Principal Hardware Engineer: High Speed Mixed Signal Designer

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.

Atom Computing is seeking a hands-on Principal Hardware Engineer with specific expertise in high speed mixed-signal design to lead the architecture, implementation, and deployment of custom electronic assemblies for the control system of our quantum computer. In this role, you will drive hardware strategy across multiple concurrent projects while remaining deeply engaged in the tactical engineering work

This position is located in Boulder, Colorado, and will report to the Control Systems Manager.

Responsibilities

Drive high level system architectures for instruments with partitioning functions across PCBAs, guiding FPGA/control selection, and setting power, clocking, and interconnect strategy

Advise or guide technical approach for high-speed mixed-signal front ends, including analog/RF signal chains, DAC and ADC selection, and the noise, linearity, and phase-noise requirements

Lead and mentor the team through instrument design, including early brainstorming, simulation, and prototyping, actively participating in schematic and layout design reviews, and collaborating during board bring-up and characterization.

Collaborate with quantum engineers and other groups to understand system needs, discuss solutions and define hardware design requirements.

Experience & Education

• BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 10+ years of relevant postgraduate professional experience in board-level analog and digital circuit design, preferably with Altium Designer.
• Direct experience designing boards with large, high pin count ICs (FPGAs, processors) with interfaces to high speed communication busses, memory, sophisticated clocking, and high speed analog / RF circuitry

Required Qualifications

• Self-motivated, collaborative, and driven to work effectively in a fast-growing startup environment.
• Experience teaching and mentoring others in hardware design concepts and process
• Ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with a diverse team of experimental physicists, hardware, and software engineers.
• Strong grasp of PCB design best practices across the full design cycle, from concept through fabrication and bring-up and production
• Mixed signal design experience
• Demonstrated proficiency with electronic test equipment (e.g., oscilloscopes, spectrum and logic analyzers, signal generators) for the bring-up and debug of prototype electronics assemblies.

Preferred Qualifications

Familiarity with RF design concepts and/or software defined radio

Experience with high speed digital and analog I/O and connector/cable selection and characterization

Experience with multi-gigabit serial transceiver lane design, evaluation, equalization

Experience with IBIS-AMI modeling and correlation for multi-gigabit serial interfaces

Capable in scripting languages (e.g., Python) for basic data acquisition, instrument control, and automating hardware test and characterization.

Experience designing high speed memory interfaces

Experience working in a Linux environment

Familiarity with the MicroTCA, PXIe, or similar pluggable instrument standards