Principal Hardware Engineer: High Speed Mixed Signal Designer

Atom Computing, Inc.; Boulder (CO); On-site; USD 180,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision

Unlimited PTO

401(k) matching

Disability coverage

FSA

Dependent care benefits

Life insurance

Drinks and snacks

Catered team lunches

Equity in the company

Job summary

Atom Computing, Inc. in Boulder, CO is seeking a Senior Hardware Architect to drive high-level system architectures for instruments and oversee PCBAs, FPGA selection, and power/clock strategies.

You will mentor a team of engineers and collaborate with quantum engineers to translate system needs into hardware requirements. The ideal candidate has 10+ years of board-level analog/digital design, expertise with high-pin-count ICs, Altium, and high-speed interfaces, and thrives in a fast-growing

Qualifications

• BS or MS in Electrical or Computer Engineering required.
• 10+ years in board-level analog and digital circuit design.
• Experience with large, high-pin-count ICs (FPGAs, processors) and fast interfaces.

Responsibilities

• Define system architectures for instruments with PCBAs and control/clocking strategy.
• Mentor hardware design teams and participate in design reviews and bring-up.
• Collaborate with quantum engineers to translate system needs into hardware requirements.
• Guide high-speed front-end design including RF, DAC/ADC selection and noise specs.

Skills

PCB design

Mixed-signal design

FPGA interfaces

Altium Designer

High-pin-count ICs

Schematic and layout reviews

Team mentoring

Education

BS or MS in Electrical/Computer Engineering

Tools

Oscilloscopes

Spectrum Analyzers

Logic Analyzers

Python

Job description

At Atom Computing, we build quantum computers using arrays of optically trapped neutral atoms that will empower customers to achieve unprecedented computational breakthroughs. Join a world-class team of scientists, engineers, and business professionals to advance the state-of-the-art in quantum computing.

Responsibilities

• Drive high level system architectures for instruments with partitioning functions across PCBAs, guiding FPGA/control selection, and setting power, clocking, and interconnect strategy
• Advise or guide technical approach for high-speed mixed-signal front ends, including analog/RF signal chains, DAC and ADC selection, and the noise, linearity, and phase-noise requirements
• Lead and mentor the team through instrument design, including early brainstorming, simulation, and prototyping, actively participating in schematic and layout design reviews, and collaborating during board bring-up and characterization
• Collaborate with quantum engineers and other groups to understand system needs, discuss solutions and define hardware design requirements

Experience & Education

• BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field
• 10+ years of relevant postgraduate professional experience in board-level analog and digital circuit design, preferably with Altium Designer
• Direct experience designing boards with large, high pin count ICs (FPGAs, processors) with interfaces to high speed communication busses, memory, sophisticated clocking, and high speed analog / RF circuitry

Required Qualifications

• Self-motivated, collaborative, and driven to work effectively in a fast-growing startup environment
• Experience teaching and mentoring others in hardware design concepts and process
• Ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with a diverse team of experimental physicists, hardware, and software engineers
• Strong grasp of PCB design best practices across the full design cycle, from concept through fabrication and bring-up and production
• Mixed signal design experience
• Demonstrated proficiency with electronic test equipment (e.g., oscilloscopes, spectrum and logic analyzers, signal generators) for the bring-up and debug of prototype electronics assemblies

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with RF design concepts and/or software defined radio
• Experience with high speed digital and analog I/O and connector/cable selection and characterization
• Experience with multi-gigabit serial transceiver lane design, evaluation, equalization
• Experience with IBIS-AMI modeling and correlation for multi-gigabit serial interfaces
• Capable in scripting languages (e.g., Python) for basic data acquisition, instrument control, and automating hardware test and characterization
• Experience designing high speed memory interfaces
• Experience working in a Linux environment
• Familiarity with the MicroTCA, PXIe, or similar pluggable instrument standards

Atom Computing provides a wide variety of perks and benefits, including fully paid medical, dental, and vision insurance for our employees and their dependents. Additionally, unlimited paid time off, 401K company matching, short- and long-term disability, FSA, dependent care benefits, and life insurance. We also offer drinks, snacks, and catered team lunches in our offices, every day!

The base salary range for this position is between $180,000 - $220,000 annually, commensurate with experience. In addition to salary, we offer an annual bonus and equity in the company.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.