience operating and troubleshooting dilution refrigerators (required)
• Substantial hands-on experience working with sub-Kelvin cryogenic systems
• Experience operating and maintaining high-availability laboratory or industrial equipment
• Experience assembling, servicing, and maintaining scientific instruments or complex electro-mechanical systems
• Familiarity with vacuum systems, vacuum plumbing, P&IDs, and standard fittings and practices; strong experience in vacuum equipment assembly and debug using helium leak detection
• Working knowledge of statistical methods for test and validation (e.g., DOE, Six Sigma, simulation)
• Attention to detail in documentation (writing and following Work Instructions and Standard Operating Procedures) plus excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience working with external vendors, partners, or customers across different regions and cultural contexts
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally on short notice, and to hold or obtain necessary travel documentation (passport, visas)

Nice to Have

• Experience in field deployment or on-site support roles at customer or partner facilities, particularly in international settings
• Familiarity with import/export logistics for scientific or electronic equipment
• Programming or scripting experience in Python or related languages
• Additional language proficiency relevant to target deployment regions

$115,000 - $140,000 a year

Base Salary

Rigetti complies with all local and state regulations in regards to displaying salary ranges. Final compensation for this role will be determined by various factors such as a candidate’s relevant work experience, skills, and geographic location. Rigetti offers a full slate of benefits from competitive salaries, equity, medical, dental and vision for employees as well as a 401(k) plan, a paid parental leave program, rejuvenation days, and avacation policy that aligns with local regulations and industry standards.

As engineering leaders, we value diversity and are committed to building a culture of inclusion to attract and engage innovative thinkers. Our technology, meant to serve all of humanity, cannot succeed if those who built it do not mirror the diversity of the communities we serve. Applications from women, minorities, and other under-represented groups are encouraged.

About Rigetti

Rigetti Computing is a pioneer in full-stack quantum computing. The company has operated quantum computers over the cloud since 2017 and serves global enterprise, government, and research clients through its Rigetti Quantum Cloud Services platform. The company’s proprietary quantum-classical infrastructure provides ultra-low latency integration with public and private clouds for high-performance practical quantum computing. Rigetti has developed the industry’s first multi-chip quantum processor for scalable quantum computing systems. The company designs and manufactures its chips in-house at Fab-1, the industry’s first dedicated and integrated quantum device manufacturing facility. Rigetti was founded in 2013 and today employs more than 150 people with offices in the United States, U.K., and Australia. Learn more at www.rigetti.com.

Export Licensing Compliance

Rigetti is committed to full compliance with applicable anti-discrimination laws. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We strive to create an inclusive work environment and will not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.