kiutra
Do you want to shape the future as part of a diverse, international team in a fast-growing, deep-tech company? Then read on!
At kiutra, we contribute to the development and application of quantum technologies by offering innovative and sustainable cooling solutions based on our unique magnetic cooling technology.
This is a foundational role — you will be kiutra's first dedicated hire in the United States. In this position, you won't just represent a product; you will open doors, build communities, and establish kiutra as the go-to cryogenic cooling partner across the US quantum research and technology ecosystem.
In your first year, your focus will be on business development, network activation, and market visibility — attending events, leveraging and growing your professional network, and identifying high-potential opportunities. You will be closely supported by kiutra's technical and sales team at HQ, who will partner with you on proposals and deal closure as you deepen your product knowledge. From year 2 onward, the expectation is that you take on fuller ownership of the commercial cycle in your region. This is a long-term investment — in you, and in the US market.
This is a role for someone who thrives on relationships, moves fast, and wants to be at the center of one of the most exciting technology frontiers of our time.
Responsibilities
- Activate and grow your network within the US quantum technology, low-temperature physics, and adjacent research communities (university labs, national labs, quantum hardware companies)
- Identify and qualify new opportunities by engaging researchers, procurement leads, and technology managers at target institutions
- Represent kiutra at US conferences, workshops, trade shows, and community events — building brand awareness and generating leads
- Generate qualified pipeline with deals from prospective customers to understand their research goals, technical requirements, and timelines; hand off qualified opportunities to the HQ sales team for technical scoping and deal closure
- Support proposal processes in collaboration with HQ, contributing US market context and customer relationships
- Feed market intelligence back to the product and marketing teams — what are US customers asking for, what competitors are they evaluating, what trends are emerging?
- Build kiutra's presence in key US communities, both in person and through professional networks (LinkedIn, conference communities, lab networks)
Requirements
- A degree in physics, quantum science & technology, engineering, or a related field (Master's or PhD preferred)
- An established professional network in the US quantum technology, low-temperature physics, national lab, or quantum hardware ecosystem — this is essential
- Genuine passion for cutting-edge science and the ability to speak credibly with researchers at the highest levels
- A proactive mentality: self-starting, and energized by building something from scratch
- Excellent communication skills — you can make complex technology accessible and build trust quickly
- Comfort with significant travel across the US & Canada to attend events, visit customer sites, and grow your presence in the community
- Prior experience in sales, business development, or customer-facing roles is a plus, but not required — the right network and scientific credibility matter more at this stage
Benefits
- The opportunity to shape kiutra's North American market presence from the ground up
- Dedicated onboarding at our Munich HQ to get deeply familiar with our technology, team, and customers
- Competitive salary with performance-based incentives (OTE structure)
- Regular performance reviews and long-term growth prospects
- Full medical, dental, vision, life & disability coverage
- 50% employer contribution toward dependent/family health premiums
- 401(k) with employer matching
- Generous PTO + paid holidays and more!
Interested? Then send us your application now!
To find out more about us, please visit https://kiutra.com/.
TECHNICAL & MARKET ANALYSIS | Appended by Quantum.Jobs
The structural maturation of the quantum hardware ecosystem necessitates a specialized tier of technical-commercial interface agents to bridge the gap between European deep-tech innovation and the North American research landscape. As the industry transitions from laboratory-scale proof-of-concepts to early-stage industrial piloting, the role of a Founding Business Development Engineer serves as a critical conduit for the deployment of enabling infrastructure. This function addresses a significant bottleneck in the "enabling technology" layer of the value chain, where cryogenic constraints often impede the scalability of quantum processors. By orchestrating the convergence of advanced magnetic cooling solutions and localized hardware development, this role ensures that cryogenic subsystems are integrated into regional research roadmaps. Market signals indicate that the ability to establish localized technical communities is becoming a primary determinant for organizations seeking to navigate the fragmented global quantum supply chain.
