Principal Mechanical Engineer

About the Company

QuEra is building scalable, fault-tolerant neutral atom quantum computers that harness the power of atomic physics, precision engineering, and advanced control systems.

Responsibilities

• Own the architecture, design, and optimization of electrical enclosures, liquid cooling, thermal control systems, UHV chambers, and precision opto-mechanical assemblies
• Communicate technical reasoning and design tradeoffs across multidisciplinary teams
• Collaborate with optical, electrical, controls, and software engineering teams to ensure system-level performance
• Implement engineering best practices including phase-gated design processes and proper documentation
• Contribute to system roadmaps, manufacturing scaling plans, and hardware development strategy
• Coordinate with R&D/science teams to translate requirements into testable acceptance criteria

Requirements

• M.S. or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering or related field
• 10+ years in precision mechanical design for high-stability or opto-mechanical systems
• Expertise in thermal management, vibration isolation, and liquid cooling systems
• Proficiency in CAD tools (SolidWorks or Inventor), PLM, and analysis tools
• Experience implementing systems engineering frameworks (SysML, MBSE)
• Proven success leading complex, multi-disciplinary hardware development programs

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in atomic physics, quantum systems, or UHV opto-mechanical design
• Experience developing automation systems for precision alignment or calibration
• Hands-on experience with precision assembly, metrology, and validation testing
• Track record of taking designs from concept through NPI and into sustainment