Principal Systems Engineer – Quantum Computing Systems

The role

Summary

We are seeking a Principal Systems Engineer to play a critical role in aligning engineering execution with scientific and machine-level progress in the development of large-scale quantum computers.

This role sits at the intersection of quantum science, hardware engineering, and control software, with a primary mission to make the system coherent, buildable, and integrable as it evolves. Unlike traditional product environments, many system requirements in quantum computing are discovered through experimentation, not defined upfront. Success in this role requires deep collaboration with scientists, rapid learning, and the ability to introduce structure only where it accelerates progress.

What you will do

System Understanding Through Scientific Partnership
Work closely and continuously with quantum scientists to understand how the machine is actually operated, tuned, and debugged in practice.
Spend significant time in the lab, observing experiments and participating in scientific discussions to absorb tacit system knowledge.
Treat scientists as primary system knowledge holders, approaching requirement gathering as a learning and synthesis exercise.
Build trust by accurately reflecting scientific intent and constraints in system models, requirements, and architectural decisions.
Requirements Co-Evolution & Traceability
Facilitate the co-evolution of system requirements as the machine progresses:
Start with lightweight, provisional requirements
Explicitly document uncertainty, assumptions, and open questions
Refine requirements as experimental results and understanding improve
Translate scientific goals (e.g., performance, stability, operability) into actionable engineering requirements while preserving necessary flexibility.
Establish traceability between:
machine-level goals
subsystem requirements
engineering deliverables (e.g., JIRA epics)
Ensure engineers understand the intent behind requirements, not just the wording.
System Architecture & Integration Leadership
Develop and maintain a living system architecture covering:
quantum hardware
control electronics and firmware
control software and orchestration layers
Produce clear, accessible architecture diagrams that reflect reality and evolve with the system.
Identify missing architectural elements, poorly defined interfaces, and integration risks early.
Lead system-level trade studies and technical decision-making in partnership with engineering and scientific leaders.
Ensure architecture reflects machine milestones and not just organizational boundaries.
Integration, Test Strategy, and Machine Protection
Define and drive a system integration and test strategy appropriate for an evolving R&D machine.
Help ensure engineering testbeds match machine configurations as closely as possible.
Push integration testing upstream so that machines are not used as primary test platforms.
Partner with engineering teams to define validation criteria tied to real machine behavior.
Reduce burden on lab teams by improving pre-deployment testing and integration readiness.
Early Wins & Trust Building
Deliver small, tangible improvements early that directly reduce friction for scientists and engineers, such as:
clarifying a recurring interface problem
creating a simple integration checklist
documenting a failure mode that saves days of debugging
Use these wins to establish credibility and reinforce the value of systems engineering.
Continuously gather feedback on what is helping vs. slowing teams down, and adapt approach accordingly.
Unlearning, Adaptation, and Process Design
Actively identify where traditional systems engineering assumptions do not apply to quantum computing.
Unlearn rigid models around fixed requirements, early design freezes, and linear development.
Introduce process and structure incrementally, calibrated to system maturity.
Champion systems thinking without dogma – prioritizing outcomes over formality.
Technical Leadership & Mentorship
Serve as a technical leader and mentor for engineers and emerging systems thinkers.
Help scale system knowledge through documentation, diagrams, and internal education.
Contribute to leadership discussions on technical strategy, integration risk, and execution pacing.

Principal Systems Engineer – Quantum Computing Systems

The role

Principal Systems Engineer – Quantum Computing Systems

The role

What you will do

What you need

Nice to have

Core Mission

Personal Attributes We Value

Why This Role Matters

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