Senior Systems Engineer

Atom Computing; Boulder (CO); On-site; USD 140,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully paid medical, dental, and vision

Unlimited paid time off

401K company matching

Short- and long-term disability

FSA

Dependent care benefits

Life insurance

Catered team lunches in offices

Job summary

Atom Computing seeks a Senior Systems Engineer to integrate requirements, risks, and timelines across R&D and product programs. You will lead system definition, MBSE, and risk management to bridge theory and applications in quantum engineering, control systems, optics, software and hardware.

The role translates complex experimental goals into a coherent architecture, coordinating across disciplines and ensuring traceability from objectives to verification plans.

Qualifications

• BS or higher in Systems Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering or a related field.
• 5+ years of systems engineering experience in complex, multidisciplinary R&D or production environments.
• Proven ability to lead requirements development, interface control, and V&V planning across engineering and science disciplines.
• Experience with model-based systems engineering (MBSE) tools and configuration management systems.
• Strong understanding of system lifecycle processes and risk management frameworks.
• Experience supporting government-funded research or procurement programs (DoD, DoE, DoC).

Responsibilities

• Lead system definition and requirements management across programs with MBSE and risk tracking.
• Develop system architecture and define interfaces; produce ICDs and design docs.
• Coordinate with modeling teams to evaluate performance and scalability of architectures.
• Identify and track technical risks, opportunities, and mitigations; support SRR/PDR/CDR reviews.
• Coordinate IV&V plans and test protocols; participate in system integration reviews and readiness assessments.
• Act as liaison across Theory, Quantum Engineering, Hardware, Software, Controls, and Optical Engineering; support external interactions.

Skills

MBSE

Requirements management

System architecture

Traceability

V&V planning

Risk management

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering or related field

MS or PhD in engineering, physics, or related discipline

Tools

MBSE tools

Configuration management systems

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.

We are seeking a Senior Systems Engineer to gather, integrate, and track requirements, risks, and timelines for future generations of Atom Computing systems. As Senior System Engineer you will serve as a technical integrator and architect across Atom Computing’s Research and Product Development programs. This individual will lead system definition, model-based engineering (MBSE) and risk management activities that bridge theory and applications, quantum engineering, control systems, optical engineering, software and hardware disciplines.

The ideal candidate can translate theoretical and experimental requirements into a coherent system architecture, and has experience applying systems engineering best practices to emerging technologies.

Job Responsibilities

System Definition & Requirements Management

• Lead, and formalise, the existing functional and physical decomposition of current systems to augment the requirements blueprint
• Establish and maintain the requirements baseline, traceability matrices, and verification plans using industry standard tools
• Translate scientific objectives into verifiable system and subsystem performance requirements
• Manage change control processes for evolving architectures and requirements

Architecture & Design Integration

• Develop and document system architecture, including subsystem interactions
• Produce system-level design documentation and interface control documents (ICDs)
• Coordinate with modeling and simulation teams to evaluate performance trade-offs and scalability of quantum system architectures

Risk Management & Technical Planning

• Identify, quantify, and track technical risks, opportunities, and mitigations
• Support development of risk registers and FMEA/FMECA for design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, SIR, ORR)
• Contribute to the ongoing development of Atom Computing’s Systems Engineering Management Plan

Integration, Verification, and Validation (IV&V)

• Develop and coordinate the Verification and Validation (V&V) plans, linking test protocols to system-level requirements (traceability)
• Working with Quantum Engineering & Theory, oversee definition of system-level test protocols
• Participate in system integration reviews and readiness assessments to ensure technical maturity and risk reduction

Collaboration & Communication

• Act as technical liaison between Theory, Quantum Engineering, Hardware, Software, Controls, and Optical Engineering
• Support customer interactions, including government program reviews, technical interchange meetings, and milestone reporting

Required Qualifications

• BS or higher in Systems Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering or a related field
• 5+ years of systems engineering experience in complex, multidisciplinary R&D or production environments (quantum, aerospace, defense, advanced computing, or similar)
• Proven ability to lead requirements development, interface control, and V&V planning across engineering and science disciplines
• Experience with model-based systems engineering (MBSE) tools and configuration management systems
• Strong understanding of system lifecycle processes
• Demonstrated experience with risk management frameworks
• Experience supporting government-funded research or procurement programs (DoD, DoE, DoC)

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in engineering, physics, or a related discipline
• Familiarity with quantum computing, atomic, and optical (AMO) physics, or control system integration
• Experience preparing and presenting SRR/PDR/CDR artifacts
• Knowledge of reliability engineering, fault-tolerant architectures, and data-driven verification

Benefits

• fully paid medical, dental, and vision insurance for our employees and their dependents
• unlimited paid time off
• 401K company matching
• short- and long-term disability
• FSA
• dependent care benefits
• life insurance
• drinks, snacks, and catered team lunches in our offices, every day!

The base salary range for this position is between $140,000 - $160,000, 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.