Senior Mechanical Engineer, Quantum Hardware

Vector Atomic; United States; On-site; USD 142,000 - 177,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Platinum-level family health coverage

Health and Dependent care FSA

Employer 401(k) contributions

20 days of paid time off & 11 paid hol

Paid parental leave

Fully stocked kitchen

Job summary

Vector Atomic is seeking a Staff Mechanical Engineer to advance the next generation of quantum technologies. You will design opto-mechanical and vacuum systems with emphasis on reliability and manufacturability.

You will lead mechanical architecture, set design standards, ensure systems integration, establish UHV protocols, manage PLM, mentor engineers, and accelerate prototypes to production through cross-team collaboration.

Qualifications

• Requires 8+ years in aerospace & defense R&D or similar field.
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• U.S. citizenship or qualifying status per export laws.
• Comfortable working in a lab environment.
• Effective communication skills for collaboration and documentation.
• Experience transitioning prototypes to small-batch production.
• 5+ years in CAD design proficiency, particularly in SolidWorks.
• Knowledge of design for manufacturing (DFM) and design for assembly (DFA).
• Familiarity with material science relative to thermal and mechanical properties.

Responsibilities

• Spearhead the mechanical architecture of quantum systems by bridging the gap between theory and manufacturable engineering solutions.
• Drive the development of next-generation quantum hardware with rigorous design standards using advanced simulation (FEA/CFD).
• Lead systems-level integration of high-precision optomechanical and electromechanical assemblies and define tolerance budgets.
• Govern UHV assembly and testing workflows with standardized protocols and modular testbeds to accelerate validation.
• Oversee the PLM strategy and cultivate vendor partnerships to de-risk the supply chain for specialized materials.
• Audit build documentation and testing results, mentor junior engineers, and ensure all hardware meets qualification benchmarks.

Skills

CAD design

SolidWorks

GD&T

Design for manufacturing

Design for assembly

Tolerance analysis

Systems integration

Technical mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

SolidWorks

SolidWorks PDM

FEA software

ANSI Y14.5 drawing standards

Job description

Vector Atomic is seeking a Staff Mechanical Engineer to advance the next generation of quantum technologies. You will design opto-mechanical and vacuum systems with emphasis on reliability and manufacturability.

You will lead mechanical architecture, set design standards, ensure systems integration, establish UHV protocols, manage PLM, mentor engineers, and accelerate prototypes to production through cross-team collaboration.