---
title: 'Field Engineer: Cryogenics & RF Hardware at Rigetti Computing'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/field-engineer-cryogenics-rf-hardware-rigetti-computing-berkeley-ca-or-fremont-z7tz70gq1r43'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-10'
---

# Field Engineer: Cryogenics & RF Hardware at Rigetti Computing

- **Company:** Rigetti Computing
- **Location:** Berkeley CA OR Fremont, CA
- **Compensation:** $115k–$140k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-09-03
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-10
- **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/rigetti/0652d8b2-0c1c-419b-9737-9b78ab575a03

## Job description

## About Rigetti

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.

## Role Overview

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.

## What You'll Be Doing

- 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

## What You Bring

- 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)

## Nice to Have

- 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

As engineering leaders, we value diversity and are committed to building a culture of inclusion to attract and engage innovative thinkers. Our technology, meant to serve all of humanity, cannot succeed if those who built it do not mirror the diversity of the communities we serve. Applications from women, minorities, and other under-represented groups are encouraged.

## About Rigetti

Rigetti Computing is a pioneer in full-stack quantum computing. The company has operated quantum computers over the cloud since 2017 and serves global enterprise, government, and research clients through its Rigetti Quantum Cloud Services platform. The company’s proprietary quantum-classical infrastructure provides ultra-low latency integration with public and private clouds for high-performance practical quantum computing. Rigetti has developed the industry’s first multi-chip quantum processor for scalable quantum computing systems. The company designs and manufactures its chips in-house at Fab-1, the industry’s first dedicated and integrated quantum device manufacturing facility. Rigetti was founded in 2013 and today employs more than 150 people with offices in the United States, U.K., and Australia. Learn more at www.rigetti.com.

Don't see the job you want? Apply here so we can keep in touch with you when the right role opens up in the future!

Export Licensing Compliance Rigetti is committed to full compliance with applicable anti-discrimination laws. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We strive to create an inclusive work environment and will not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

## About Rigetti Computing

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Rigetti Computing builds full-stack superconducting quantum computers and processors, offering cloud-based quantum computing services to enterprises, governments, and researchers.
- **Entity Type**: Public (NASDAQ: RGTI)
- **Headquarters**: Berkeley, California, USA
- **Founded**: 2013
- **Founders**: Chad Rigetti

## Core Business
- **Primary industry/industries**: Quantum computing hardware and software, superconducting quantum processors, cloud quantum services.
- **Target customers**: B2B, Enterprise, Government, Research institutions (DOE, DOD, national labs, financial institutions, hyperscalers).
- **Mission or purpose**: Build the world’s most powerful computers to help solve humanity’s most important and pressing problems.

## Products & Services
- **Quantum Processors (QPU)**: Superconducting quantum chips, including the latest Cepheus-1-108Q (108-qubit chiplet-based system) with 99.1% median two-qubit gate fidelity. Available via cloud and on-premises.
- **Quantum Cloud Services (QCS)**: Platform for hybrid quantum-classical computing, offering ultra-low latency connectivity between classical HPC and Rigetti QPUs. Accessible via AWS Braket, Microsoft Azure, and qBraid.
- **Fab-1**: Dedicated quantum integrated circuit foundry in Fremont, CA, enabling vertical integration for chip design and fabrication.
- **Open-Source Software**: Suite of tools for writing, simulating, and running quantum programs (e.g., Quilc, pyQuil).

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly available in provided sources (public company, ticker RGTI; market cap varies with trading).
- **Key Metric**: ~$569 million cash, cash equivalents, and available-for-sale investments (as of March 31, 2026). Also, 19 quantum systems deployed to date.
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Quanta (committed $250M over 5 years, $35M invested at $11.59/share), UK National Quantum Computing Centre, Air Force Research Lab, C-DAC (India), Fermilab SQMS Center, HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank, ADIA Lab, Moody’s Analytics, NASA, USRA, AWS, Microsoft Azure.
- **Growth Signals**: Deployed 108-qubit chiplet system in April 2026; aiming for 1,000+ qubits at 99.9% median 2Q fidelity within ~3 years; expanding into Asian markets (India, Japan); 285 issued/pending patents; 164 employees; 70,000 combined sq. ft. of facilities.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Vertical integration**: Full ownership of Fab-1, the world’s first dedicated quantum chip foundry, enabling rapid iteration and proprietary chiplet scaling.
- **Chiplet architecture**: Demonstrated scaling path from 9-qubit chiplets to 108-qubit systems, with a roadmap to 1,000+ qubits.
- **Fast gate speeds**: 60 ns two-qubit gate speed (targeting <50 ns) with high fidelity (99.1% median 2Q, 99.9% 1Q). Best-in-class coherence times (T1 ~40 µs).
- **Strong IP portfolio**: 123 issued and 162 pending patents covering quantum engineering, fabrication, and algorithms.
- **Multi-cloud distribution**: QPUs integrated into AWS, Azure, and other cloud providers, lowering access barriers for customers.

