R

Rigetti

Cloud-based quantum computing platform provider

Senior Mechanical Engineer - Cryogenic

Full-Time
$165k - $190k/yr
Senior
Bachelor's, Master's
Berkeley, CA, USA
Hybrid
Mechanical EngineeringDesign Engineering

About the job

Requirements
  • A B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering or a related field is required, with an M.S. preferred.
  • At least 7 years of experience designing complex mechanical or electromechanical systems with end-to-end hardware ownership.
  • Expert-level proficiency in SolidWorks, including large assemblies, GD&T-compliant drawing packages, and design-for-manufacturability workflows.
  • Independent proficiency in SolidWorks and COMSOL or ANSYS for thermal and structural analysis.
  • Experience with hardware operating in cryogenic, vacuum, or extreme thermal environments.
  • Strong mechanical engineering fundamentals, including stress analysis, tolerance stack-ups, materials selection, and failure mode analysis.
  • Ability to lead technical efforts and collaborate across multidisciplinary teams.
Responsibilities
  • Own the mechanical design of cryogenic hardware from 300 K to millikelvin, including thermal anchoring, RF wiring, flex interconnects, coaxial routing, filter housings, and connector packaging across all temperature stages.
  • Lead the full design lifecycle from concept through CAD, GD&T drawings, BOMs, tolerance analysis, prototype builds, qualification testing, and manufacturing release.
  • Define cryogenic mechanical interfaces and thermal conduction budgets, and drive design-for-manufacturability with external machine shops and precision vendors.
  • Perform mechanical, thermal, and vibration analyses independently using COMSOL, ANSYS, or equivalent, and use simulation results to drive design decisions and iteration.
  • Conduct tolerance stack-up analyses for multi-component assemblies in constrained cryostat environments.
  • Lead prototype builds, system integration, and cryogenic bring-up; diagnose integration failures and drive root cause analysis.
  • Serve as the mechanical lead in cross-functional programs alongside quantum physicists, RF engineers, and systems teams; mentor junior engineers and lead design reviews.
  • Maintain CAD models, drawings, BOMs, and revision-controlled design records within the company PLM system.
Desired Qualifications
  • Direct experience with dilution refrigerators, cryostats, or sub-Kelvin systems in quantum computing or precision instrumentation.
  • Knowledge of superconducting quantum hardware architecture and millikelvin design constraints.
  • RF/microwave packaging experience, including connector specification, hermetic sealing, and cable routing in cryostats.
  • Familiarity with cleanroom protocols, vacuum-compatible assembly, and contamination-sensitive environments.

About the company

Rigetti Computing provides access to quantum computing resources through a cloud platform. It builds quantum processors called quantum processing units (QPUs) that use superconducting qubits to run quantum algorithms remotely. Customers, including researchers, government clients, and businesses, can subscribe to the service to run simulations and algorithms without buying hardware, with some projects combining quantum and classical AI to improve tasks like weather forecasting. What sets Rigetti apart is its emphasis on a cloud-based, subscription model and its work on hybrid quantum-classical machine learning, aiming to make quantum computing practical for real-world problems rather than selling standalone hardware. The company’s goal is to broaden access to quantum computing and apply it to complex challenges such as optimization, drug discovery, and advanced modeling.

Company Size

51-200

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Berkeley, California

Founded

2013

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Rigetti signed a $100 million Commerce award on September 8, 2026.
  • C-DAC’s $8.4 million 108-qubit order targets second-half 2026 deployment in Bengaluru.
  • Q2 2026 revenue rose 185% to $5.1 million, with $541.3 million cash and no debt.

What critics are saying

  • Q2 2026 operating loss reached $28.1 million against $5.1 million revenue.
  • September 2026 Commerce funding takes a minority equity stake, adding dilution pressure.
  • Rigetti faces existential failure if 2026 deliveries slip and 2027 revenues stay in millions.

What makes Rigetti unique

  • Rigetti’s chiplet-based superconducting architecture powers Cepheus-1-108Q, launched April 2026.
  • Rigetti is one of three gate-based systems above 100 qubits, alongside IBM and Google.
  • Rigetti sells hardware, cloud access, and HPC workflows through HPE and PSC, July 2026.

