Senior Systems Engineer

About the role

Join a world-class team of scientists, engineers, and business professionals to advance the state-of-the-art in quantum computing. As Senior Systems Engineer, you will serve as a technical integrator and architect across Atom Computing’s Research and Product Development programs, leading system definition, model-based engineering (MBSE), and risk management activities that bridge theory and applications, quantum engineering, control systems, optical engineering, software, and hardware disciplines.

Responsibilities

• System Definition & Requirements Management
  • Lead and formalize the existing functional and physical decomposition of current systems to augment the requirements blueprint.
  • Establish and maintain the requirements baseline, traceability matrices, and verification plans using industry standard tools.
  • Translate scientific objectives into verifiable system and subsystem performance requirements.
  • Manage change control processes for evolving architectures and requirements.
• Architecture & Design Integration
  • Develop and document system architecture, including subsystem interactions.
  • Produce system-level design documentation and interface control documents (ICDs).
  • Coordinate with modeling and simulation teams to evaluate performance trade-offs and scalability of quantum system architectures.
• Risk Management & Technical Planning
  • Identify, quantify, and track technical risks, opportunities, and mitigations.
  • Support development of risk registers and FMEA/FMECA for design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, SIR, ORR).
  • Contribute to the ongoing development of Atom Computing’s Systems Engineering Management Plan.
• Integration, Verification, and Validation (IV&V)
  • Develop and coordinate the Verification and Validation (V&V) plans, linking test protocols to system-level requirements (traceability).
  • Working with Quantum Engineering & Theory, oversee definition of system-level test protocols.
  • Participate in system integration reviews and readiness assessments to ensure technical maturity and risk reduction.
• Collaboration & Communication
  • Act as technical liaison between Theory, Quantum Engineering, Hardware, Software, Controls, and Optical Engineering.
  • Support customer interactions, including government program reviews, technical interchange meetings, and milestone reporting.

Requirements

• BS or higher in Systems Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of systems engineering experience in complex, multidisciplinary R&D or production environments (quantum, aerospace, defense, advanced computing, or similar).
• Proven ability to lead requirements development, interface control, and V&V planning across engineering and science disciplines.
• Experience with model-based systems engineering (MBSE) tools and configuration management systems.
• Strong understanding of system lifecycle processes.
• Demonstrated experience with risk management frameworks.
• Experience supporting government-funded research or procurement programs (DoD, DoE, DoC).

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in engineering, physics, or a related discipline.
• Familiarity with quantum computing, atomic, and optical (AMO) physics, or control system integration.
• Experience preparing and presenting SRR/PDR/CDR artifacts.
• Knowledge of reliability engineering, fault-tolerant architectures, and data-driven verification.

Benefits

• Fully paid medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their dependents.
• Unlimited paid time off.
• 401K company matching.
• Short- and long-term disability, FSA, dependent care benefits, and life insurance.
• Drinks, snacks, and catered team lunches in the office daily.

Pay

The base salary range for this position is $140,000 - $160,000, commensurate with experience. In addition to salary, we offer an annual bonus and equity in the company.