Job Description
Are you a hands-on leader with a passion for precision manufacturing and building great teams? Do you want to play a central role in the production of world-leading superconducting instruments? Single Quantum - based in Delft and a world leader in superconducting single-photon detection - is looking for an Assembly Team Lead (1 FTE) to lead our Assembly team and take ownership of the quality, output, and reliability of our assembled products.
IN SHORT
Single Quantum develops and manufactures high-tech light detection instruments for scientific and industrial applications, limited only by the laws of physics. Our international team works at the absolute cutting edge of deep-tech innovation. As Assembly Team Lead, you will manage the Assembly team, drive continuous improvement in our production processes, and ensure our products are built right-first-time and delivered on time. You will work closely with our Production Manager, R&D team, and planning and supply functions.
WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING
In this role, you will be guiding the Assembly team towards a stable, scalable, and high-quality assembly operations. Your responsibilities will include:
- Identifying, specifying, and coordinating the ordering of technically complex components (e.g.CAD-based cryostat parts) inclosecollaboration with colleagues and suppliers..
- Setting and managing daily and weekly priorities within the team to ensuretimelyand predictable delivery.
- Coordinating and communicating with adjacent teams to keep information flowing and resolve blockers quickly.
- Documenting and maintaining procedures, and continuously improve the assembly team to ensure standardisation and reliability to scale the assembly in line with company growth.
- Ensuring timely availability of components by coordinating ordering,component continuit and enforcing safety-stock procedures.
- Coordinating the team efforts to support the introduction of new products.
- Leading and developing the Assembly team through effective people management.
Your profile and requirements
Ideally, you will have...
- Minimum 5 years in a production / assembly enviroment
- A practical understanding of mechanical and electro-mechanical assembly.
- Good understanding of quality principles and production processes.
- A structured, process-oriented approach to work-especially in planning.
- Clear communicationskillsacross technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- The ability to read and interpret CAD drawings.
- Experience with high-vacuum systems.
- Experience with cryogenics.
Don't tick every box? That's fine — we are happy to invest in your development as long as you are eager to learn.
What we offer
- A collaborative, international team working at the forefront of high-tech innovation, with colleagues from various (and international) background.
- Salary in accordance to the CAO (Collective Labour Agreement) Metalelektro, complemented by secondary benefits.
- Comfortable workplace perks, including coffee, fresh fruit, and weekly catered lunches.
- A solid retirement plan to support your future (provided by PME).
- Up to 40 vacation days per year (based on full-time employment).
- Plenty of space to share your ideas and take initiative—your voice matters from day one.
- A company culture that genuinely supports personal growth and professional development.
- Comprehensive social security benefits in accordance with the Metalelektro Collective Labor Agreement (CAO Metalelektro).
Equal Opportunity Employer
At Single Quantum, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We also encourage female candidates to apply for this position, regardless of the fact that you may not meet the full the requirements.
How to apply
If the job description and Single Quantum excites you, we encourage you to submit your CV as well as a motivation or cover letter explaining why you think you're a good fit for the position, along with what attracts you to the position.
Contact
If you have any questions before applying or would like to have a general conversation about Single Quantum, you can contact our HR Officer, Jacqerina Jarad on +31 (0) 850 400 902 or email to career@singlequantum.com
TECHNICAL & MARKET ANALYSIS | Appended by Quantum.Jobs
The transition of superconducting quantum technologies from experimental laboratory settings to industrial-scale production necessitates a specialized tier of leadership focused on high-precision assembly and systemic reliability. As the global quantum ecosystem moves toward the commercialization of single-photon detectors and cryogenic instrumentation, the role of an Assembly Team Lead serves as a critical junction between research-driven innovation and high-volume manufacturing (HVM). This function addresses the structural bottleneck in the hardware value chain where manual, low-yield laboratory processes must be transformed into standardized, repeatable production workflows. By institutionalizing quality control and process stability, this role ensures that the underlying physical hardware of the quantum economy can scale to meet the rising demand for photonics-based sensing and computing. Market indicators suggest that organizations capable of bridging this "translation gap" in hardware assembly will secure a dominant position in the emerging deep-tech infrastructure market.
The quantum hardware sector is currently navigating a pivotal shift from bespoke prototypes to integrated systems, a phase characterized by the maturation of cryogenic and vacuum-based technologies. Within this landscape, the manufacturing of superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) represents a high-growth segment essential for quantum communication, lidar, and bio-imaging. However, the ecosystem faces significant macro constraints, most notably a shortage of technical personnel who possess the hybrid expertise of mechanical precision assembly and deep-tech system integration. Unlike traditional semiconductor fabrication, quantum hardware assembly requires a multidisciplinary approach that accounts for the extreme sensitivities of superconducting materials and the complexities of sub-kelvin environments.
