Senior Vacuum System Engineer

PsiQuantum’s mission is to build the first useful quantum computers—machines capable of delivering the breakthroughs the field has long promised. Since our founding in 2016, our singular focus has been to build and deploy million-qubit, fault-tolerant quantum systems. 

Quantum computers harness the laws of quantum mechanics to solve problems that even the most advanced supercomputers or AI systems will never reach. Their impact will span energy, pharmaceuticals, finance, agriculture, transportation, materials, and other foundational industries. 

Our architecture and approach is based on silicon photonics. By leveraging the advanced semiconductor manufacturing industry—including partners like GlobalFoundries—we use the same high-volume processes that already produce billions of chips for telecom and consumer electronics. Photonics offers natural advantages for scale: photons don’t feel heat, are immune to electromagnetic interference, and integrate with existing cryogenic cooling and standard fiber-optic infrastructure. 

In 2024, PsiQuantum announced government-funded projects to support the build-out of our first utility-scale quantum computers in Brisbane, Australia, and Chicago, Illinois. These initiatives reflect a growing recognition that quantum computing will be strategically and economically defining—and that now is the time to scale. 

PsiQuantum also develops the algorithms and software needed to make these systems commercially valuable. Our application, software, and industry teams work directly with leading Fortune 500 companies—including Lockheed Martin, Mercedes-Benz, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Mitsubishi Chemical—to prepare quantum solutions for real-world impact. 

Quantum computing is not an extension of classical computing. It represents a fundamental shift—and a path to mastering challenges that cannot be solved any other way. The potential is enormous, and we have a clear path to make it real. 

Come join us. 

Job Summary:

The cryogenic engineering department is hiring a vacuum system engineer who will be heavily involved in the quantum computer design. This position will interact with multiple teams internally and suppliers externally.

Responsibilities 

• The Vacuum System Engineer focuses primarily on the vacuum system design to support quantum computer
• Applying knowledge of thermodynamics, heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and structural mechanics to the development of vacuum system.
• Detailed analysis, design and test of pumps, pipes, pressure control devices
• Leading engineering activities from concept development to final onsite commissioning of various vacuum equipment
• Analyzing field issues related to vacuum system design and providing solutions where required.
• Thoroughly documenting design inputs and outputs.
• General design activities such as requirements management, materials and component selection, Design Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), and tolerance analyses.
• Assisting and/or directing vendors to develop necessary manufacture process
• Actively participating in cross functional project teams through all phases of product development to ensure successful execution of innovative and best-in-class designs.

Experience/Qualifications 

• Sc., M.Sc., or Ph.D in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering or Physics.
• Software tools – Mathcad, SINDA/FLUINT, Thermal Desktop, ANSYS Workbench, Solidworks, Fluent, SpaceClaim, Matlab
• 5+ years of experience applying engineering principles to solve complex thermal/fluid problems
• Demonstrated technical knowledge and work experience in high vacuum theory, practice, and equipment, including clean room procedures and techniques, leak detectors, residual gas analyzers, vacuum pumps and vacuum gauges, vacuum modelling, and vacuum practices and procedures as applied in particle-free cryogenic environments.
• Experience specifying and operating electrical vacuum pumps and modern vacuum system
• Demonstrated use of advanced analysis tools to solve complex problems at the appropriate level of detail – Finite Element Analysis (FEA), Finite Difference, and/or Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD).
• Experience performing risk evaluation and process hazard analyses for vacuum systems
• Knowledge of ASME BPVC and B31.3 codes
• Ability to adapt changes and handle multiple assignments
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Desired Skills/Experience:

• Experience with multiple material performance, design constraints, and manufacture constraints under cryogenics.
• Hands performances on experience with fabrication methods such as machining, welding, brazing, soldering, forming, etc.
• Experience with deep vacuum systems, including cyro pumps, ion pumps, turbomolecular pumps,
• Hands-on experience performing lab testing and data acquisition.
• Solid understanding of Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing per ASME Y14.5.

PsiQuantum provides equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. PsiQuantum does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable laws.

Note: PsiQuantum will only reach out to you using an official PsiQuantum email address and will never ask you for bank account information as part of the interview process. Please report any suspicious activity to [email protected].

We are not accepting unsolicited resumes from employment agencies.