## Strategic Focus
- **Technology roadmap**: Improve median two-qubit gate fidelity to 99.5% in 2026, then to 99.9% at <50 ns gate speed while scaling to 1,000+ qubits to achieve quantum advantage in ~3 years.
- **Commercial expansion**: Target government-sponsored deployments and on-premises sales (e.g., UK, India, Japan) to drive technology development until quantum advantage is realized.
- **Partnerships**: Deepen collaboration with Quanta (joint investment of $500M over 5 years) and financial sector leaders to develop practical quantum use cases.
- **Financial strength**: Maintain strong cash position (~$569M) to fund R&D and scaling efforts.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and a "growth mindset" — employees are encouraged to challenge assumptions, learn from failures, and shape the future of quantum computing.
- **Compensation & benefits**: Full-time employees receive stock-based compensation (ownership in the company), comprehensive medical/dental/vision (96% of employee and 93% of dependent premiums covered), flexible vacation policy, remote work options, and generous parental and military leave.
- **Work environment**: ~164 employees across Berkeley HQ and Fremont Fab-1; hybrid/remote flexibility; early-career talent development through embedded internship programs.
- **Engineering culture**: World-class team of experts (58 PhDs) working on cutting-edge superconducting quantum systems, from chip design to cloud deployment. Opportunities to contribute to real projects in quantum software, algorithms, hardware, and systems.

## Sources
1. [Rigetti Careers Page](https://www.rigetti.com/careers)
2. [Rigetti About Page](https://www.rigetti.com/about-rigetti-computing)
3. [Rigetti Investor Deck - June 2026](https://investors.rigetti.com/static-files/fbac3801-223f-4f0f-a207-47d25084a1d7)
4. [Rigetti Job Listings (Lever)](https://jobs.lever.co/rigetti)
5. [Rigetti Homepage (System Specs)](https://www.rigetti.com/)

## Other roles at Rigetti Computing

- [Lead Quantum Engineer, Systems Performance](https://feeny.ai/job/lead-quantum-engineer-systems-performance-rigetti-computing-berkeley-xrx3qcnc1hb5) — Berkeley, CA
- [Senior Quantum Engineer, Gate Calibration](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-quantum-engineer-gate-calibration-rigetti-computing-berkeley-vqsg1847y2k0) — Berkeley, CA
- [Senior Mechanical Engineer - Cryogenic](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-mechanical-engineer-cryogenic-rigetti-computing-berkeley-y0q9887364d2) — Berkeley, CA
- [Quality Control Technician](https://feeny.ai/job/quality-control-technician-rigetti-computing-berkeley-854mtb4qepq7) — Berkeley, CA
- [Director, Global Quantum System Deployment](https://feeny.ai/job/director-global-quantum-system-deployment-rigetti-computing-berkeley-ca-or-q65xkqs9vf6x) — Berkeley CA OR Fremont, CA
- [Senior Process Engineer - Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD)](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-process-engineer-physical-vapor-deposition-pvd-rigetti-computing-fremont-pwbqkhks9v69) — Fremont, CA
- [Senior Quantum Field Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-quantum-field-engineer-rigetti-computing-united-states-united-kingdom-2y3mgzbpms66) — United States / United Kingdom
- [Senior Software Engineering Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-software-engineering-manager-rigetti-computing-berkeley-ca-or-fremont-as2w9n5qm1jw) — Berkeley CA OR Fremont, CA
- [Senior Technical Program Manager (TPM)](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-technical-program-manager-tpm-rigetti-computing-berkeley-a5g35skx4sbe) — Berkeley, CA
- [Future Open Position](https://feeny.ai/job/future-open-position-rigetti-computing-united-states-d0tz4x3f3dyk) — United States