Senior Mechanical Engineer - Instrumentation Hardware

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, engineering, and business professionals to advance the state-of-the-art in quantum computing.

We're looking for a Mechanical Engineer to join our Opto-Mechanical Engineering team to focus on designing the physical systems that house, protect, and connect our Control Systems and associated electronic products - from enclosures and chassis to thermal management and cabling. You'll work closely with electrical, firmware, and systems engineers to turn functional requirements into manufacturable, reliable hardware, primarily for 19" rack-mount and other pluggable instrumentation form factors.

This is a hands-on mechanical design role covering the full product lifecycle: concept, CAD modeling, analysis, prototyping, and production support.

This position is located in Boulder, Colorado, and will report to the Opto-Mechanical Engineering Manager.

Responsibilities

• Design enclosures, heat sinks, shields, cabling, chassis, and front panels for rack-mount and pluggable instrumentation products
• Create and maintain detailed CAD models, assemblies, and drawings
• Perform thermal and airflow analysis to ensure components stay within operating temperature limits under real-world conditions
• Designing in sheet metal, extrusions, and machined parts as well as rapid prototyping (3D printing and other quick turn methods)
• Assist with connector and cable analysis and design; assess board and front panel space requirements and density, cable routing and restrictions, etc
• Conduct tolerance studies (GD&T-based) to ensure fit, function, and manufacturability across assemblies
• Collaborate with electrical engineers to integrate PCBs, power supplies, and wiring into mechanical packaging
• Support design reviews, prototyping, testing, and validation (thermal, structural, EMI/EMC as applicable)
• Work with manufacturing, suppliers, and operations to ensure designs transition smoothly from prototype to production

Experience & Education

• BS in Mechanical Engineering
• 5+ years of mechanical engineering design experience relatable to instrument design

Required Qualifications

• Proficiency with CAD and simulation tools; SolidWorks and Ansys (e.g., Icepak, Mechanical, Fluent) preferred, though familiarity with similar CAD/FEA/CFD tools will also be considered
• Experience working with mechanical fixtures for PCBs (supports, integration fixtures, multi-board design with FMC or other board-to-board mating interfaces, heat sinks, shields, connectors, etc)
• Solid understanding of thermal management for electronics: heat sink design, airflow/CFD analysis, and component-level cooling
• Mechanical drawing and GD&T per ASME Y14.5M, tolerance stack analysis
• Experience with sheet metal design, fabrication methods, and cable/harness design
• Ability to work cross-functionally with electrical and systems engineers to balance mechanical, thermal, and electrical constraints
• Robust packaging of sensitive systems for shipping or extreme environments
• Comfortable moving between early-stage concept work and detailed production-ready design

Desired Qualifications

• Familiarity with pluggable instrumentation standards such as MicroTCA, PXI, VPX, or similar and modular PCB form factors, such as FMC
• Experience with RF shielding, EMI/EMC design considerations
• Experience with electronics test fixture design
• Exposure to test & measurement or precision instrumentation products
• Experience supporting products through sustainment/value engineering after initial release
• Familiarity with PLM and PDM tools