Hardware Operations Engineer

Quantinuum; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 148,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) match

Equity

Paid holidays and generous vacation

Paid parental leave

Job summary

Quantinuum is seeking a Hardware Operations Engineer in Salt Lake City, UT to install, operate, and maintain the Helios quantum computer as part of a cross-functional team. You will be the technical expert on this system, developing procedures, documentation, and continuous improvements.

The role requires a PhD and 6+ years post-graduate experience, with hands-on work in optical, mechanical, and electronic subsystems, plus Python coding for operations. US person for contractual reasons.

Qualifications

• PhD required with 6+ years postgrad experience.
• U.S. person required (citizen, permanent resident, or green card).
• Experience with trapped-ion technology and quantum hardware.
• Ability to read and improve Python-based control code.

Responsibilities

• Install, operate, and maintain the Helios quantum computer as part of a cross-functional team.
• Serve as the technical expert on the system and develop procedures and documentation.
• Mentor colleagues on system operation and maintenance; contribute to remote operations.
• Collaborate globally to remotely operate other Quantinuum systems.

Skills

Python programming

Problem solving

Team collaboration

Education

PhD in Physics or related field

Tools

Python-based control systems

Job description

We are seeking a Hardware Operations Engineer in our Salt Lake City, UT location to install, operate, and maintain a Helios quantum computer. This system is part of our partnership with Oracle to accelerate hybrid quantum compute adoption on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. The ideal candidate will have a Ph.D. in Physics, or related fields, and deep experience building, validating, optimizing, and using a complex scientific apparatus or commercial product based on atomic or similar quantum building blocks. You will be first on the ground preparing to receive hardware, working as part of a team to install and commission, and then ensuring high-reliability and high-quality system performance through standard operations and maintenance processes. Day-to-day work will involve complex problem solving; hands-on work with optical, mechanical, and electronic systems; coding; developing operations standards and documentation; and optimizing performance and reliability. We are looking for a candidate with world-class expertise and drive to deliver for the customer in this exciting partnership.

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

Key Responsibilities:

• Install, operate, and maintain the Helios quantum computer as part of a large, cross-functional team of on-site and remote collaborators
• Perform as the key technical expert on this particular quantum computer
• Develop, execute, and continuously improve operations and maintenance procedures and documentation
• Mentor and train colleagues and collaborators on system operation and maintenance
• Remotely operate and maintain other Quantinuum system as a part of a global team
• Utmost focuses on business success, technical progress, and professional interactions

YOU MUST HAVE:

• Ph.D. required
• Minimum 6 years of post-graduate experience (M.S. or Ph.D. inclusive)
• 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.

WE VALUE:

• A deep knowledge of trapped-ion-based technology, high-performance quantum computing, and technical hardware integration and validation
• Experience continuously improving performance and reliability metrics of a complicated system through rigorously defined processes and standard performance dashboards
• Coding experience that will allow you to read through, contextualize, and improve the broad and deep python-based code base that underpins the operation of our commercial systems
• Experience with lasers, laser cooling, atom trapping, cryogenics, ultra-high vacuum systems, analog and digital electronics, laboratory hardware control, Python, physical modelling, and data analysis
• Experience developing and/or using a high-quality and well-maintained documentation base including standard operating procedures, maintenance operation procedures, troubleshooting guides, and runbooks.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills

Compensation and Benefits

The pay range for this role is $148,000 - $185,000 annually. Actual compensation within this range may vary based on the candidate’s skills, educational background, professional experience, and unique qualifications for the role.

Quantinuum is the world leader in quantum computing. The company’s quantum systems deliver the highest performance across all industry benchmarks. Quantinuum’s over 650 employees, including 400+ scientists and engineers, across the US, UK, Germany, and Japan, are driving the quantum computing revolution.

By uniting best-in-class software with high-fidelity hardware, our integrated full-stack approach is accelerating the path to practical quantum computing and scaling its impact across multiple industries.

By joining Quantinuum, you’ll be at the forefront of this transformative revolution, shaping the future of quantum computing, pushing the limits of technology, and making the impossible possible.

What’s in it for you?

• A competitive salary and innovative, game-changing work
• Employer subsidized health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) match for student loan repayment benefit
• Equity, 401k retirement savings plan + 12 Paid holidays and generous vacation + sick time
• Paid parental leave

Quantinuum is an equal opportunity employer. You will be considered without regard to age, race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, nationality, sex, or veteran status. Know Your Rights: Workplace discrimination is illegal