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Benefits

401k

Equity grant

Medical, dental & vision

Performance-based bonuses

Flexible PTO

Fitness reimbursement

Parental leave

FSA & commuter benefits

EAP

Flexible work schedule

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

2%

1 year growth

1%

2 year growth

0%
Yahoo Finance
Oct 14th, 2026
BigBear.ai vs Rigetti: why the $127.7M-revenue AI firm beats the quantum stock for 2026

A Motley Fool comparison of BigBear.ai and Rigetti Computing favours BigBear.ai, though it calls neither stock a comfortable pick. BigBear.ai's 2025 revenue fell 19.3% to nearly $127.7 million, with a net loss of about $293.9 million. US government entities made up nearly 51% of its revenue. Rigetti's revenue fell 34.3% to nearly $7.1 million, with a net loss of about $216.2 million. Public sector contracts made up nearly 90.2% of its revenue. BigBear.ai trades at 8.7 times sales, against 321.9 times for Rigetti. The author prefers BigBear.ai for its growing customer base, more than 20 new contracts, and expanding gross margins. Second-quarter 2026 revenue rose 13% year over year.

CONGRESS.NET
Sep 26th, 2026
IonQ (IONQ), Rigetti (RGTI), and D-Wave (QBTS) face off in A high-stakes Quantum computing survival race.

IonQ (IONQ), Rigetti (RGTI), and D-Wave (QBTS) face off in A high-stakes Quantum computing survival race. Quantum computing stocks have generated enormous investor excitement, but the underlying financials tell a more complicated story about long-term viability. Rigetti Computing (RGTI), D-Wave Quantum (QBTS), and IonQ (IONQ) rank among the most closely watched names in the sector, with share prices surging dramatically over the past three years. Despite the enthusiasm, most of these companies still report lackluster sales figures, and rising operational costs continue to raise serious questions about their staying power. IonQ stands out most clearly from the pack, having reported second-quarter revenue of $80.1 million, representing a staggering 287% increase from the same period a year earlier. A portion of that dramatic revenue jump stems from IonQ's recent acquisition of SkyWater Technology, a chip foundry business, though organic sales are also trending upward independently. IonQ's management estimates that organic revenue alone will double for the full calendar year 2026, a milestone that would signal genuine commercial momentum beyond acquisition-driven growth. Total sales for IonQ, including both acquisitions and organic growth, are projected to reach an estimated $455 million this year, a figure that would dwarf its smaller rivals. With cash and cash equivalents of $3 billion on hand, IonQ faces little immediate risk of running short on capital needed to fund continued expansion and research. Rigetti Computing (RGTI) posted impressive second-quarter revenue growth of 185%, but the raw dollar figure of just $5.1 million highlights how early-stage the company's commercial operations remain. Rigetti's CEO Subodh Kulkarni acknowledged the situation plainly, stating that "commercial revenue remains early" and suggesting it could be several more years before the technology reaches meaningful commercial scale. On the positive side, Rigetti is entirely debt-free and holds $541 million in cash reserves, giving the company a reasonable runway to continue developing its technology without immediate financial pressure. Rigetti also recently expanded its collaboration with Hewlett-Packard and the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center, a partnership that could help accelerate its technical progress and market credibility. D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) delivered one of the more eye-catching data points in the sector, with bookings surging 1,120% in the second quarter to reach $35.5 million. That extraordinary bookings growth signals strong and growing customer interest in D-Wave's products and services, though converting that interest into recognized revenue has proven more difficult. Taken together, IonQ's combination of rapidly growing sales, a massive cash position, and expanding acquisition strategy makes it the most credibly positioned of the three for long-term survival.

Yahoo Finance
Sep 25th, 2026
IonQ's NVIDIA quantum tie-up puts spotlight on Rigetti's $13.35M revenue base and government contracts

IonQ announced it will deploy its Superion 256 quantum processor at NVIDIA's Accelerated Quantum Research Center, highlighting integration between quantum and AI infrastructure. The move has drawn attention to competitor Rigetti Computing. Rigetti's investment case centres on early quantum hardware adoption backed by government and research customers. The company generated $13.35 million in annual revenue but remains unprofitable. Analysts note the IonQ-NVIDIA partnership reinforces Rigetti's existing thesis rather than creating new near-term catalysts. Key drivers include CHIPS Act milestone execution and ramping deployments of its Cepheus and Novera systems. Community fair value estimates for Rigetti range widely from below $1 to $40 per share. The company carries a Zacks Rank of 5, reflecting valuation concerns alongside recent share price volatility and insider selling.

MarketBeat
Sep 24th, 2026
Rigetti Computing (NASDAQ:RGTI) stock price up 3.1% - should you buy?

