---
title: 'Integration & Component Design Engineer at HRL Laboratories'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/integration-component-design-engineer-hrl-laboratories-malibu-3dbtw8b6hzes'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-16'
---

# Integration & Component Design Engineer at HRL Laboratories

- **Company:** HRL Laboratories
- **Location:** Malibu, CA
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-10-07
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-16
- **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/dodmg/fec60860-cf92-461f-9fae-0a955ed37ec5

## Job description

HRL Laboratories, an IBM company, pioneers the next frontiers of physical and information science. Delivering transformative technologies in automotive, aerospace and defense, HRL advances the critical missions of its customers to help them remove limitations and create competitive advantage. HRL then transitions the work back to customers – ready for real-world application. For more than 70 years, HRL’s rich portfolio of scientific discoveries and engineering innovations continues to build on each other — often in unexpected, profound and far-reaching ways. As a private company owned by IBM, HRL prioritizes purpose over profit, significantly advancing the state of the art. Qubit Systems Laboratory (QSL) is a world leader in semiconductor spin qubits. Our broad expertise spans semiconductor growth, device design and modeling, cryogenic control, high-density interconnects and packaging, quantum architecture, and multiqubit demonstrations. Our system architecture is built entirely around scalable semiconductor manufacturing to make quantum computing affordable for practical business and scientific applications. General Description The Integration Component Design Engineer will develop detailed superconducting component layouts, create automated layout strategies, and collaborate closely with process, RF, and integration engineering teams to ensure manufacturable, high performance designs in support of HRL’s silicon spin quantum computing effort. This role centers on expert level CAD layout execution, automation of design steps, and clear communication of methodologies and design intent to technical leadership. The ideal candidate brings strong proficiency in Virtuoso (and ideally Allegro APD), a solid understanding of foundry process constraints, and familiarity with RF design principles relevant to superconducting transmission structures.

Essential Duties

- Create, refine, and own complex superconducting component layouts using industry standard CAD tools—Virtuoso strongly preferred, Virtuoso plus Allegro APD ideal.
- Collaborate with other design engineers to support simulation analyses, analysis of alternative designs, and design modifications related to measurement feedback.
- Develop and implement layout automation strategies including routing, via placement, ground plane slotting, and metal/dielectric fill rules to enhance efficiency and manufacturability.
- Incorporate foundry process constraints, design rules, material limitations, and interface behaviors into layout decisions and system level design choices.
- Support RF related layout tasks, including transmission line structure creation, parasitic minimization, and adherence to RF design methodologies for cryogenic superconducting components.
- Collaborate closely with integration, process, and packaging teams to ensure alignment on layout strategy, connectivity requirements, and manufacturability constraints.
- Document layout approaches, automation methods, and design rules; prepare clear summaries and visualizations for presentation to technical leadership.
- Troubleshoot layout related issues, resolve DRC/LVS concerns, and support design reviews throughout the development cycle.
- Contribute to continuous improvement of layout templates, parameterized cells, automation scripts, and best practice methodologies for superconducting component design. Required Qualifications
- BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
- 5+ years of extensive hands on experience with CAD layout tools: Virtuoso required; Virtuoso plus Allegro APD strongly preferred.
- Familiarity with layout automation methods, including routing algorithms, via strategy tuning, ground plane slotting, and metal/dielectric fill techniques.
- Understanding of foundry process constraints, design rule interpretation, and materials related layout considerations.
- Familiarity with RF design principles, transmission line behavior, and layout methodologies for RF sensitive structures.
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to clearly summarize designs, assumptions, and layout strategies for review by senior technical leadership.
- Strong problem solving ability with attention to detail, design reliability, and manufacturability.
- Experience with scripting or automation tools (Python, or similar) is preferred. Special Requirements:
- US Person Status Required Compensation and Benefits: Pay Range: $140,700 - $175,950

