Job Description
We are seeking a Sr. R&D Manager – Mechanical Products in our Broomfield, CO, location to lead the development and scale-up of advanced mechanical and vacuum-based hardware systems supporting next-generation quantum computing platforms. This role is responsible for owning the transition from R&D prototypes to repeatable, manufacturable products, including cryogenic systems, ultra-high vacuum (UHV) hardware, physics packages, and Magneto-Optical Trap (MOT) systems. You will lead a multidisciplinary team and partner across engineering, product technology, and manufacturing to deliver high-performance hardware with predictable yield, reliability, and operational readiness.
All applicants for placement in safety-sensitive positions will be required to submit to a pre-employment drug test.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead end-to-end development of mechanical product systems from concept through pilot build and production readiness
- Own technical direction for Cryogenic systems, UHV hardware, physics packages, and MOT subsystems
- Provide hands-on leadership for assembly, validation, troubleshooting, and performance optimization of complex hardware systems
- Define and enforce design-for-x (DFX), manufacturability, and reliability standards
- Drive transition from R&D to production with emphasis on yield improvement, repeatability, throughput, cycle time, cost, and scalability.
- Refine designs and processes to enable predictable, high-quality manufacturing outcomes
- Establish and drive manufacturing readiness using a structured phase-gate approach aligned to increasing manufacturing maturity (MRL Progression).
- Own scope, schedule, budget, and risk management across multiple hardware programs
- Develop and execute integrated plans with milestones, resource allocation, and prioritization across competing programs
- Partner tightly with Program Management and Product teams to ensure delivery to commitments
- Define and drive key operational metrics including yield, defect pareto, downtime, process capability, and cycle time to enable data-driven decision making
- Own accountability for delivery across technical performance, manufacturing readiness, cost, and schedule
- Lead, grow, and mentor managers, mechanical engineers, physicists, and technicians
- Build scalable organizational capability aligned to product roadmap and production growth
- Establish clear accountability for technical execution and performance outcomes
- Drive cross-functional alignment across Product Technology, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Materials & Process Engineering, and Supply Chain to ensure successful product realization
- Define clear ownership and handoffs between design engineering and manufacturing to ensure seamless transition to production
YOU MUST HAVE:
- Bachelor’s Degree minimum required
- Minimum 8+ years of experience in a high-technology R&D and/or low-volume, high-complexity manufacturing environment required
- Minimum 4+ years of experience leading technical teams (direct management or program leadership) required
- Due to Contractual requirements, must be a U.S. Person defined as, U.S. citizen permanent resident or green card holder, workers granted asylum or refugee status.
- Due to national security requirements imposed by the U.S. Government, candidates for this position must not be a People's Republic of China national or Russian national unless the candidate is also a U.S. citizen.
WE VALUE:
- Advanced degree in Physics, Engineering, or a related technical field preferred
- Experience with Mechanical design/assembly
- Demonstrated data analysis leading to data-driven decision making
- Demonstrated experience working successfully with technicians
- Small-scale manufacturing experience
- Direct experience with people-management in a technical industry
- 3+ years of industry experience
- Experience in complex task management (cost, schedule, risk/opportunity, etc.)
- A track record of high-technology (engineering, or physical science) development
- Strong organizational & leadership skills; Excellent written and verbal communication skills
