Barcelona
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Senior Cryogenic & Mechanical Systems Engineer
Description
About Qilimanjaro
Qilimanjaro is building full-stack superconducting quantum computing systems, combining QPUs, cryogenic infrastructure, control electronics, racks, cabling, instrumentation, software and deployment infrastructure. Our Systems & Engineering division turns quantum processors into complete, reliable and scalable quantum computers.
We are looking for a senior technical owner for the cryogenic, thermal and mechanical foundation of our quantum systems. This is not a junior mechanical drafting role or a general lab-support role. It is a high-impact systems-engineering position for someone who can define cryomechanical architectures, create thermal and mechanical design rules, debug complex physical systems, and make future setups reproducible, maintainable and scalable.
Role Mission
Own the cryogenic, thermal and mechanical architecture of Qilimanjaro quantum setups, ensuring that systems can be designed, installed, cooled down, diagnosed, maintained and scaled with engineering discipline.
Why this role matters
As Qilimanjaro systems scale, the physical infrastructure around the QPU becomes one of the main determinants of system reliability and repeatability. Thermal budgets, cryogenic wiring, mechanical routing, site readiness, cooldown behavior, thermalization, shielding and maintenance procedures all affect whether a setup can move from a one-off laboratory system to a repeatable quantum-computing platform.
This person will become the senior reference for questions such as:
- Can this setup be built, cooled down and maintained safely?
- Is the thermal budget compatible with the QPU and wiring architecture?
- Are the mechanical constraints understood before procurement and installation?
- Are site-readiness requirements explicit enough for internal and client deployments?
- Can we diagnose whether a problem comes from cryogenics, mechanical integration, routing, thermalization, packaging, electronics or the QPU?
- Can junior engineers execute common cryogenic and mechanical procedures safely and consistently?
Main ownership areas
- Cryogenic integration of quantum computing setups.
- Thermal budgets from room temperature to MXC.
- Mechanical integration inside and around dilution refrigerators.
- CAD models, routing constraints, custom parts, brackets, fixtures, thermalization pieces and mechanical interfaces.
- Site-readiness requirements, including space, floor plan, water, power, grounding, compressed air, safety and installation constraints.
- Cooldown engineering, maintenance plans, intervention procedures and setup health checks.
- Thermalization strategy for cabling, filters, attenuators, shielding and near-QPU components.
- Documentation and design rules that allow future setups to be repeated and handed over.
- Technical mentoring for junior engineers and deployment or integration contributors.
Responsibilities:
- Define and maintain the cryomechanical reference architecture for Qilimanjaro quantum setups.
- Build and validate thermal-budget models for cryostats, wiring, filters, attenuators, packaging interfaces and DC/flux-current limits.
- Translate thermal and mechanical constraints into clear requirements for Hardware, Packaging, Electronics and Measurement teams.
- Design, review and improve mechanical components, including cable-routing elements, thermal anchors, brackets, fixtures, sample-box interfaces, rack/cryostat interfaces and installation aids.
- Own setup-level CAD integration and ensure that mechanical constraints are understood before procurement and installation.
- Define site-readiness checklists for internal and client setups.
- Lead root-cause analysis for cooldown issues, thermalization problems, pulse-tube or fridge behavior, mechanical incompatibilities and routing-related failures.
- Convert recurring issues into SOPs, acceptance tests, preventive-maintenance plans and design improvements.
- Work with suppliers such as cryostat manufacturers, cabling vendors, filtering providers, infrastructure providers and mechanical workshops.
- Mentor junior engineers in safe cryostat operation, mechanical design reviews, cooldown procedures and structured documentation.
Minimum requirements
Profile we are looking for
We are looking for a hands-on senior engineer who combines cryogenic and mechanical intuition with structured systems-engineering discipline. The ideal candidate is comfortable moving between CAD, thermal calculations, lab debugging, supplier discussions, safety considerations, documentation and mentoring.
You should enjoy solving ambiguous physical-system problems where cryogenic, thermal, mechanical, electrical, packaging and operational effects interact. You should also be able to convert lessons learned into reusable standards so that the next setup is easier to design, build, cool down, validate and maintain.
Required
- MSc, PhD or equivalent professional experience in Mechanical Engineering, Cryogenic Engineering, Applied Physics, Thermal Engineering, Aerospace Engineering or a related field.
- 5+ years of experience with complex cryogenic, vacuum, thermal, mechanical or scientific-instrumentation systems.
- Strong understanding of heat loads, thermalization, material selection, mechanical constraints, vibration, routing and maintainability.
- Hands-on experience with CAD and mechanical design for real hardware systems.
- Ability to create thermal budgets, mechanical integration plans, installation constraints and acceptance criteria.
- Experience debugging physical systems where thermal, mechanical, electrical and operational effects interact.
- Strong documentation habits: design packages, assembly guides, maintenance procedures, cooldown logs, site-readiness documents and lessons learned.
- Ability to mentor junior engineers and raise the team’s engineering maturity.
- Strong English communication skills.
Nice to have
- Experience with dilution refrigerators, cryogenic measurement setups, superconducting devices or quantum hardware.
- Experience with cryogenic cabling, attenuators, filters, thermal anchoring, IR shielding, sample boxes, chip carriers or superconducting interconnects.
- Experience with Inventor, SolidWorks, Fusion, CATIA or similar CAD tools.
- Experience working with external mechanical workshops, cryostat vendors or infrastructure providers.
- Experience with installation of scientific equipment at external sites.
- Python, COMSOL or other simulation/analysis tools for thermal or mechanical studies.
- Familiarity with safety procedures for cryogens, vacuum systems, pressure systems, heavy equipment or laboratory infrastructure.
- Experience in startup or deep-tech environments where priorities move quickly but engineering standards still matter.
What success looks like after 6 months
- Qilimanjaro has a standard thermal-budget methodology linked to setup requirements and QPU design constraints.
- Mechanical and CAD integration is no longer a late-stage deployment risk.
- Site-readiness requirements are explicit, reusable and usable for both internal and client setups.
- Cooldown, maintenance and sample-change procedures are more repeatable and better documented.
- Thermalization, routing and cryostat-integration issues are converted into design rules and SOPs.
- Junior engineers can execute common cryogenic and mechanical procedures safely and consistently.
- The team has clearer acceptance criteria for when a setup is thermally and mechanically ready for measurements or production use.
Why don’t you join us? 🥇
We offer:
- A unique opportunity to work on real superconducting quantum hardware
- Strong mentorship and technical growth
- Hands-on lab + design experience in Barcelona
- Competitive salary
- Clear development path toward Quantum Hardware CAD Engineer
Benefits:
🏥 Private health insurance
💳 Cobee flexible compensation (transportation, meals, and childcare support)
⏰ Flexible working hours
🏡 Hybrid work model
❤️Diversity and inclusion:
At Qilimanjaro, inclusion and equal opportunities are part of our people-centric value. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute, learn, and belong.
GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation):
DATA CONTROLLER: QILIMANJARO QUANTUM TECH S.L., B67429670, Carrer de Veneçuela, 74, 08019 Barcelona (BARCELONA), Data Protection Officer: qilimanjaro@delegado- datos.com.PURPOSES: Participation in recruitment processes and reference verification.LEGAL BASIS: Implementation of pre-contractual measures.DISCLOSURES: None are an ticipated.DATA RETENTION: For the duration of the selection process.RIGHTS: You may exercise your rights of access, rectification, erasure, restriction, and data portability with the data controller. In case of any disputes, you may contact the AEPD (www.aepd.es).
