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.
We are seeking a Principal Technical Program Manager who will manage operation and upgrades of existing neutral atom quantum computing hardware as well as a portfolio of research projects that advance the Atom Computing roadmap.
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Job Responsibilities:
- Provide program management for operation and upgrades of existing neutral atom quantum computing hardware
- Manage a portfolio of research projects to advance the Atom Computing roadmap and deliver on capabilities needed for future system generations
- Collaborate with scientific, engineering, and business owners to define program requirements, set priorities, and establish engineering execution plans to meet the requirements.
- Manage cross functional dependencies, risks, and changes effectively by optimizing scope, schedule, and resources accordingly.
- Partner with cross functional teams to drive technical analysis, design, development, testing, implementation, and post implementation phases.
- Define and track key metrics and key quality and performance indicators and drive cross functional execution of program deliverables.
- Develop and own communication plans to effectively and proactively communicate program status, issues, and risks to stakeholders.
- Proactively identify and analyze complex technical problems with engineering leaders and stakeholders to find solutions.
- Advise on the Atom Computing roadmap as informed by progress of existing hardware and advanced research projects
- Work with technical managers and other program managers to balance the time of the technical team in pursuit of advanced tech and main processor line development
- Support grant applications relating to the project portfolio and advise on other applications as needed
- Collaborate with partners who can help Atom Computing achieve its advanced technology goals
Experience & Education:
- BS, MS, or PhD in engineering, physics, or a related field.
- 10+ years’ experience of systems engineering, quantum, and/or R&D program management experience at multi-disciplinary, deep tech companies
Qualifications:
- Program management experience in advanced technology
- Technical expertise in quantum computing and AMO physics or ability and willingness to learn
- Documented history of delivering early-stage deep tech programs or products from inception to delivery.
- Experience operating autonomously across multiple teams, demonstrating critical thinking and thought leadership.
- Experience working with technical management teams to develop systems, solutions, and products.
- Organizational, coordination, and multi-tasking expertise.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills involving large-scale systems.
- Strong interpersonal skills and commitment to teamwork
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Atom Computing provides a wide variety of perks and benefits, including fully paid medical,
dental, and vision insurance for our employees and their dependents. Additionally, unlimited paid time off, 401K company matching, short- and long-term disability, FSA, dependent care benefits, and life insurance. We also offer drinks, snacks, and catered team lunches in our offices, every day!
The base salary range for this position is between $175,000 - $200,000, commensurate with experience. In addition to salary, we offer an annual bonus and equity in the company.
TECHNICAL & MARKET ANALYSIS | Appended by Quantum.Jobs
The role of a Principal TPM in quantum hardware represents the critical transition from lab-scale experimentation to industrial systems engineering. As quantum modalities like neutral atom arrays mature, the ecosystem requires specialized orchestrators to manage the high-fidelity integration of laser cooling, vacuum systems, and optical control stacks. This role ensures the structural throughput of R&D portfolios, bridging the gap between theoretical physics breakthroughs and the delivery of reliable, scalable hardware. By navigating complex cross-functional dependencies, this function mitigates the systemic risks associated with scaling deep-tech architectures toward fault tolerance. Market signals from the Quantum Economic Development Consortium indicate that such leadership is pivotal for organizations moving beyond NISQ-era benchmarks into commercial-grade reliability. This structural layer of management converts scientific progress into predictable technology roadmaps, securing the foundation for enterprise-level quantum adoption.
The quantum computing landscape is undergoing a decisive shift from feasibility studies to the engineering of high-availability systems. While various modalities compete for dominance, the emergence of neutral atom platforms has highlighted a specific need for systems-level orchestration that can handle the complexity of hundreds or thousands of individually controlled qubits. The industrialization of these platforms necessitates a pivot from pure research toward rigorous technical program management that synchronizes multi-disciplinary workflows across photonics, electronics, and software control.
Workforce scarcity is particularly acute at the intersection of Atomic, Molecular, and Optical physics and large-scale systems engineering. As national quantum strategies prioritize the development of fault-tolerant machines, the bottleneck has shifted from theoretical algorithmic development to the practical reliability and upgrade cycles of physical hardware. Infrastructure dependencies, such as the global supply chain for specialized cryogenic and optical components, further complicate the deterministic delivery of technology roadmaps.
Integration with classical high-performance computing environments requires that quantum hardware developers adopt institutional-grade execution models. The fragmentation of the software stack and the lack of standardized benchmarking protocols place a premium on roles that can drive interoperability and cross-platform verification. Current industry focus lies on bridging classical and quantum capabilities at scale, ensuring that hardware upgrades do not disrupt the broader application enablement layer. As public and private funding cycles demand higher technology readiness levels, the role of technical program leadership becomes the primary mechanism for maintaining competitive momentum and ensuring that research outputs are successfully translated into scalable commercial assets.
The capability architecture for this role type centers on the synchronization of advanced physics requirements with the protocols of industrial systems engineering. Mastery of the hardware-software interface is essential for ensuring that upgrades to optical tweezer arrays or Rydberg interaction controls are implemented without compromising system stability or qubit coherence times. This requires a deep understanding of the integration points between control electronics, laser subsystems, and the high-level software orchestration layer that manages quantum-classical hybrid workflows.
These capabilities are fundamental to the throughput of deep-tech organizations, as they enable the parallelization of advanced research projects alongside the maintenance of operational systems. By establishing rigorous engineering execution plans and tracking metrics for performance indicators, this function provides the leverage needed to scale qubit counts while maintaining high-fidelity gate operations. Furthermore, the ability to manage complex cross-functional dependencies—ranging from vacuum integrity to error mitigation algorithms—ensures that the hardware evolution remains aligned with the broader roadmap for fault-tolerant computing. Such expertise reduces the iteration friction between experimental physics and scalable product delivery, which is critical for long-term interoperability within the emerging quantum cloud ecosystem. - Accelerates the deterministic transition from laboratory-scale prototypes to industrial-grade neutral atom quantum processors
- Mitigates systemic execution risks within the deep-tech value chain by synchronizing multi-disciplinary engineering cycles
- Facilitates the integration of quantum hardware into standardized high-performance computing infrastructures for hybrid processing
- Strengthens the reliability of technology roadmaps through the implementation of rigorous systems-level benchmarking and verification
- Reduces iteration friction between fundamental research and the deployment of scalable quantum control architectures
- Optimizes the allocation of specialized technical talent across hardware maintenance and next-generation system development portfolios
- Enhances the stability of global quantum supply chains by providing predictable requirement frameworks for specialized components
- Supports the scaling of qubit architectures by managing the complex dependencies of large-scale optical and electronic control stacks
- Improves the transparency of technology readiness level progression for stakeholders in the investment and policy sectors
- Enables the structural reproducibility of quantum experiments through the standardization of hardware upgrade and operation protocols
- Protects high-capital R\&D investments by ensuring alignment between scientific breakthroughs and commercial scalability requirements
- Orchestrates the convergence of academic research pathways with the practical demands of enterprise-ready quantum cloud servicesIndustry Tags: Neutral Atom Computing, Quantum Systems Engineering, Technology Readiness Levels, AMO Physics Integration, Deep Tech Program Management, Fault Tolerant Computing, Quantum Roadmap Orchestration, Hardware Scalability, R&D Value Chain
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