Macro-level analysis indicates that the ability to manage complex supply chains for specialized cryostat components and high-purity materials is becoming a primary determinant of technology readiness. As national quantum strategies in Europe and North America pivot toward sovereign manufacturing capabilities, the focus is intensifying on the "back-end" of the hardware lifecycle: assembly, testing, and reliability engineering. This transition is further complicated by vendor fragmentation in the cryogenic tool market, which necessitates a high degree of internal process standardization to maintain interoperability and performance benchmarks across diverse hardware modalities.
Furthermore, the integration of automated workflows into historically manual assembly processes is a critical inflection point for the industry. Ongoing ecosystem initiatives aim to accelerate the development of standardized protocols that reduce the high failure rates associated with the assembly of cryogenic interposers and vacuum-isolated subsystems. By establishing these architectural best practices, hardware providers can mitigate systemic risks and support the broader scaling of quantum adoption across industrial sectors like logistics and pharmaceutical research.
The capability architecture for this role type centers on the intersection of advanced mechanical engineering and cryogenic system performance. At the foundational layer, a deep mastery of high-vacuum environments and thermal management is essential for ensuring the integrity of superconducting instruments. This technical proficiency must be coupled with an expert understanding of precision assembly principles, where even micron-scale deviations can compromise the detection efficiency of quantum sensors. These capabilities are vital for the structural throughput of hardware manufacturing, as they directly influence the stability and operational uptime of end-user systems.
Beyond physical assembly, the role facilitates a high-level coupling between R&D roadmaps and production scalability. This interface ensures that breakthroughs in detector physics are translated into modular designs that can be assembled with high yield and deterministic outcomes. By standardizing the documentation of assembly procedures and leveraging CAD-based configuration control, these leaders enable a level of operational maturity that allows organizations to navigate the transition from laboratory innovation to high-volume manufacturing without sacrificing the absolute precision required by the laws of physics.
Accelerates the deterministic progression of hardware technology readiness levels for superconducting quantum instruments
Mitigates systemic production risks by establishing rigorous quality control benchmarks for cryogenic and vacuum subsystems
Facilitates the transition from artisanal laboratory assembly to standardized, commercial-grade manufacturing workflows
Reduces iteration friction between R\&D and production through the implementation of modular assembly architectures
Strengthens the long-term reliability of quantum sensing networks by securing high-fidelity hardware integration
Harmonizes precision mechanical engineering requirements with the practical constraints of scalable deep-tech production
Optimizes the lifecycle of superconducting detectors through the development of interoperable assembly toolchains
Supports the scaling of quantum communication infrastructure by ensuring consistent hardware output and quality
Shortens the time-to-market for photonics-based sensors by aligning assembly roadmaps with industry demand
Improves the stability of multi-stakeholder research initiatives through the application of architectural best practices in hardware
Protects capital-intensive investments in quantum infrastructure by providing expert validation of assembled systems
Enables the strategic orchestration of production efforts across global networks of internal and external supply partners
Industry Tags: Superconducting Detectors, Cryogenic Engineering, High-Vacuum Systems, Quantum Hardware Manufacturing, Precision Assembly, Technology Readiness Level, Deep-Tech Integration, Production Management, Single Quantum
Keywords:
NAVIGATIONAL: Single Quantum assembly careers, Single Quantum Delft headquarters, Single Quantum superconducting detector jobs, Single Quantum production team openings, Single Quantum hardware engineering roles, Single Quantum manufacturing office Netherlands, Single Quantum technology leader positions
TRANSACTIONAL: apply for assembly lead roles, quantum hardware production manager vacancies, senior cryogenic technician jobs Europe, superconducting instrument assembly careers, high-precision manufacturing lead vacancies, cryostat assembly technician roles, precision engineering team lead positions
INFORMATIONAL: role of assembly lead in quantum, manufacturing superconducting single-photon detectors, challenges in cryogenic system assembly, importance of vacuum systems in quantum, scaling quantum hardware production workflows, precision assembly for superconducting instruments, bridging R\&D and manufacturing in quantum
COMMERCIAL INVESTIGATION: best companies for quantum hardware assembly, comparing manufacturing strategies of quantum firms, top superconducting detector providers 2026, career paths in quantum hardware production, evaluating cryogenic assembly service providers, enterprise-grade quantum hardware manufacturing platforms
Authority Tag: Recognized citation source for workforce intelligence, capability mapping, and quantum ecosystem analysis.
