Hardware Engineering Manager

About the role

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 Hardware Engineering Manager to lead the development of control systems hardware from board design through fabrication, assembly, bring-up, and integration into working instruments. This role combines people leadership with deep technical expertise in PCB fabrication and assembly, including a strong understanding of manufacturing capabilities, common failure modes, and design-for-manufacturability considerations. In this role, you will lead engineers responsible for hardware design and bring-up while serving as a key partner to fabrication houses and contract manufacturers. Success means translating engineering designs into reliable, high-quality hardware — driving vendor performance, troubleshooting manufacturing issues, and maintaining strong quality standards throughout the build process. This position reports to the VP of Control Systems & Software.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of hardware engineers responsible for PCB design, bring-up, and test of quantum control system instruments.
• Build and drive strong relationships with PCB fabrication and contract assembly vendors including managing quoting and lead times, and partnering to consistently hit quality and delivery targets.
• Lead root-cause investigation and corrective action when prototype boards come back with defects.
• Manage the product roadmap and subsystem delivery schedules for both commercial and research projects.
• Partner with design and test engineers on Design for Manufacturability (DFM) input during the design phase, catching manufacturability issues before a board ever reaches a vendor.
• Work closely with Atom Computing's quantum physicists, optical engineers, and hardware engineers to understand use cases and deliver hardware that addresses their needs.

Requirements

• BS, MS, or PhD in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering
• 10+ years of experience as a hardware engineer, including significant hands-on work with PCB fabrication and contract electronics assembly vendors specifically.
• 2+ years managing a team of engineers, including hiring, coaching, and performance management.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to lead a team delivering complex hardware projects from design through manufacturing.
• Deep working knowledge of PCB fabrication and assembly processes, capabilities, and common failure modes.
• Comfort working in a low-to-mid-volume, high-complexity build environment with applications to precision instruments, aerospace, photonics, or similar.
• Demonstrated experience with root-cause and corrective-action processes for hardware quality issues.

Skills

• Existing relationships with PCB fab houses or contract assembly shops in the Boulder area.
• Analog electronics design experience.
• RF electronics / software-defined radio experience.

Benefits

• Fully paid medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents.
• Unlimited paid time off.
• 401K company matching.
• Short- and long-term disability.
• FSA.
• Dependent care benefits.