Staff Engineer - Mechanical

Vector Atomic, Inc.; Pleasanton (CA); On-site; USD 142,000 - 177,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

401(k) contributions

Paid time off

Job summary

Vector Atomic, Inc. in Pleasanton, CA is hiring a Staff Mechanical Engineer to advance the next generation of quantum technologies. You will design opto-mechanical and vacuum systems for quantum sensors with strong emphasis on personal responsibility and teamwork.

This role requires leading mechanical architecture, applying simulations (FEA/CFD), and governing UHV workflows, with a focus on manufacturability and cross-disciplinary integration.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of professional experience in Aerospace & Defense R&D or similar field.
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline.
• U.S. export control compliance and eligible for U.S. citizenship/permanent residency (as applicable).
• Comfortable working in a lab environment.
• Effective communication and meticulous attention to detail.
• Experience transitioning prototypes to small-batch production.
• Proficiency in CAD design, especially SolidWorks.
• Knowledge of design for manufacturing and assembly (DFM/ DFA).
• Understanding of thermal and mechanical properties of materials.
• Familiarity with GD&T and tolerance analysis.
• Ability to create mechanical drawings per ANSI Y14.5.

Responsibilities

• Spearhead the mechanical architecture of quantum systems and ensure scalability across the product roadmap.
• Lead development of next-gen quantum hardware with rigorous design standards and advanced simulations (FEA/CFD).
• Oversee systems-level integration of optomechanical and electromechanical assemblies and define tolerance budgets.
• Govern UHV assembly and testing workflows with standardized protocols and modular testbeds.
• Oversee PLM strategy and cultivate vendor partnerships to de-risk the supply chain for materials.
• Audit build documentation and testing results; mentor junior engineers and ensure QC benchmarks.

Skills

Aerospace & Defense R&D

CAD design

SolidWorks

DFM

DFA

GD&T

ANSI Y14.5

System integration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

SolidWorks PDM

FEA/ CFD

Job description

About Vector Atomic

Vector Atomic, an IonQ company, is building quantum technology to transform navigation, timing, geophysical exploration, and telecommunications. Our team of engineers, scientists, software developers, and operations professionals works together to solve complex challenges and turn bold ideas into real-world solutions. We value collaboration, curiosity, and diverse perspectives, and we give every team member the opportunity to make an immediate impact while growing their skills. If you're excited to work on breakthrough technology in a fast-paced, hands-on environment, we'd love to hear from you.

About IonQ:
IonQ, Inc. [NYSE: IONQ] is the world's leading quantum company delivering solutions to solve the world's most complex problems. IonQ's newest generation quantum computers, IonQ Tempo and IonQ Forte Enterprise, are the latest in cutting-edge systems that have been helping customers and partners such as Amazon Web Services, AstraZeneca, and NVIDIA achieve 20x performance results. The company achieved 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity, setting a world record in quantum computing performance in 2025.

The company is accelerating its technology roadmap and intends to deliver the world's most powerful quantum computers with 2 million qubits by 2030 to accelerate innovation in drug discovery, materials science, financial modeling, logistics, cybersecurity, and defense. IonQ's advancements in quantum networking position the company as a leader in building the quantum internet.

The Role:

As a Staff Mechanical Engineer at Vector Atomic, you will be instrumental in advancing the next generation of quantum technologies. This hands-on role involves designing opto-mechanical and vacuum systems that are crucial for quantum sensors, with a strong focus on personal responsibility and teamwork.

Responsibilities:

• Spearhead the mechanical architecture of quantum systems by bridging the gap between theoretical physics requirements and manufacturable engineering solutions, ensuring design scalability across the product roadmap.
• Drive the development of next-generation quantum hardware by establishing rigorous design standards and utilizing advanced simulation (FEA/CFD) to mitigate risks in novel component performance.
• Lead the systems-level integration of high-precision optomechanical and electromechanical assemblies, defining the tolerance budgets and alignment strategies necessary for enterprise-grade quantum reliability.
• Govern UHV assembly and testing workflows by implementing standardized ultra-high vacuum protocols and designing modular testbeds that accelerate the validation cycle for the entire engineering team.
• Optimize the engineering ecosystem by overseeing the PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) strategy and cultivating strategic vendor partnerships to de-risk the supply chain for specialized materials.
• Champion technical excellence by auditing build documentation and testing results, mentoring junior engineers on best practices, and ensuring all custom hardware meets stringent qualification benchmarks.

Requirements:

• 8+ years of professional experience in Aerospace & Defense R&D or similar field.
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline

• To comply with the US export control laws, Vector Atomic employees must be U.S. citizens (born or naturalized), lawful U.S. permanent residents (i.e. green card holders), and certain categories of refugees, and asylees.

• Comfortable working in a lab environment.

• Effective communication skills for collaboration and documentation.
• Keen attention to detail in all engineering tasks.

• 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) principles.
• Familiarity with material science relative to thermal and mechanical properties.
• Understanding of GD&T and tolerance analysis.
• Proficient in creating mechanical drawings in line with ANSI Y14.5 standards.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline

• Experience with SolidWorks PDM.
• Knowledge of FEA with a focus on thermal and vibration analysis.
• Experience in packaging and assembly of lasers and photonic devices.
• Familiarity with system integration across various sub-disciplines.

Vector Atomic values teamwork, open and honest discourse, and work-life balance. We offer competitive compensation and benefits including:

• Platinum-level family health coverage (medical, dental, vision)
• Health and Dependent care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Employer 401(k) contributions
• 20 days of paid time off & 11 paid holidays
• Paid parental leave
• Fully stocked kitchen
  

Pay Range

The approximate base salary range for this position is $142,113 to $177,203 per year. The total compensation package includes base, bonus, equity and benefits. It's atypical to be hired at the top end of this range for the role, as actual pay is based on several factors, including job-related knowledge, skills, and experience level.

Vector Atomic is an equal opportunity employer and we welcome applications from all backgrounds regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability, or any other classification protected by law.

Vector Atomic does not accept unsolicited resumes from individual recruiters or third-party recruiting agencies in response to job postings. No fee will be paid to third parties who submit unsolicited candidates directly to our hiring managers or HR team.