---
title: 'Senior Quantum Engineer, Gate Calibration at Rigetti Computing'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-quantum-engineer-gate-calibration-rigetti-computing-berkeley-vqsg1847y2k0'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-10'
---

# Senior Quantum Engineer, Gate Calibration at Rigetti Computing

- **Company:** Rigetti Computing
- **Location:** Berkeley, CA
- **Compensation:** $175k–$200k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** hybrid
- **Posted:** 2026-08-06
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-10
- **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/rigetti/8afbeac2-74bc-4d81-b2c1-b024473b71b3

## Job description

We are looking for an experienced Quantum Engineer to drive the two-qubit gate performance of our tunable-coupler superconducting quantum processors. Two-qubit gate fidelity is one of the most consequential challenges in quantum computing, and it sits at the center of our roadmap toward error correction. In this role, you will design, execute, and interpret the experiments that propel our near- and long-term gate performance at scale. You will identify the dominant sources of two-qubit gate error on our processors, isolate their physical origin, and eliminate them — through pulse engineering, calibration methodology, error suppression strategies, or feedback to design and fabrication. Your conclusions will directly inform device design, control strategy, and platform-level decisions. This is a role with substantial autonomy and ownership. You will directly influence the technical direction for gate performance work through the rigorous design and execution of your test plans, measurement and improvement of relevant metrics and error budgeting, and shaping of research priorities. You will do this in a deeply collaborative environment spanning device design, fabrication, control systems, software, theory and R&D, turning proofs of concept into robust procedures that hold up across hundreds of qubit pairs.

## Key Responsibilities

- Lead experimental programs to characterize, calibrate, and optimize two-qubit gates on tunable-coupler devices, from single-pair physics investigations to full-processor deployment.

- Identify gate-error bottlenecks (e.g., coherent control error, decoherence, leakage, crosstalk, TLS interactions) for single-pair as well as large-scale systems and isolate their physical origin through targeted experiments, benchmarking, and simulation.

- Develop and harden calibration methods using techniques such as optimal pulse shaping, dynamical decoupling, and other error suppression strategies, with an emphasis on robustness and automation at scale.

- Develop and improve metrology for full-processor Hamiltonian and characteristic extraction and correlate with gate performance. Turn that knowledge into actionable feedback for device design, fabrication, and control hardware teams, and drive those changes to closure.

- Prepare novel Rigetti devices for use by internal applications development teams and external deployment.

- Stay current with the literature and convert state-of-the-art techniques into working capability on production hardware.

- Contribute to the field of superconducting quantum computing by converting relevant findings into high-quality publications.

Required Qualifications

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

- Significant hands-on experience calibrating and characterizing two-qubit gates on superconducting quantum devices; direct experience with tunable couplers is a strong plus.

- Deep understanding of gate design, pulse engineering, and decoherence mechanisms, with a track record of connecting error diagnostics to concrete fidelity improvements.

- Demonstrated ability to independently execute complex experimental efforts from concept to validated result.

- Strong Python skills in a scientific context, and comfort building tools that others rely on.

- Dogged experimental determination, with the judgment to balance depth of investigation against speed of iteration.

- Excellent communication skills and a team-first mindset in a strongly collaborative environment.

## Nice to Have

- Experience with quantum simulation frameworks such as QuTiP for gate and noise modeling.

- Experience deploying calibration or benchmarking procedures across large multi-qubit processors in an industrial or startup setting.

- Familiarity with randomized benchmarking variants, gate set tomography, cycle benchmarking, or other scalable error diagnostics.

- Publication record or demonstrated results in high-fidelity entangling gates, error suppression, or quantum control.

- Experience mentoring junior scientists or leading small technical teams.

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/)

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