Principal Hardware Engineer: High Speed Mixed Signal Designer

Atom Computing, Inc.; Colorado; On-site; USD 180,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401K matching

Unlimited PTO

Job summary

Atom Computing, based in Boulder, Colorado, is seeking a hands-on Principal Hardware Engineer to lead the architecture and deployment of the control-system electronics for our quantum computer. You will steer cross-project hardware strategy while remaining deeply involved in hands-on design and validation.

This role reports to the Control Systems Manager and requires 10+ years in board-level analog/digital design, with expertise in high-pin-count ICs and mixed-signal front ends.

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Drive high-level architectures for instruments with PCBAs, guiding FPGA/control, and power/clock/interconnect strategy.
• Advise on high-speed mixed-signal front ends including DAC/ADC, noise, linearity, and phase-noise requirements.
• Lead and mentor hardware design teams through schematic/layout reviews, bring-up, and characterization.
• Collaborate with quantum engineers to define hardware design requirements.

Skills

Self-motivated

Collaborative

Team mentoring

Effective communication

Linux familiarity

Mixed-signal design

Hardware debugging

Education

BS in Electrical Engineering

MS in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Altium Designer

Oscilloscope

Logic analyzer

Signal generator

Job description

Job Description

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.

Atom Computing is seeking a hands‑on Principal Hardware Engineer with specific expertise in high speed mixed‑signal design to lead the architecture, implementation, and deployment of custom electronic assemblies for the control system of our quantum computer. In this role, you will drive hardware strategy across multiple concurrent projects while remaining deeply engaged in the tactical engineering work

This position is located in Boulder, Colorado, and will report to the Control Systems Manager.

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.