Research Intern: Scalable Fabrication of Superconducting Quantum Devices

Rigetti Computing; Berkeley (CA); On-site; USD 48,000 - 69,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Housing stipend up to $2,000

Competitive hourly pay ($35–$50)

Job summary

Rigetti Computing at UC Berkeley's Mevell NanoLab cleanroom is seeking a motivated research intern to support superconducting qubit fabrication. You will work with scientists and engineers on design, fabrication, and evaluation of scalable nanofabrication processes for quantum devices.

You will gain hands-on experience across device layout, nanofabrication, microscopy, and process optimization, contributing directly to advancing superconducting quantum hardware in a fast-paced research

Qualifications

• Hands-on cleanroom fabrication experience in semiconductor or nanofabrication.
• Experience with lithography techniques (photolithography or electron-beam lithography).
• Experience with dry etching (ICP/RIE) processes.
• Proficiency with GDSII CAD tools for layout design.

Responsibilities

• Fabricate superconducting qubits and Josephson junctions in a cleanroom.
• Prepare/edit/verify CAD layout files.
• Develop and optimize lithography processes.
• Operate plasma etching (ICP/RIE).
• Characterize fabricated structures electrically and structurally.
• Analyze fabrication data to improve yield and uniformity.
• Document procedures and design iterations.
• Collaborate with scientists to improve scalability and reproducibility.

Skills

Cleanroom experience

Lithography (phot/e-beam)

Dry etching (ICP/RIE)

CAD layouts (GDSII)

Experimental skills

Independent collaboration

Tools

GDSII CAD tools

Job description

Rigetti is seeking a motivated research intern to support superconducting qubit fabrication at Mevell NanoLab cleanroom at UC Berkeley. The intern will work closely with scientists and engineers on the design and fabrication of superconducting qubits, with an emphasis on scalable nanofabrication processes and device development. Fabricated devices will be measured and compared at Rigetti to inform process development.

What You’ll Learn

The intern will gain hands-on experience in the complete fabrication workflow for superconducting quantum circuits, including device layout, nanofabrication, microscopy, and process optimization. They will work alongside experienced researchers developing scalable fabrication technologies for quantum integrated circuits and contribute directly to advancing superconducting quantum hardware.

Responsibilities

• Fabricate superconducting qubits and Josephson tunnel junctions in a cleanroom environment. This includes:
• Prepare, edit, and verify CAD layout files.
• Develop and optimize lithography processes.
• Operate and assist with plasma etching processes (ICP/RIE).
• Electrical and structural characterization of fabricated structures.
• Analyze fabrication data to identify process trends and improve yield and uniformity.
• Document experimental procedures, process results, and design iterations.
• Collaborate with scientists and process engineers to improve the scalability and reproducibility of superconducting qubit fabrication.

Required Qualifications

• Hands-on experience working in a semiconductor or nanofabrication cleanroom.
• Demonstrated experience with one or more lithography techniques, including photolithography or electron-beam lithography.
• Demonstrated experience with dry etching techniques such as ICP and RIE.
• Fluent in one or more CAD layouts using GDSII-based tools (e.g., KLayout, LayoutEditor, Cadence, L-Edit, or similar).
• Strong experimental skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively in a fast-paced research environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Current or past membership with Marvell Nanolab cleanroom at UC Berkeley.
• Experience with AlOx Josephson junctions.
• Training in electrical engineering, materials science, physics, or related fields.

$35 - $50 an hour

Rigetti complies with all local and state regulations in regards to displaying salary ranges. Generally, we pay according to academic experience: Undergraduate ($35), Masters ($45), Graduate Level ($50). Additionally, Rigetti will provide a housing stipend up to $2,000 for candidates who relocate for the summer.

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.

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.