Senior Mechanical Technician — Hardware Engineering

About QuEra

QuEra Computing builds neutral-atom quantum computers that change the world. They are composed of precision optics custom electronics liquid-cooled electronics racks and ultra-high-vacuum systems. The Hardware Engineering group designs builds and delivers that platform. We are moving towards repeatable production-quality machine builds and we need who know how to build.

The role

Were hiring a Senior Mechanical Technician to be the hands-on backbone of our Hardware Engineering team. Youll fabricate assemble test and troubleshoot the mechanical and fluid systems inside our quantum computers and youll help us turn tribal knowledge into procedures and fixtures that contract manufacturers can execute.

This is a senior high-autonomy role. Youll work directly with mechanical electrical and optical engineers and with physicists on live machines. Youll be a first call when something needs to be built or fixed right now and be a driver in making our builds measurable repeatable and safe.

What youll do

Machine and module assembly

• Build and integrate mechanical subassemblies for our machines: electronics racks enclosures and frames cold plates and liquid-cooling manifolds cable management and opto-mechanical module hardware.
• Perform precision assembly to documented procedures torque specs cleanliness requirements fastener control serialization.
• Support installation and rework on operating machines coordinating carefully with the scientists and engineers who run them.

Test inspection and troubleshooting

• Execute pressure and leak tests flow checks and mechanical inspections; record results and flag anything out of spec.
• Diagnose mechanical and fluid-system problems on the floor and drive them to a fix escalating design issues to engineering with clear evidence.
• Support root-cause investigations with hands-on teardown measurement and recreation of failure modes.

Fabrication and prototyping

• Run and own the mechanical development room and machine shop: manual/CNC-assist mill saws drill press hand tools and layout/inspection equipment.
• Machine fixtures brackets adapters and one-off parts from engineering drawings or sketches; make sound judgment calls on tolerances materials and finish.
• Keep the shop organized tooled stocked and safe; train engineers and co-ops on safe tool use.

Manufacturing and contract-manufacturer support

• Turn engineer intent into build-ready work instructions travelers and fixture designs; red-line drawings when the part doesnt match the print.
• Perform incoming inspection and first-article inspection on parts and assemblies from suppliers and contract manufacturers.
• Travel occasionally to contract manufacturers to train their technicians qualify processes and troubleshoot builds.

Lab infrastructure and safety

• Maintain lab mechanical infrastructure: chillers and cooling loops racks and tables compressed gas and utilities.
• Follow and help improve our safety practices lockout/tagout liquid-cooling shutoffs and leak detection laser-lab conduct.
• Mentor junior technicians and engineering co-ops.

What were looking for

Required

• 7 years as a mechanical technician or mechanical assembler in a precision hardware environment (data center telecom scientific instruments semiconductor equipment aerospace optics medical devices or similar).
• Comfortable on mill; able to hold 0.010 when needed
• Hands-on experience with fluid systems fittings tubing manifolds pumps or chillers and with pressure and leak testing.
• Comfortable working around sensitive optics and electronics: cleanliness ESD and measure twice habits.
• Able to lift 50 lb work on ladders and under tables and spend most of the day on your feet in a lab.
• Clear written and verbal communication; you document what you did and tell people what you found.

Nice to have

• Soldering and cable construction
• CNC programming (conversational or CAM) and experience standing up a small shop.
• Basic CAD (SolidWorks or Inventor) to model fixtures or fix a drawing.
• Experience writing work instructions or SOPs or training others to a procedure.
• Familiarity with vacuum hardware opto-mechanics or cleanroom practice.
• Experience supporting a transition to contract manufacturing (FAI supplier visits process qualification).
• Welding brazing or sheet-metal fabrication.

Why this role

Youll be building machines that very few people in the world know how to build on a team small enough that your work is visible every day. Youll have real ownership of a shop and a process a direct line to the engineers designing the hardware and a chance to shape how QuEra manufactures its next generation of quantum computers.

The salary for this role is $125000. We consistently monitor external market data and update base salary ranges accordingly. We determine base compensation decisions on several factors including as geographic placement role-specific knowledge skills and/or addition to our base salary offerings we also provide equity grants for all new hires.

QuEra is committed to cultivating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We highly value diversity in our current and future employees and do not discriminate (including in our hiring and promotion practices) based on race religion color national origin gender gender expression sexual orientation age marital status veteran status disability status or any other characteristic protected by law.

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