## About HRL Laboratories

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: HRL Laboratories (formerly Hughes Research Laboratories) is a private R&D lab jointly owned by Boeing and General Motors that pioneers transformative technologies in physical and information science for aerospace, automotive, and defense applications.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Limited Liability Company, LLC) — owned by The Boeing Company and General Motors
- **Headquarters**: Malibu, California, USA (with additional campuses in Calabasas and Westlake Village, CA)
- **Founded**: 1948 (as Hughes Research Laboratories); restructured as an LLC in 1997
- **Founders**: Founded as the research arm of Hughes Aircraft Company (Howard Hughes); current entity formed by Boeing and GM

## Core Business
- **Primary Industries**: Aerospace & Defense, Automotive, Advanced Materials, Microelectronics, Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Science, and Sensor Systems
- **Target Customers**: Boeing, General Motors (LLC Members), U.S. Government (DoD), and commercial customers requiring deep-tech R&D
- **Mission / Purpose**: To conduct basic and applied research that transitions into real-world applications, removing limitations and creating competitive advantage for its customers — prioritizing purpose over profit

## Products & Services
For each major offering:
- **Applied R&D Services**: Full-spectrum research from basic science through prototype development and transition to production for member companies and government clients.
- **Microfabrication & Semiconductor Fabrication**: Operates a 10,000-square-foot Class 10 cleanroom (ISO Class 4) for end-to-end production of integrated circuits, compound semiconductor devices, quantum devices, memristors, and photonic devices. DoD Trusted Foundry status.
- **Advanced Materials & Manufacturing**: Development of engineered structural and active materials, coatings, nanotechnologies, and metal additive manufacturing (3D printing of metals).
- **Artificial Intelligence & Cognitive Systems**: Neuromorphic computing, brain-machine interfaces, graph machine learning, agentic AI, and automated knowledge extraction.
- **Sensors & Electronics**: Small/conformal antennas, RF technologies, optoelectronics for microwave signal distribution, and quantum information science.
- **Vision Systems**: Infrared systems, focal plane arrays, and advanced imaging technologies.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation / Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed (private LLC)
- **Key Metric**: Total Revenue not publicly disclosed; funded by Boeing and GM as member-owned R&D entity; government and commercial contracts
- **Notable Investors / Partners**: The Boeing Company (joint owner), General Motors (joint owner), U.S. Department of Defense (DoD Trusted Foundry)
- **Growth Signals**: Active hiring across multiple advanced technology centers; 250,000 sq. ft. of lab space; 70+ years of continuous operation with a rich patent portfolio; expanding in AI, quantum, and additive manufacturing domains

## Competitive Advantages
- **Unique Ownership Structure**: A private R&D lab jointly owned by two Fortune 500 companies (Boeing and GM) that prioritizes long-term research over quarterly profit — extremely rare in corporate R&D.
- **Deep Tech Portfolio & History**: 70+ years of breakthrough innovations (e.g., first working laser, key components for LCD displays, quantum cascade lasers) with a culture of cross-disciplinary discovery.
- **DoD Trusted Foundry**: One of the few facilities in the U.S. certified to fabricate secure microelectronics for defense applications, providing a major government contract moat.
- **World-Class Facilities**: 10,000 sq. ft. Class 10 cleanroom, 250,000 sq. ft. total lab space, and a multidisciplinary staff of world-class scientists and engineers across materials science, physics, chemistry, electrical engineering, and computer science.

