Field Engineer, Rigetti Computing

• The ideal candidate brings deep laboratory experience with R&D hardware, has worked in customer-facing or field-deployed environments, is comfortable with international travel and working across time zones and cultures, and has direct hands-on experience operating and debugging dilution refrigerators
• Technical background in Physics, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent industrial experience (MS or PhD a plus)
• Strong proficiency with general-purpose electronic test equipment (oscilloscopes, network analyzers, multimeters, DC power supplies, etc.)
• Direct, hands-on experience operating and troubleshooting dilution refrigerators (required)
• Substantial hands-on experience working with sub-Kelvin cryogenic systems
• Experience operating and maintaining high-availability laboratory or industrial equipment
• Experience assembling, servicing, and maintaining scientific instruments or complex electro-mechanical systems
• Familiarity with vacuum systems, vacuum plumbing, P&IDs, and standard fittings and practices; strong experience in vacuum equipment assembly and debug using helium leak detection
• Working knowledge of statistical methods for test and validation (e.g., DOE, Six Sigma, simulation)
• Attention to detail in documentation (writing and following Work Instructions and Standard Operating Procedures) plus excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience working with external vendors, partners, or customers across different regions and cultural contexts
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally on short notice, and to hold or obtain necessary travel documentation (passport, visas)

Desirable

• We are seeking an experienced Cryogenics and RF Field Engineer to support Rigetti systems deployed at customer facilities around the world
• This is a hands-on, operations-focused role that travels to customer sites globally, working closely with both Rigetti teams and customer stakeholders in a highly collaborative, research-driven environment
• The role is not tied to a single site — you'll be deployed to wherever Rigetti systems are installed, with assignments varying in length and location based on program needs
• In this role, you will work closely with physicists, engineers, and technicians to operate, maintain, and troubleshoot advanced RF and cryogenic systems that enable next-generation quantum processors
• You will be responsible for ensuring reliable system performance in a production-like environment, including direct ownership of cryogenic infrastructure, RF hardware validation, and rapid debugging of complex, cross-disciplinary issues spanning RF, vacuum, cryogenics, and electronics
• Test, validate, and debug custom RF control systems using advanced electronic test equipment such as network analyzers, oscilloscopes, DMMs, and internally developed tools
• Operate, monitor, and debug dilution refrigerators, including cooldowns, steady-state operation, and fault diagnosis
• Operate, troubleshoot and service cryogenic and vacuum systems, including scroll pumps, turbo pumps, cryo compressors, high-vacuum components, and cold traps
• Perform helium leak detection, pump rebuilds, and thermal system management
• Assemble, validate, and install complex electro-mechanical, cryogenic, vacuum, and RF assemblies with exceptional attention to detail
• Contribute to test plan development and execute validation testing for next-generation RF hardware
• Participate in an on-call rotation to support system uptime in a customer-facing environment, potentially spanning multiple time zones
• Prepare, inspect, and package quantum chip assemblies for testing
• Follow established procedures and contribute to the creation and improvement of standard operating procedures and best practices
• Read and interpret CAD drawings, schematics, and engineering specifications
• Work directly with customer teams across different regions to support system operation, issue resolution, and ongoing optimization
• Navigate logistics of international travel, including customs/import considerations for tools and equipment, visas, and site-specific access requirements
• 35+% travel required, including international travel to customer sites; frequency and destinations will vary by program