{"id":20086,"url":"https://alion.io/job/atom-computing-principal-software-engineer-control-systems","title":"Principal Software Engineer - Control Systems","company":{"id":1348,"name":"Atom Computing","domain":"atom-computing.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/atom-computing","size_band":"201-500","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Lever","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":81,"open_postings":6,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.667,"repost_share":0.167,"time_to_fill_p50_days":37,"computed_at":"2026-10-22T06:10:10Z"}},"role":"Backend","role_family":"Backend","seniority":"lead","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"hybrid","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Boulder, United States","Austin, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":165000,"max":200000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":200000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":8,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"C++","optional":false},{"name":"CUDA","optional":false},{"name":"Linux","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false},{"name":"RTOS","optional":false},{"name":"Rust","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-07-24T20:39:51Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-07-24","last_verified_at":"2026-10-23T01:06:18Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":90,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":90},"description":"At Atom Computing, we build quantum computers using arrays of optically trapped neutral atoms that will empower customers to achieve unprecedented computational breakthroughs. Join a world-class team of scientists, engineers, and business professionals to advance the state-of-the-art in quantum computing.\nWe are seeking a Principal Software Engineer to help design and build the high-performance control systems that drive our next-generation quantum computing platforms. In this role, you’ll work across embedded software, real-time systems, GPU/FPGA acceleration, and hardware orchestration to deliver deterministic, high-throughput control pipelines. Your work will directly shape how our quantum processors operate, scale, and perform.\nThis is a hands-on engineering role for someone who loves deep systems work, understands hardware/software co-design, and thrives at the intersection of physics, architecture, and performance engineering. Due to the need for collaboration with Atom’s theory, software and hardware teams, this role is required to be in the office in Boulder or Austin at least 3 days per week.\nJob Responsibilities\nBuild and test embedded firmware and software powering high-speed software defined radios (SDRs), imaging pipelines, precision scientific instrumentation, and real-time digital feedback loops.\nDesign and optimize deterministic, low-latency software for quantum hardware - including device drivers, Linux kernel modules, and custom subsystems.\nEvaluate and architect real-time execution strategies across Linux and RTOS environments; drive design decisions around determinism, throughput, and system scalability.\nDevelop orchestration layers coordinating GPUs, FPGAs, and custom electronics for high-bandwidth, tightly synchronized quantum control operations.\nRapidly prototype and iterate using Rust, Python, C/C++, and CUDA\nCollaborate with quantum theorists, hardware engineers, and platform software teams to translate quantum control flows into fast, reliable, production-ready code.\nExperience & Education\nBachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field. Advanced degree a plus\nAt least 8 years of relevant postgraduate professional experience\nQualifications\nProficiency in software development using C++, Python, Rust, or Go; experience with NVIDIA CUDA toolchains and ability to apply these skills in rapid prototyping and production systems. \nKnowledge in one or more of the following areas: computer architecture, signal processing, algorithm development, quantum error correction, distributed systems, or compilers, with a willingness to learn across disciplines as needed.\nOrganizational, coordination, and multi-tasking expertise.\nExcellent analytical and problem-solving skills involving large-scale systems.\nStrong interpersonal skills and commitment to teamwork","description_format":"text","description_chars":2850,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":8,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Electrical & Electronic Engineering","Quantum Computing Hardware"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-07-24T20:39:51Z"}],"visa":[{"country":"US","licensed_sponsor":true,"evidence":"H-1B filings in 12 months: 5 · green card filings: 2","filings_12m":5,"filings_prev_12m":1,"green_card_filings_12m":2,"median_offered_wage_usd":150357,"route":null,"cap_exempt":false,"checked_at":"2026-10-15T11:24:14+00:00","sources":["US Department of Labor: LCA disclosure data (H-1B, H-1B1, E-3)","US Department of Labor: PERM disclosure data (green cards)"],"filings_for_role_12m":0}],"liveness":{"score":17,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":1,"p_active":0.596,"p_room":0.28,"age_days":89,"expected_fill_days":37,"reasons":["conf:0","velocity","win:tail","crowd:"],"computed_at":"2026-10-22T06:10:10Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":200000,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/atom-computing-principal-software-engineer-control-systems","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/atom-computing-principal-software-engineer-control-systems.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-23T04:23:08Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":7161,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-24T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":1348},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=1348"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fatom-computing-principal-software-engineer-control-systems"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fatom-computing-principal-software-engineer-control-systems"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fatom-computing-principal-software-engineer-control-systems"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/atom-computing-principal-software-engineer-control-systems\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fatom-computing-principal-software-engineer-control-systems"}]}