Senior Software Engineer, Internal Systems

Entangled Future; Berkeley (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Rigetti Computing in Berkeley, CA or Fremont, CA is seeking a Senior Software Engineer for Internal Systems to own data-intensive Python services and collaborate with quantum engineers.

Join a team that values scalable, observable software and works closely with scientists to deliver reliable platforms. You will mentor peers and help advance Rigetti’s pioneering quantum computing work.

Qualifications

• Strong Python experience with production backend or serving systems.
• Experience with large, evolving codebases and maintaining speed.
• Working knowledge of SQL and relational databases; PostgreSQL a plus.
• AWS and a typical cloud stack (Kubernetes, Kafka, Postgres, Grafana).
• Cross-functional collaboration with scientists or other deep technical peers.
• Ability to define problems, drive solutions, and work independently.
• Curiosity about quantum computing and Rigetti's work.
• Background in scientific computing, data science or AI/ML tooling.
• Experience in HPC, national labs, or hardware-forward R&D environments.
• DevOps, SRE, or cloud engineering background.

Responsibilities

• Own, maintain, and improve data-intensive Python services and applications, backend-focused.
• Collaborate with internal customers to translate needs into scalable software.
• Maintain data trust through schema migrations and client compatibility.
• Measure and improve performance and observability of platforms.
• Help scientists and engineers use AI coding agents safely by building guardrails.
• Keep users informed on priorities and roadmap.
• Mentor and collaborate with other engineers on the team.

Skills

Python

Production backend

Large codebases

Cross-functional

Product instinct

Independent

Quantum curiosity

Tools

AWS

Kubernetes

Kafka

PostgreSQL

Grafana

Job description

Senior Software Engineer, Internal Systems at Rigetti Computing, Berkeley, CA or Fremont, CA. A intern-level full time position in the Internal Software Engineering team, listed under software engineering.

At Rigetti, our mission is to build the world's most powerful computers to solve the world's most challenging problems. Rigetti is a pioneer in superconducting qubits and full-stack quantum computing systems. In addition to introducing the first multi-chip quantum processor, Rigetti has led the way in software systems for quantum computing, with a distributed operating environment for hybrid quantum-classical computing and a state-of-the-art characterization and measurement platform.

To continue advancing this work, we're expanding our Internal Software (ISW) team.

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.

Responsibilities

• Own, maintain, and improve data-intensive Python services and applications, mostly backend, sometimes full stack
• Work directly with internal customers, including quantum engineers and fab engineers, to understand what they actually need and turn it into scalable, sustainable software
• Keep data trustworthy as systems evolve: schema migrations, compatibility across clients, testing, CI
• Measure and improve performance of user-facing workflows and the observability of the platforms behind them
• Help scientists and engineers outside the software team use AI coding agents safely and sustainably by building the frameworks, guardrails, and patterns that make that possible
• Keep users informed on priorities and roadmap
• Mentor and collaborate with other engineers on the team

Requirements

• Strong Python, with experience building and running production backend or serving systems
• Experience working in large, evolving codebases, and the judgment to improve them without slowing down the people who depend on them
• Working knowledge of SQL and relational databases; PostgreSQL a plus
• Experience with AWS and a typical cloud stack (Kubernetes, Kafka, Postgres, Grafana or equivalents)
• A track record of working cross-functionally with scientists or other deeply technical peers, and genuine enjoyment of helping them do their best work, especially as requirements change with the science
• Product instinct and independence: you can sit down with a user, understand the underlying problem, define what to build, and drive it forward without close supervision
• Curiosity regarding quantum computing and what Rigetti is building
• Scientific computing, data-science, or AI/ML tooling backgrounds
• HPC, national lab, semiconductor, or other hardware-forward R&D environments
• DevOps, SRE, or cloud engineering