Hardware Platform Operation team leader H/F

Alice&Bob is developing a quantum computer based on cat qubits. As part of the Quantum Hardware and Infrastructure department, the Hardware Platform Operation (HPO) team is in charge of operating the cryoplatform. This platform represents a major investment and asset of the company: HPO team is focused at 100% on operational excellence and quality, to ensure the highest availability rate.

HPO team is in charge of operating the cool down/warm up + modifications of cabling (inside the cryostat and instrumentation racks), according to the requests of the users. The HPO team is the main entry point from the users. Moreover, the team is responsible for:

• The maintenance in operational conditions of the cryostats
• The maintenance in operational conditions of the control electronics (racks)
  • This includes routine V&V on instrumentation devices
• First level of troubleshooting
• Monitoring of environmental conditions (vibrations, temperature…)
• Assembly of new systems

About the role :

As the Leader of the HPO Team, you play a pivotal role in bringing into reality the QPU designs imagined by the company. For this role, we are seeking an engineer experienced in production management and team management.

Responsabilities

• Organize, plan and oversee the day-to-day operations
• Ensure that the requests of users are documented and complete
• Elaborate the planning of operations with the team and in compliance with users' constraints
• Contribute to the tasks of warm-up/cool down cycle and cabling modification
• Be responsible for the review of the work done
• Establish with the team standard operating procedures
• Lead improvement actions (A3…)
• Manage the stock and loop back with suppliers and purchasing team
• Coordinate the team planning with company iteration cycles, ensuring coordination with other teams in the company
• Cryostats and racks responsibility: Ensure that the tools and instruments under the team's responsibility are maintained up and running (following preventive maintenance plan and managing corrective/troubleshooting when necessary), to maximize the “up-time”.

  Align with other team leaders on good practices and standard definition for architectures and HW implementation.

• Systems fabrication & integration: Oversee the in-house fabrication, assembly and integration of the platform's hardware systems, from components to fully operational setups. This includes:
• Assembly of the cryostats
• Build of the chandelier (cold cabling assembly / wiring tree inside the cryostat): mounting of the plates, thermalization, and cold RF/DC wiring
• Assembly and wiring of the instrumentation and control racks
• Interconnection between the cryostat, the chandelier and the racks (RF/coax, DC, control and monitoring lines)
• Provide help and support to the design teams in the validation of the new systems (participation in test campaigns, execution of V&V procedures, feedback on manufacturability and operability)
• Ensure that fabrication follows the standard procedures, quality checks and traceability, and feed back improvements to the design teams
• Check final acceptance of new systems: Before entering into production, HPO team will proceed to an acceptance phase, ensuring that tools are qualified, documentation ready, and the team trained to operate them.
• Budget responsibility: prepare and oversee budget for HPO team
• Team Leadership & Supervision: Manage and inspire a team of engineers and technicians, fostering a collaborative environment. Supervise and motivate the team members. Define the profiles needed when necessary and drive with HR the hiring process. Provide mentorship and guidance, promoting professional growth and skill development within the team.
• Continuous Improvement: Drive ongoing improvements in the team (both at a technical and organizational level).
• Documentation & Reporting: Ensure standard operation procedures exist, and system configurations are thoroughly documented.

Requirements

Educational Background: A Master degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or Production management

Experience:

• Proven experience (5+ years) in a production environment or a “critical infrastructure” environment.
• Strong experience in management of a team.

Technical Skills:

• Knowledge of cryogenics is a plus
• Knowledge of RF instrumentation is a plus

Leadership & Collaboration:

• A communicative and team-oriented approach
• Strong organizational skills, with planning ability (to coordinate tool usage and team schedule efficiently)
• Ability to implement processes and actions to optimize and accelerate work tasks
• Pragmatism, and ability to manage in real-time/operational context
• English and French communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams
• Commitment to quality
• Service oriented approach
• Attention to detail and ability to maintain thorough documentation of procedures, tests.
• Professional proficiency in both French and English

Nice to have

Desirable Skills & Experience (Optional but not required):

Experience in quantum technologies.

The Hardware Platform is split into 2 sites in Ile-de-France. The job requires regular travels to the 2 sites. The job may include on-call schedules.

Recruitment process

• Screening Call with Alexandra Talent Acquisition Specialist (30 min)
• Hiring Manager Interview with the Hiring Manager (45 min)
• Technical Interview/Presentation with the Team (90 min)
• Leadership and Fit Interview (60 min)