Field Engineer: Cryogenics & RF Hardware
Rigetti
Field Engineer: Cryogenics & RF Hardware
Rigetti
Cloud-based quantum computing platform provider
Salary Range: 115000 to 140000 (Currency: USD) (Pay period: per-year-salary)
Rigetti Computing is building the world’s most powerful computers to help solve humanity’s most pressing problems. Our quantum computing technology has the potential to transform nearly every industry over the coming decades. As a public company with deep roots in research and engineering, we are expanding our Engineering Operations team to support rapid advances in quantum hardware.
We are seeking an experienced Cryogenics and RF Field Engineer to support Rigetti systems deployed at customer facilities around the world. This is a hands-on, operations-focused role that travels to customer sites globally, working closely with both Rigetti teams and customer stakeholders in a highly collaborative, research-driven environment. The role is not tied to a single site — you'll be deployed to wherever Rigetti systems are installed, with assignments varying in length and location based on program needs.
In this role, you will work closely with physicists, engineers, and technicians to operate, maintain, and troubleshoot advanced RF and cryogenic systems that enable next-generation quantum processors. You will be responsible for ensuring reliable system performance in a production-like environment, including direct ownership of cryogenic infrastructure, RF hardware validation, and rapid debugging of complex, cross-disciplinary issues spanning RF, vacuum, cryogenics, and electronics.
The ideal candidate brings deep laboratory experience with R&D hardware, has worked in customer-facing or field-deployed environments, is comfortable with international travel and working across time zones and cultures, and has direct hands-on experience operating and debugging dilution refrigerators.
Test, validate, and debug custom RF control systems using advanced electronic test equipment such as network analyzers, oscilloscopes, DMMs, and internally developed tools
Operate, monitor, and debug dilution refrigerators, including cooldowns, steady-state operation, and fault diagnosis
Operate, troubleshoot and service cryogenic and vacuum systems, including scroll pumps, turbo pumps, cryo compressors, high-vacuum components, and cold traps
Perform helium leak detection, pump rebuilds, and thermal system management
Assemble, validate, and install complex electro-mechanical, cryogenic, vacuum, and RF assemblies with exceptional attention to detail
Contribute to test plan development and execute validation testing for next-generation RF hardware
Participate in an on-call rotation to support system uptime in a customer-facing environment, potentially spanning multiple time zones
Prepare, inspect, and package quantum chip assemblies for testing
Follow established procedures and contribute to the creation and improvement of standard operating procedures and best practices
Read and interpret CAD drawings, schematics, and engineering specifications
Work directly with customer teams across different regions to support system operation, issue resolution, and ongoing optimization
Navigate logistics of international travel, including customs/import considerations for tools and equipment, visas, and site-specific access requirements
35+% travel required, including international travel to customer sites; frequency and destinations will vary by program
Technical background in Physics, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent industrial experience (MS or PhD a plus)
Strong proficiency with general-purpose electronic test equipment (oscilloscopes, network analyzers, multimeters, DC power supplies, etc.)
Direct, hands-on experience operating and troubleshooting dilution refrigerators (required)
Substantial hands-on experience working with sub-Kelvin cryogenic systems
Experience operating and maintaining high-availability laboratory or industrial equipment
Experience assembling, servicing, and maintaining scientific instruments or complex electro-mechanical systems
Familiarity with vacuum systems, vacuum plumbing, P&IDs, and standard fittings and practices; strong experience in vacuum equipment assembly and debug using helium leak detection
Working knowledge of statistical methods for test and validation (e.g., DOE, Six Sigma, simulation)
Attention to detail in documentation (writing and following Work Instructions and Standard Operating Procedures) plus excellent written and verbal communication skills
Experience working with external vendors, partners, or customers across different regions and cultural contexts
Willingness and ability to travel internationally on short notice, and to hold or obtain necessary travel documentation (passport, visas)
Experience in field deployment or on-site support roles at customer or partner facilities, particularly in international settings
Familiarity with import/export logistics for scientific or electronic equipment
Programming or scripting experience in Python or related languages
Additional language proficiency relevant to target deployment regions
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.
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