Staff Mechanical Engineer — Quantum Hardware Design

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

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

FSA

401(k) contributions

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Parental leave

Kitchen

Job summary

Vector Atomic, an IonQ company, is seeking a Staff Mechanical Engineer to advance quantum sensors with opto-mechanical and vacuum systems. The role emphasizes personal responsibility and teamwork in a fast-paced environment.

You will lead mechanical architecture bridging physics requirements and manufacturability, drive hardware development using design standards and simulations, and oversee high-precision integration with tolerance budgets and PLM strategy.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in Aerospace & Defense R&D or a similar field.
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.
• US export control compliance: U.S. citizenship / permanent resident / eligible categories.
• Lab environment experience and strong documentation skills.
• CAD design proficiency with SolidWorks (5+ years), DFM/DFA, GD&T, ANSI Y14.5.
• Experience transitioning prototypes to small-batch production.

Responsibilities

• Spearhead the mechanical architecture of quantum systems, bridging physics requirements and manufacturability.
• Drive development of next-generation quantum hardware with design standards and advanced simulations.
• Lead systems-level integration of optomechanical and electromechanical assemblies with tolerance budgets.
• Govern UHV assembly and testing workflows with standardized protocols and modular testbeds.
• Oversee PLM strategy and vendor partnerships to de-risk the supply chain.
• Audit build documentation, mentor junior engineers, and ensure compliance with qualification benchmarks.

Skills

CAD design

SolidWorks

GD&T

Tolerance analysis

DFM/ DFA

Material science basics

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

SolidWorks PDM

FEA/CFD simulation

Job description

Vector Atomic, an IonQ company, is seeking a Staff Mechanical Engineer to advance quantum sensors with opto-mechanical and vacuum systems. The role emphasizes personal responsibility and teamwork in a fast-paced environment.

You will lead mechanical architecture bridging physics requirements and manufacturability, drive hardware development using design standards and simulations, and oversee high-precision integration with tolerance budgets and PLM strategy.