The global quantum ecosystem is currently navigating a period of rapid geographical diversification, characterized by the emergence of high-concentration regional hubs across North America. Within this environment, the cryogenic infrastructure domain represents a vital dependency for a variety of hardware modalities, including superconducting qubits and trapped ions. However, a persistent challenge remains in the synchronization of international technology providers with localized academic and national laboratory procurement cycles. Addressing this cross-continental gap requires a strategic emphasis on technical community-building that can leverage emerging infrastructure priorities in the U.S. and Canada.
Macro-level analysis of the quantum workforce reveals that while fundamental research continues to expand, a critical talent shortage exists at the intersection of low-temperature physics and commercial systems engineering. Organizations are increasingly shifting from central distribution models to decentralized, "founding" presence in key markets to manage the stakeholder landscape across universities and private hardware firms. This transition is driven by the need to provide on-site technical advocacy that can navigate the nuances of North American funding vehicles and collaborative research agreements.
Furthermore, the integration of modular, sustainable cooling solutions into existing quantum testbeds has become a strategic priority for reducing the operational complexity of cryogenic stacks. This trend favors the development of localized technical-commercial partnerships that can facilitate the rapid prototyping of new hardware architectures. As national quantum initiatives continue to pour capital into domestic manufacturing and research infrastructure, the industry's focus is pivoting toward establishing stable, long-term technical support networks that reduce the risks associated with international vendor dependencies and supply chain volatility.
The capability architecture for this role type centers on the integration of high-level scientific literacy with the mechanics of technical market entry. At the foundational layer, a deep mastery of cryogenic engineering and low-temperature physics is essential for ensuring that cooling solutions are architecturally compatible with diverse quantum hardware platforms. This technical proficiency is coupled with a deep understanding of the North American research ecosystem, where complex subtasks are embedded within broader multi-institutional collaborations. These capabilities are critical for the structural throughput of the hardware value chain, as they directly influence the adoption rate of specialized cooling technologies in high-stakes research environments.
Beyond purely technical advocacy, the role facilitates a high-level coupling between European engineering breakthroughs and the practical requirements of U.S.-based hardware developers. This interface ensures that advancements in magnetic cooling are translated into tangible system requirements that can be supported by evolving regional laboratory standards. By standardizing the feedback loop between the market and HQ-based R&D teams, these experts enable a level of operational readiness that allows organizations to navigate the transition toward industrial-grade quantum systems without disrupting existing research workflows. This strategic alignment is vital for maintaining the integrity of the technology stack as cooling requirements become more stringent.
Accelerates the deterministic progression of technology readiness levels for localized cryogenic infrastructure deployments
Mitigates systemic risks associated with international supply chain dependencies by establishing a dedicated regional technical presence
Facilitates the transition from fragmented laboratory procurement to standardized commercial-grade cooling solution adoption
Reduces integration friction for North American hardware developers through the deployment of sustainable magnetic cooling technologies
Strengthens the long-term competitive positioning of deep-tech firms by securing early-mover advantages in high-growth quantum hubs
Harmonizes abstract scientific cooling requirements with the practical constraints of scalable commercial quantum architectures
Optimizes the lifecycle of cryogenic subsystems through the development of localized technical support and feedback mechanisms
Supports the scaling of quantum hardware adoption by identifying high-impact infrastructure use cases across national labs
Shortens the time-to-market for quantum-ready hardware by ensuring early-stage alignment with regional cryogenic roadmaps
Improves the reliability of international research collaborations through the application of localized expertise and technical advocacy
Protects capital-intensive investments in quantum hardware by providing expert validation of specialized cooling infrastructure
Enables the strategic orchestration of commercial efforts across a diverse network of North American academic and industrial partners
Industry Tags: Cryogenic Infrastructure, Low Temperature Physics, Quantum Supply Chain, Magnetic Cooling, Business Development Engineering, Deep Tech Market Entry, North American Quantum Ecosystem, Hardware Enablement
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