## Strategic Focus
- **Current Priorities**: Expanding capabilities in agentic AI and graph machine learning, metal additive manufacturing (computational materials science), quantum information science, and advanced MEMS/process integration. Growing the workforce in intelligent systems, sensors & electronics, and vision systems.
- **Direction for Growth**: Transitioning more foundational research into real-world products for Boeing, GM, and government customers; strengthening the "AI + hardware" intersection; recruiting top-tier PhD-level talent across physics, materials, and computer science.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture & Mission**: A "small company atmosphere" with the resources of a major R&D lab. Employees conduct both basic and applied research in a collaborative technical environment committed to "producing the leading R&D in the world." [hrl.com](https://hrl.com/careers)
- **Work Location**: On-site roles primarily in Malibu, CA (overlooking the Pacific Ocean) and Calabasas, CA. Some hybrid options exist (e.g., Agentic AI role listed as Hybrid in Calabasas). [hrl.com](https://hrl.com/careers) and [jobs.lever.co](https://jobs.lever.co/dodmg)
- **Benefits & Perks**:
    - **Compensation**: Competitive salary; generous 401(k) with 100% match on first 4% + age-based employer contributions. [hrl.com](https://hrl.com/careers/benefits)
    - **Time Off**: 14 paid holidays per year (including year-end break); flexible PTO (up to 15 days after 1 year, up to 25 days after 10 years); 80 hours sick time granted on hire. [hrl.com](https://hrl.com/careers/benefits)
    - **Parental Leave**: 12 weeks fully paid parental leave. [hrl.com](https://hrl.com/careers/benefits)
    - **Education**: 100% tuition reimbursement for approved programs. [hrl.com](https://hrl.com/careers/benefits)
    - **Health**: Multiple medical plans (PPO, HMO, HDHP HSA), employer-paid vision and dental, HSA contributions, family planning support.
    - **Workplace**: On-site fitness centers (Lost Hills & Westlake), Malibu dining terrace with ocean views, ridesharing incentives, employee discounts, colloquia series with noted speakers. [hrl.com](https://hrl.com/careers/benefits)
- **Engineering/Research Culture**: Multidisciplinary teams working on cutting-edge problems in AI, quantum, materials, microelectronics, and sensors. Employees are expected to publish and patent, contributing to both basic science and applied engineering. Provides "unique career growth opportunities as a member of the research community serving our LLC Members, government and commercial customers." [hrl.com](https://hrl.com/careers)

## Sources
1. [HRL Laboratories Careers](https://hrl.com/careers)
2. [HRL Laboratories About](https://www.hrl.com/about)
3. [Current Openings at HRL](https://hrl.com/careers/current-openings)
4. [HRL Benefits](https://hrl.com/careers/benefits)
5. [HRL Job Listings (Lever)](https://jobs.lever.co/dodmg)

## Other roles at HRL Laboratories

- [Software Engineer, Data Platform](https://feeny.ai/job/software-engineer-data-platform-hrl-laboratories-malibu-kdk9tbttmx1w) — Malibu, CA
- [Electrical Test Engineer, Advanced Sensors](https://feeny.ai/job/electrical-test-engineer-advanced-sensors-hrl-laboratories-malibu-mwmg445yw7jr) — Malibu, CA
- [Cryogenic Assembly Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/cryogenic-assembly-engineer-hrl-laboratories-malibu-mwpb7p2cy8v4) — Malibu, CA
- [Senior Qubit Measurement Scientist](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-qubit-measurement-scientist-hrl-laboratories-malibu-172st1yg441j) — Malibu, CA
- [Quantum Information Architecture Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/quantum-information-architecture-lead-hrl-laboratories-malibu-z2my2yj6fz9y) — Malibu, CA
- [Silicon Qubit Development Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/silicon-qubit-development-lead-hrl-laboratories-malibu-taeme5y0wjcz) — Malibu, CA
- [Analog/ Mixed Signal Verification Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/analog-mixed-signal-verification-engineer-hrl-laboratories-malibu-hmhpyxz5gdg5) — Malibu, CA
- [Electronics Development Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/electronics-development-engineer-hrl-laboratories-malibu-a72e2h934jqj) — Malibu, CA
- [Component Design & Analysis Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/component-design-analysis-engineer-hrl-laboratories-malibu-nsc12mgf3wfn) — Malibu, CA
- [Interposer System Design Analyst & Integration Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/interposer-system-design-analyst-integration-engineer-hrl-laboratories-malibu-h88cap20mhx6) — Malibu, CA