---
title: 'Lead Quantum Engineer, Systems Performance at Rigetti Computing'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/lead-quantum-engineer-systems-performance-rigetti-computing-berkeley-xrx3qcnc1hb5'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-10'
---

# Lead Quantum Engineer, Systems Performance at Rigetti Computing

- **Company:** Rigetti Computing
- **Location:** Berkeley, CA
- **Compensation:** $190k–$225k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** hybrid
- **Posted:** 2026-08-19
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-10
- **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/rigetti/251caffa-84df-47c1-8470-9c57a0897871

## Job description

Rigetti is seeking a Lead Quantum Engineer for the Systems Performance team. In this position you will play a critical role in shaping our technical roadmap. You will lead a cross-functional team focused on building the next generation of Rigetti’s quantum hardware, and take a high-ownership role in delivering the technologies required to unlock new levels of performance at scale. In your daily work, you will propose new ideas to push the performance and scalability of superconducting qubit systems, design and execute experiments to test those ideas, and lead a diverse set of engineers and scientists to identify and mitigate key performance gaps. The right candidate will have a demonstrated track record of scientific success across multiple institutions, technical leadership experience, a high-ownership mentality, and strong organization and communication skills.

## Key Responsibilities

- Design, build, and lead cross-functional experimental programs to inform the technical roadmap and drive systems-level improvements.

- Propose and explore new technical directions.

- Identify and address complex gaps in existing technology.

- Own the delivery of key quantum hardware technologies.

## About You

- PhD in Physics, Applied Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.

- Prior technical role in an industry or start-up environment.

- Demonstrated technical leadership experience.

- Direct experience with cryogenic systems and RF measurement techniques

- Extensive hands-on experience with time-domain measurement, and superconducting quantum devices.

- Track record of meaningful accomplishments in quantum science or related fields.

- Working knowledge of Python.

- Enjoys teamwork and inter-team collaboration.

- Excellent communication skills.

## Nice to Have

- Strong coding skills.

- Familiarity with cQED simulation tools.

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

- [Field Engineer: Cryogenics & RF Hardware](https://feeny.ai/job/field-engineer-cryogenics-rf-hardware-rigetti-computing-berkeley-ca-or-fremont-z7tz70gq1r43) — Berkeley CA OR Fremont, 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