Rigetti Computing (NASDAQ:RGTI) stock price up 3.1% - should you buy? September 24, 2026 Key points. * RGTI rose 3.1% to $16.50, largely tracking a broader rebound in quantum-computing stocks after positive developments from IonQ and NVIDIA rather than a Rigetti-specific announcement. * Significant risks remain: Rigetti is a small, cash-burning company with substantial losses, high volatility and potential dilution concerns; recent insider selling has also weighed on sentiment. * Analyst views are mixed, with a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $30.67, despite some firms maintaining bullish ratings and $40 targets. * MarketBeat previews top five stocks to own in October. Rigetti Computing, Inc. (NASDAQ:RGTI - Get Free Report) shot up 3.1% during mid-day trading on Thursday. The stock traded as high as $16.60 and last traded at $16.50. 18,776,705 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 38% from the average daily volume of 30,400,762 shares. The stock had previously closed at $16.00. Rigetti Computing news summary. Here are the key news stories impacting Rigetti Computing this week: * Quantum-sector rebound lifts RGTI: Rigetti shares are benefiting from renewed buying across quantum-computing stocks after IonQ reported an error-decoding breakthrough and announced progress involving its Superion system and NVIDIA's research ecosystem. The gains appear to be primarily sector-driven rather than tied to a new Rigetti-specific announcement. * Investor interest remains elevated: Recent advances at IonQ and broader optimism about quantum-computing commercialization have encouraged speculative buying in peers including RGTI, D-Wave Quantum, and other early-stage technology companies. * High volatility remains central to the story: RGTI has fallen roughly 49% over the past year from its prior peak and recently closed at $16.01 after declining more than the broader market. The sharp swings reflect continued uncertainty about the company's long-term technology and commercial prospects. * Fundamental and valuation risks continue to weigh on the stock: Analysts and commentators question whether Rigetti's share price is adequately supported by its book value, while the company remains a small, cash-burning business with significant losses. Government funding may also involve milestones, performance requirements, and potential shareholder dilution. * Competitive comparisons are unfavorable: Coverage contrasting Rigetti with Cerebras highlights Rigetti's cash burn and limited revenue base versus a larger, faster-growing, profitable competitor. Reports of insider selling across the quantum group have also added to investor caution. Analysts set new price targets. A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on RGTI. Zacks Research lowered Rigetti Computing from a "hold" rating to a "strong sell" rating in a report on Wednesday, August 19th. Weiss Ratings downgraded shares of Rigetti Computing from a "sell (d-)" rating to a "sell (e+)" rating in a report on Thursday, September 17th. Jefferies Financial Group restated a "hold" rating and set a $18.00 price objective on shares of Rigetti Computing in a research note on Friday, August 7th. Rosenblatt Securities reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $40.00 price objective on shares of Rigetti Computing in a research note on Friday, August 7th. Finally, Wedbush began coverage on shares of Rigetti Computing in a report on Monday, August 3rd. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $40.00 price target on the stock. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $30.67. Discover more Stock Market Holidays Stock Market News Market Data Access Rigetti Computing trading up 3.1%. The firm's fifty day simple moving average is $15.97 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $17.54. The company has a market capitalization of $5.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -18.33 and a beta of 2.00. Rigetti Computing (NASDAQ:RGTI - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 6th. The company reported ($0.05) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of ($0.05). The firm had revenue of $5.14 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.09 million. Rigetti Computing had a negative return on equity of 17.50% and a negative net margin of 2,189.54%. As a group, analysts forecast that Rigetti Computing, Inc. will post -0.27 EPS for the current fiscal year. Insider buying and selling at Rigetti Computing. In other news, CFO Jeffrey A. Bertelsen sold 25,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $15.00, for a total transaction of $375,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 168,067 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,521,005. This represents a 12.95% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CTO Andrew Bestwick sold 5,791 shares of Rigetti Computing stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $16.81, for a total value of $97,346.71. Following the transaction, the chief technology officer directly owned 1,036,121 shares of the company's stock, valued at $17,417,194.01. This trade represents a 0.56% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. In the last three months, insiders have sold 163,689 shares of company stock valued at $2,570,890. 1.60% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Institutional investors weigh in on Rigetti Computing. Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Rigetti Computing by 5.2% in the 2nd quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 65,906 shares of the company's stock worth $1,273,000 after buying an additional 3,283 shares during the last quarter. Tidal Investments LLC purchased a new stake in Rigetti Computing during the second quarter valued at about $365,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Rigetti Computing by 16.8% in the second quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 76,752 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,483,000 after buying an additional 11,058 shares during the period. IFP Advisors Inc raised its stake in shares of Rigetti Computing by 85.5% in the 2nd quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 12,784 shares of the company's stock valued at $247,000 after acquiring an additional 5,892 shares during the period. Finally, Allworth Financial LP boosted its position in shares of Rigetti Computing by 116.0% in the second quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 9,987 shares of the company's stock worth $193,000 after buying an additional 5,363 shares during the period. 35.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Rigetti Computing. Rigetti Computing, Inc is a quantum computing company that develops full-stack quantum computing systems based on superconducting qubit technology. The company designs and manufactures quantum processors, develops the software needed to program and operate them, and provides access to its systems through cloud-based services. Rigetti's offerings include its quantum processing units and integrated quantum computing systems, as well as the Rigetti Quantum Cloud Services platform. Through cloud access and partnerships, organizations can experiment with quantum algorithms and explore potential applications in areas such as optimization, simulation, machine learning and other computationally intensive fields. This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected]. Before you consider Rigetti Computing, you'll want to hear this. MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Rigetti Computing wasn't on the list. While Rigetti Computing currently has a Hold rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys. Tesla, Nvidia, and Google helped shape the last era of market growth, but the next wave could come from a new group of companies. Inside this report, you'll find 7 stocks that could play a major role in the next tech-driven market boom. Continue following MarketBeat

