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, engineering, and business professionals to advance the state-of-the-art in quantum computing.
We're looking for a Mechanical Engineer to join our Opto-Mechanical Engineering team to focus on designing the physical systems that house, protect, and connect our Control Systems and associated electronic products - from enclosures and chassis to thermal management and cabling. You'll work closely with electrical, firmware, and systems engineers to turn functional requirements into manufacturable, reliable hardware, primarily for 19" rack-mount and other pluggable instrumentation form factors.
This is a hands-on mechanical design role covering the full product lifecycle: concept, CAD modeling, analysis, prototyping, and production support.
This position is located in Boulder, Colorado, and will report to the Opto-Mechanical Engineering Manager.
\n
Responsibilities
- Design enclosures, heat sinks, shields, cabling, chassis, and front panels for rack-mount and pluggable instrumentation products
- Create and maintain detailed CAD models, assemblies, and drawings
- Perform thermal and airflow analysis to ensure components stay within operating temperature limits under real-world conditions
- Designing in sheet metal, extrusions, and machined parts as well as rapid prototyping (3D printing and other quick turn methods)
- Assist with connector and cable analysis and design; assess board and front panel space requirements and density, cable routing and restrictions, etc
- Conduct tolerance studies (GD&T-based) to ensure fit, function, and manufacturability across assemblies
- Collaborate with electrical engineers to integrate PCBs, power supplies, and wiring into mechanical packaging
- Support design reviews, prototyping, testing, and validation (thermal, structural, EMI/EMC as applicable)
- Work with manufacturing, suppliers, and operations to ensure designs transition smoothly from prototype to production
Experience & Education
- BS in Mechanical Engineering
- 5+ years of mechanical engineering design experience relatable to instrument design
Required Qualifications
- Proficiency with CAD and simulation tools; SolidWorks and Ansys (e.g., Icepak, Mechanical, Fluent) preferred, though familiarity with similar CAD/FEA/CFD tools will also be considered
- Experience working with mechanical fixtures for PCBs (supports, integration fixtures, multi-board design with FMC or other board-to-board mating interfaces, heat sinks, shields, connectors, etc)
- Solid understanding of thermal management for electronics: heat sink design, airflow/CFD analysis, and component-level cooling
- Mechanical drawing and GD&T per ASME Y14.5M, tolerance stack analysis
- Experience with sheet metal design, fabrication methods, and cable/harness design
- Ability to work cross-functionally with electrical and systems engineers to balance mechanical, thermal, and electrical constraints
- Robust packaging of sensitive systems for shipping or extreme environments
- Comfortable moving between early-stage concept work and detailed production-ready design
Desired Qualifications
- Familiarity with pluggable instrumentation standards such as MicroTCA, PXI, VPX, or similar and modular PCB form factors, such as FMC
- Experience with RF shielding, EMI/EMC design considerations
- Experience with electronics test fixture design
- Exposure to test & measurement or precision instrumentation products
- Experience supporting products through sustainment/value engineering after initial release
- Familiarity with PLM and PDM tools
\n
$140,000 - $164,989 a year
\n
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 $140,000 - $165,000 annually, commensurate with experience. In addition to salary, we offer an annual bonus and equity in the company.
QUANTUM ROLE CONTEXT | Appended by Quantum.Jobs v2
Role context:
This role exists to design and integrate protective mechanical structures and environmental management systems for complex instrumentation hardware. Positioned within an opto-mechanical engineering function, the role operates at the intersection of electrical design, thermal management, and physical fabrication. Engineers in this capacity translate architectural requirements into manufacturable, rack-mountable hardware enclosures. By managing the end-to-end product lifecycle, professionals in this position ensure sensitive control systems and electronic assemblies maintain physical stability and operational compliance across diverse laboratory and deployment environments.
Quantum ecosystem relevance:
Instrumentation hardware roles supply enabling infrastructure necessary for controlling and stabilizing physical quantum processing platforms. Quantum computing architectures rely on precise electronic control systems that require robust enclosures, managed thermal dissipation, and electrical shielding. By developing reliable packaging and cabling solutions for control hardware, mechanical engineers help maintain signal integrity and environmental control. This work enables experimental quantum hardware to transition into modular, reproducible, and commercially deployable instrumentation stacks suitable for enterprise compute facilities.
Capability signals:
- Extensive background in mechanical design and full product lifecycle engineering for hardware
- Proficiency with 3D CAD modeling and finite element thermal analysis software tools
- Expertise in electronic thermal management, heat sink optimization, and active airflow design
- Knowledge of tolerance stackup analysis, geometric dimensioning, and precision fabrication standards
- Practical experience integrating print circuit boards, cabling, and custom sheet metal chassis
