Mechanical Design Engineer – Photonic Hardware

The role

This R&D role focuses on the mechanical and thermal design, prototyping and validation of high-specification photonic hardware. You will develop robust, testable and manufacturable hardware for controlled operating environments.

What you will do

• Contribute to the mechanical design of precision hardware systems from early concepts through prototype build and validation.
• Develop enclosure, packaging and internal layout solutions for hardware operating in controlled or stability-critical environments.
• Design mechanically robust solutions for precision assemblies.
• Support the development of thermal management and temperature stabilisation approaches.
• Carry out mechanical and thermal analysis and simulation to inform design choices.
• Plan and execute validation activities to assess mechanical stability, thermal performance, environmental sensitivity and repeatability.
• Work with photonics, systems architecture and experimental teams to translate system requirements into practical hardware designs.
• Engage with suppliers and external collaborators on components, fabrication methods, manufacturability and assembly approaches.
• Support prototype build activities including design documentation, drawings, procurement, assembly planning and test support.
• Contribute to the development of hardware that can move from laboratory demonstrator to repeatable and manufacturable system.

Required qualifications

• Degree, apprenticeship-based qualification, or equivalent practical experience in mechanical engineering, physics, engineering science, hardware design or a related discipline.
• Around 1–2 years of relevant post-degree or post-PhD experience, or equivalent hands-on experience in a demanding engineering environment.
• Experience contributing to the design, build and validation of precision hardware or experimental systems.
• Good mechanical design skills, including CAD and production of engineering drawings.
• Experience with mechanical and/or thermal modelling, analysis or simulation.
• Experience working with precision assemblies, fragile components or tightly constrained mechanical systems.
• Strong practical engineering skills, with the ability to move between design, build, test and debugging.
• Ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary teams and external partners.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills.

Nice to have

• Experience in high-performance optical, photonic, cryogenic, vacuum or scientific instrumentation systems.
• Experience from demanding experimental hardware environments such as large-scale physics experiments, advanced photonics R&D, precision metrology, aerospace, semiconductor tools, or high-specification
• Experience with optomechanical or fibre-based hardware packaging.
• Experience developing mechanically and thermally stable hardware for precision systems.
• Experience with environmental control, thermal stabilisation or feedback-controlled hardware.
• Experience of design for manufacture, prototype iteration and transfer toward repeatable build.
• Familiarity with supplier engagement, specialist fabrication and outsourced manufacturing.
• Equivalent hands-on route into engineering, for example through apprenticeship or technician-to-engineer progression.

Benefits

• Equity
• Benefits

About the company

PsiQuantum's mission is to build the first useful quantum computers using silicon photonics. The company focuses on building and deploying million-qubit, fault-tolerant quantum systems.