CONGRESS.NET
Sep 19th, 2026
Rigetti Computing (RGTI) trades at 399 times sales - here is what buyers need to believe.

Rigetti Computing (RGTI) trades at 399 times sales - here is what buyers need to believe. Rigetti Computing (RGTI) sells quantum computing systems into a market its own management describes as early, making a straightforward investment case nearly impossible to construct. Traditional valuation tools like price-to-earnings ratios are useless here because Rigetti continues to lose money, leaving investors with few conventional anchors. The more useful measure is the price-to-sales multiple, which divides a company's market value by its last twelve months of revenue. RGTI currently trades at 399 times sales, compared to just 3.1 times for the S&P 500, meaning sales would need to grow roughly 129 times from current levels to close that gap at today's share price. Revenue remains counted in millions rather than billions, which is why the multiple looks enormous rather than merely elevated. The recent directional trend, however, offers some encouragement, as management reported second-quarter 2026 revenue of about $5.1 million, up from $1.8 million a year earlier, driven by on-premises Novera QPU sales. Gross margin also improved to approximately 43% in the quarter, up from 31% in the prior year period, suggesting the unit economics are gradually moving in the right direction. The longer revenue record is less flattering, with Rigetti's sales contracting at an average annual rate of about 2.4% over the last three years, slipping from $14.4 million to $13.4 million, while the S&P 500 grew revenues at a 5.8% annual clip. Management attributed the uneven revenue profile to the timing of system deliveries and government-funded project milestones, both of which can create lumpy, unpredictable recognition patterns. Profitability remains a significant concern, with the operating margin over the last twelve months sitting at -728%, compared to a positive 18.6% for the S&P 500, while operating expenses reached $30.3 million in the most recent quarter. Shares currently trade at $15.99, which is already 72% below the 52-week high of $56.34, and the stock lost 20.0% over the last twelve months while the S&P 500 gained 17.0%. RGTI also carries above-average downside volatility, having fallen 32% peak to trough during the 2025 US tariff shock, compared to a 19.0% decline for the broader index during the same period. The liquidity position does provide some cushion, as management said the company ended the second quarter with about $541.3 million in cash, cash equivalents, and available-for-sale investments, while continuing to operate with no debt. The competitive argument management offers is specific and notable: only three gate-based quantum systems above 100 qubits exist in the world, located at IBM, Google, and Rigetti respectively. Management also argues that its chiplet-based architecture represents a more practical path to 1,000 qubits than monolithic designs, though coherence time remains the primary constraint on gate fidelity. On the funding side, a key uncertainty was resolved when the company finalized a $100 million definitive agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce under the CHIPS Act in September 2026. A concrete near-term catalyst also exists in the form of an $8.4 million C-DAC order for a 108-qubit system in India, which management expects to recognize as revenue in the fourth quarter of 2026. Management is additionally targeting a median two-qubit gate fidelity of approximately 99.5% on its Cepheus-1-108Q system later in 2026, a technical milestone that could influence how the market prices future growth. Investors willing to buy RGTI today at 399 times sales are, in effect, betting that those technical and commercial milestones materialize faster than the current revenue trajectory would suggest. Whether that bet is rational depends entirely on how much weight a buyer places on the architecture argument versus the hard math of what each dollar of current sales actually costs.