--- title: 'Senior Quantum Field Engineer at Rigetti Computing' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-quantum-field-engineer-rigetti-computing-united-states-united-kingdom-2y3mgzbpms66' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-10' --- # Senior Quantum Field Engineer at Rigetti Computing - **Company:** Rigetti Computing - **Location:** United States / United Kingdom - **Employment:** full-time - **Work type:** hybrid - **Posted:** 2026-07-08 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-10 - **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/rigetti/256218b9-f863-4583-b93b-bb08031929bf ## Job description ## Role Overview As a Systems Integration Engineer on the Deployments team, you will be at the operational frontier of Rigetti's external quantum systems work — bringing processors to life at customer sites and ensuring they perform to specification in production. You will be among the first people to deploy a Rigetti system in a new environment, owning the technical work from initial bring-up through sustained cloud operation. While this role is primarily based in the UK, it requires travel to customer sites globally to support deployment of Rigetti quantum systems. You will serve as a direct technical representative of the team, working alongside on-site personnel and translating complex experimental results into clear operational guidance for both specialist and non-specialist audiences. When not engaged with on-site deployments, you will collaborate closely with internal R&D teams to drive critical improvements to device performance and scalability. This role has two specialization tracks. Candidates will be assessed for fit across both and placed based on experience: Systems & Integration — focused on device bring-up, cryogenic hardware, qubit and fridge characterisation, and cross-functional debug from cryo to deployment. Gate Calibration & Deployment — focused on 1Q/2Q gate performance, automated recalibration, production monitoring, and cloud deployment workflows. Travel Requirements: This position requires regular travel, with an expectation of approximately 30–50% travel to customer sites. ## Responsibilities Shared Responsibilities - Own the technical work for your track during on-site deployments: define scope, execute experiments or calibrations, validate against specification, and document outcomes. - Debug failures and isolate root causes across hardware, software, and infrastructure; escalate findings and drive resolution cross-functionally. - Act as the primary technical point of contact for customers during on-site engagements; communicate results clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. - Monitor deployed systems and proactively identify and respond to regressions, drift, or outages. - Train team members and customer-side personnel on procedures, workflows, and best practices relevant to your track. - Contribute to internal tooling, documentation, and automation to improve repeatability and reduce manual effort. - Work with internal R&D teams to drive improvements to device performance at scale. - Be available for international travel up to 10–25% of the time in support of customer deployments. Systems & Integration Track - Develop detailed experimental plans for each cooldown: define measurement scope, sequence, and success criteria prior to cool-down. - Characterise qubits and readout using internal tooling; validate coherence, line yield, and qubit yield against project requirements. - Debug failures and isolate root causes across hardware, fabrication, and design. - Provide remote support to on-site teams as required between deployments. Gate Calibration & Deployment Track - Validate single- and two-qubit gate performance against specification using standard benchmarking techniques. - Bring up and fine-tune gate calibrations on production devices; identify and resolve systematic error sources affecting 1Q and 2Q fidelity. - Maintain, monitor, and improve Rigetti's automated recalibration system for cloud-deployed processors. - Own deployment workflows for new gate calibrations: test, validate, stage, and release to production with minimal disruption to uptime. Required Qualifications All candidates - PhD in Physics, Applied Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field; or equivalent degree with relevant industry or postdoctoral experience (see track requirements below). - Hands-on experience with superconducting qubit devices. - Proficiency in Python in a scientific or engineering context. - Strong systematic debugging skills: able to isolate failures across the full measurement chain (wiring, electronics, device, software). - Comfort operating in customer-facing and field environments with limited on-site infrastructure support. - Excellent written and verbal communication; able to write clear experimental reports and debrief non-specialists. - Willingness and ability to travel internationally 10–25% of the time. - MS/BS with 3+ years of relevant experience (or PhD). Systems & Integration Track additionally requires - Experience troubleshooting cryogenic microwave hardware. Gate Calibration & Deployment Track additionally requires - Experience calibrating and characterising 1Q and 2Q gates on superconducting qubit devices. - Strong quantitative understanding of gate error sources: decoherence, leakage, control distortion, etc. - Experience writing high-quality code and working through formal code review (Git). ## Nice to Have Systems & Integration Track - Experience operating and troubleshooting dilution refrigerators. - Knowledge of common qubit failure modes and their signatures (e.g., TLS, flux noise, packaging issues). - Software development experience in a collaborative industrial setting (Git, code review, CI). - Prior experience in a customer-facing or field engineering role. Gate Calibration & Deployment Track - Experience with automated or scheduled recalibration systems in a production or high-uptime environment. - Familiarity with cloud deployment infrastructure (AWS, Azure, Kubernetes, Docker). - Experience with pulse-level gate optimisation (DRAG, flux pulse shaping, dynamical decoupling). - Experience supporting a rotational on-call or production-support schedule. - Prior experience in a customer-facing or field engineering role. 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 - [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 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