RF/Electronics Engineer

QuSpectra; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Early-stage equity

Job summary

QuSpectra, a San Diego-based startup, is seeking an RF/Electronics Engineer to design the mixed-signal and microwave hardware behind our quantum control/readout chain, including microwave delivery, low-noise front ends, and precise timing in a compact form factor.

The role partners with FPGA/firmware and requires hands-on bench work and board characterization (VNA, spectrum analyzer, oscilloscope) to ensure high-performance, scalable hardware for NV spin control.

Qualifications

• BS/MS in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or equivalent; 3+ years hardware design.
• Experience designing and debugging RF/microwave circuits with impedance matching and S-parameters.
• Strong analog design: low-noise amps, TIAs, precision references; noise budgets.
• Multilayer PCB design in KiCad for mixed-signal systems; controlled-impedance routing.
• Bench on VNA, spectrum analyzer, oscilloscope; debugging full signal chains.

Responsibilities

• Design and bring up microwave delivery hardware for NV spin control and over-the-air readout.
• Develop low-noise analog front ends and gain/ filter stages.
• Build precision current drivers for bias coils and DAC/ADC infra.
• Create multilayer KiCad layouts with RF/mixed-signal integration and EMI discipline.
• Collaborate with FPGA/firmware teams; characterize boards on bench equipment.

Skills

RF/microwave design

Impedance matching

S-parameters

Analog design

Low-noise amplification

TIAs

Precision references

Noise budgets

Multilayer PCB design

KiCad

Controlled-impedance routing

Bench testing

Education

BS/MS in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or equivalent

Tools

KiCad

VNA

Spectrum Analyzer

Oscilloscope

Job description

QuSpectra is a San Diego–based startup developing portable quantum sensing instruments based on nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond. We are compressing laboratory-scale quantum sensing and spectroscopy systems into compact, board-level instruments that deliver high-performance measurements in a portable form factor. Our technology combines quantum sensors, photonics, microwave electronics, embedded systems, and microfluidics to enable next-generation analytical tools.

Based at UC San Diego, we are a small, fast-moving deep-tech startup where team members have the opportunity to innovate at the forefront of quantum technology while taking ownership of an entire subsystem, from concept and design through prototyping, testing, and deployment.

The Role

We're hiring an RF/Electronics Engineer to lead the mixed-signal and microwave hardware behind our quantum control and readout chain, including, microwave delivery, low-noise photodetection, precision magnetic biasing, and tight timing. You'll be responsible for the boards and signal chains that make coherent spin control and sensitive readout work in a small form factor.

What You'll Do

• Design and bring up microwave delivery hardware for NV spin control: microwave sources, IQ modulation, amplifier chains, and on-chip antenna structures.
• Design low-noise analog front ends, including amplifiers and filtering/gain stages.
• Build precision current drivers for bias coils and the DAC/ADC infrastructure around them.
• Design multilayer PCB layouts for mixed-signal boards where RF, sensitive analog, and digital control coexist, stackup design, grounding, shielding, and EMI discipline.
• Work hand-in-hand with our FPGA/firmware work.
• Characterize boards on the bench (VNA, spectrum analyzer, scope).

Required Qualifications

• BS/MS in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or equivalent, with 3+ years of hands-on hardware design.
• Demonstrated experience designing and debugging RF or microwave circuits, including impedance matching and S-parameter measurement.
• Strong analog design skills: low-noise amplification, TIAs, precision references, and an intuition for noise budgets.
• Multilayer PCB design experience (we use KiCad) for mixed-signal systems, including controlled-impedance routing.
• Comfort on the bench: VNA, spectrum analyzer, oscilloscope, and systematic debugging of a full signal chain.

Nice to Have

• Experience with quantum sensing, NMR/ESR, atomic, or other precision measurement instrumentation.
• Familiarity with FPGA-based control systems and the timing constraints of pulsed experiments.
• Experience with PLL/synthesizer design and phase-noise-sensitive systems.
• Firmware or HDL literacy (Verilog, embedded C) sufficient to collaborate across the analog/digital boundary.

Logistics

This is an on-site role in San Diego. Compensation includes salary, benefits and early-stage equity.

Salary: the targeted salary range for this role is $85,000 to $95,000, commensurate with experience plus eligibility.

QuSpectra is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.