Systems Engineer

Job description

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 Systems Engineer to gather, integrate, and track requirements, risks, and timelines for future generations of Atom Computing systems. In this role, you will serve as a technical integrator across Atom Computing’s Research, system development, and Product Development programs. Reporting to the VP of Research Programs, you will enable the translation of scientific objectives and experimental results into system requirements, architectures, interfaces, performance budgets, integration plans, and verification evidence. The ideal candidate can apply disciplined systems engineering practices while supporting the rapid iteration and uncertainty inherent with evolving technologies. ### Job Responsibilities #### System Definition & Requirements Management - Develop and maintain the functional and physical decomposition of Atom’s quantum computing systems, subsystems, and critical technologies. - Contribute to 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. #### System Architecture & Design Integration - Define and manage system performance budgets across fidelity, timing, throughput, reliability, power, space and thermal performance. - Develop and maintain 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, dependencies, assumptions, and mitigations - Support development of risk registers and FMEA/FMECA for design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, MRR, SIR, ORR) - Contribute to the ongoing development of Atom Computing’s Systems Engineering Management Plan. #### Integration, Verification, and Validation (IV&V) - Develop and coordinate IV&V plans, linking test protocols to system requirements - Oversee system-level test protocols with Quantum Engineering & Theory - Track verification status, test evidence, limitations, and requirements closure - Participate in system integration reviews and readiness assessments #### Collaboration & Communication - Act as technical liaison between Theory, Quantum Engineering, Hardware, Software, Controls, and Optical Engineering - Communicate system-level technical status, risks, decisions, and dependencies to quantum engineering, engineering and program leadership. - Support customer interactions, including government program reviews, technical interchange meetings, and milestone reporting. - Prepare and present system architecture, requirements, risk, integration, and verification artifacts for internal and external design reviews. ### Experience & Education - BS or higher in Systems Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering or a related field - 2+ years of systems engineering experience in complex, multidisciplinary R&D or production environments (quantum, aerospace, defense, advanced computing, or similar) ### Qualifications #### Required - Proven ability to lead requirements development, interface control, and V&V planning across engineering and science disciplines - Experience with systems engineering tools, configuration management systems, and engineering change control practices. - Strong understanding of system lifecycle processes, integration, verification, and technical reviews. - Demonstrated experience with risk management frameworks #### Preferred - Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in engineering, physics, or a related discipline - Familiarity with quantum computing, atomic, and optical (AMO) physics, control system integration, or FPGA/ASIC development cycles. - Experience preparing and presenting SRR/PDR/CDR/TRR/SIR/ORR artifacts - Knowledge of reliability engineering, fault-tolerant architectures, and data-driven verification. - Experience supporting government-funded research or procurement programs (DoD, DoE, DoC, DARPA)