Senior Thermo-Mechanical Engineer in Daresbury

Overview

PsiQuantum’s mission is to build the first useful quantum computers—machines capable of delivering the breakthroughs the field has long promised. Since our founding in 2016, our singular focus has been to build and deploy million-qubit, fault‑tolerant quantum systems. Quantum computers harness the laws of quantum mechanics to solve problems that even the most advanced supercomputers or AI systems will never reach. Their impact will span energy, pharmaceuticals, finance, agriculture, transportation, materials, and other foundational industries. Our architecture and approach is based on silicon photonics. By leveraging the advanced semiconductor manufacturing industry—including partners like GlobalFoundries—we use the same high‑volume processes that already produce billions of chips for telecom and consumer electronics. Photonics offers natural advantages for scale: photons don’t feel heat, are immune to electromagnetic interference, and integrate with existing cryogenic cooling and standard fiber‑optic infrastructure. In 2024, PsiQuantum announced government‑funded projects to support the build‑out of our first utility‑scale quantum computers in Brisbane, Australia, and Chicago, Illinois. These initiatives reflect a growing recognition that quantum computing will be strategically and economically defining—and that now is the time to scale. PsiQuantum also develops the algorithms and software needed to make these systems commercially valuable. Our application, software, and industry teams work directly with leading Fortune 500 companies—including Lockheed Martin, Mercedes‑Benz, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Mitsubishi Chemical—to prepare quantum solutions for real‑world impact. Quantum computing is not an extension of classical computing. It represents a fundamental shift—and a path to mastering challenges that cannot be solved any other way. The potential is enormous, and we have a clear path to make it real. Come join us.

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced engineer to lead end‑to‑end design, build and test of hardware to maximise the thermal efficiency of our quantum computing cryomodules, in particular those working at cryogenic temperatures (2 K to 80 K range). In addition to full life‑cycle mechanical engineering development, this person would have experience in design for manufacture, cost engineering and ideally project management skills. This role will be based at our UK site in Daresbury, with some travel (~10 %) expected visiting HQ in the USA or our supply chain partners globally.

Responsibilities

• Design cryogenic assemblies and cryostat sub‑systems to improve overall machine efficiency and/or reduce capital cost of the equipment (DfM).
• Perform calculations and finite element analyses to inform DfM work.
• Design test setups and conduct experiments to close models.
• Produce manufacturing/assembly drawings.
• Coordinate with Systems team in USA to move from R&D prototypes into production.
• Work with supply chain partners to optimise production cost, schedule and quality.
• Analyse cryogenic performance vs cost.

Experience / Qualifications

Required Skills & Experience

• Degree qualified.
• At least 8 years experience (to be considered for Senior level) in a similar role within a scientific or advanced engineering environment.
• Demonstrable enthusiasm, knowledge and skill in cryogenic hardware design and mechanical engineering.
• Project or Systems Management experience.
• Design for Manufacture experience and cost engineering.
• Experience developing thermo‑mechanical test setups and procedures.
• Experience working within multidisciplinary teams.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate with various teams and external stakeholders.
• Enjoys solving difficult problems.
• Exceptional organisational skills and the ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Experience designing cryogenic systems.
• Experience operating cryogenic systems.
• Experience in the production of manufacturing drawings.
• Strong mechanical design and analysis skills, expertise in GD&T.
• Generating & maintaining bills of materials.
• Generating & maintaining a specification tree.
• Experience in tolerance analysis and how this affects thermo‑mechanical performance.

We are open to considering all levels of experience. PsiQuantum provides equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. PsiQuantum does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, colour, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable laws.