Electronics Development Engineer

HRL Laboratories, an IBM company, pioneers the next frontiers of physical and information science. Delivering transformative technologies in automotive, aerospace and defense, HRL advances the critical missions of its customers to help them remove limitations and create competitive advantage. HRL then transitions the work back to customers - ready for real-world application. For more than 70 years, HRL’s rich portfolio of scientific discoveries and engineering innovations continues to build on each other - often in unexpected, profound and far-reaching ways. As a private company owned by IBM, HRL prioritizes purpose over profit, significantly advancing the state of the art.

General Description

As an Electronics Development Engineer, you will contribute to the design, characterization, and validation of cryogenic mixed signal hardware used for qubit control and readout. This role involves low temperature measurements, RF/microwave techniques, high speed digital design, and hardware-firmware co design. Working closely with scientists and engineers, you will help develop custom electronics, automate test workflows, analyze complex data, and solve high impact challenges in qubit control performance.

Essential Duties

• Develop a deep understanding of cryogenic electronics and how control and readout signals drive qubit operations at low temperatures.
• Collaborate with scientists and engineers to define qubit control and readout requirements across mixed signal, RF/microwave, and high speed digital domains.
• Design, implement, and document measurement techniques for characterizing qubit control electronics, including low temperature characterization, signal and power integrity, and RF/microwave performance.
• Contribute to the design, specification, and validation of custom mixed signal and RF/microwave hardware, including PCB design, board bring up, and silicon bring up.
• Support hardware-firmware co design efforts, including FPGA and ASIC verification focused on timing, waveform fidelity, and interface correctness.
• Develop automated test procedures and lab automation workflows using modern instrumentation and scripting tools.
• Execute advanced measurements, including those involving spin qubits, to validate control system fidelity, noise performance, and overall robustness.
• Analyze data, perform root cause debug, and provide clear engineering recommendations for improving hardware performance.
• Work within focused technical teams to address high impact challenges in qubit control, cryogenic electronics reliability, and mixed signal system behavior.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in electrical engineering, physics, or a closely related field.
• 3+ years of experience in mixed signal electronics with strong working knowledge in RF/microwave measurements, high speed digital design, cryogenic electronics, or low noise analog signal paths.
• Experience with electronic measurement techniques, including signal integrity and power integrity evaluation, RF characterization, or low temperature test setups.
• Familiarity with PCB design or board bring up workflows, and exposure to hardware-firmware co design or FPGA/ASIC verification is a plus.
• Strong debugging and troubleshooting skills across test equipment, hardware interfaces, and measurement environments.
• Experience with automated testing, lab automation tools, or data analysis using scripting languages such as Python or MATLAB.
• Ability to work collaboratively with teams integrating physics, computer science, data science, and engineering.
• Clear communication and documentation skills for reporting measurements, analysis results, and design recommendations.

Physical Requirements:

Must be able to climb ladders to use elevated test equipment. Must be able to work safely in a laboratory environment and be on-site at least 4 days a week.

Special Requirements:

US Person Status Required.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Pay Range: $128,000 - $159,900
• Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location (California). The range displayed on each job posting reflects the target range for new hire salaries for the position. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range during the hiring process.

• Benefits: HRL offers a generous and very competitive total compensation and benefits package. Our Regular/Full Time benefits include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401K match, gym facilities, PTO, Sick time, upward mobility, and an exciting and challenging work environment.
• For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: https://www.hrl.com/careers/benefits

Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At HRL, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing.

If you would like more information about Equal Employment Opportunity as an applicant under the law, please go to Employees & Job Applicants | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

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