General Description
HRL Laboratories, an IBM Company, is seeking an experienced Mechanical Engineer to serve as the Responsible Engineering Authority (REA) and lead the design and development of advanced cryogenic systems supporting quantum research. This role requires ownership of system‑level design, configuration control, integration oversight, and hosting technical reviews while working closely with multidisciplinary teams including scientists, system architects, electrical engineers, and operations engineers.
Qubit Systems Laboratory (QSL)is a world leader in semiconductor spin qubits. Our broad expertise spans semiconductor growth, device design and modeling, cryogenic control, high-density interconnects and packaging, quantum architecture, and multiqubit demonstrations. Our system architecture is built entirely around scalable semiconductor manufacturing to make quantum computing affordable for practical business and scientific applications.
Essential Duties
- Lead the mechanical design of cryogenic research systems, including concept development, detailed modeling, and documentation.
- Serve as the Responsible Engineering Authority (REA) for assigned systems, ensuring design integrity, configuration control, and compliance with requirements.
- Develop mechanical CAD models, drawings, and GD&T for complex assemblies and components.
- Manage system product structure, hardware configurations, and bills of materials.
- Write assembly instructions, work procedures, and integration plans for system builds.
- Oversee mechanical and system-level integration activities in lab environments.
- Perform thermal and mechanical analyses to inform design decisions.
- Inform thermal test plans to validate system performance.
- Host and participate in design reviews, providing clear technical rationale and documentation.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to derive requirements and troubleshoot issues.
- Mentor junior team members and support continuous improvement of engineering practices.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s or master’s degree in mechanical engineering, Aerospace Engineering or related discipline with at least 4 years of industry experience.
- Expertise in mechanical design using CAD tools (SolidWorks preferred).
- Experience serving as a system-level REA or equivalent technical authority.
- Knowledge of heat transfer, thermal management, and cryogenic system behavior.
- Experience with FEA tools such as ANSYS or COMSOL.
- Ability to develop and manage product structures, BOMs, and configuration baselines.
- Experience writing clear assembly instructions, procedures, and documentation.
- Hands-on experience with system integration, hardware testing, and troubleshooting.
- Ability to interpret ambiguous requirements and guide design decisions.
- Strong communication skills, including technical writing and review leadership.
Physical Requirements:
- Must be able to work for extended periods while standing or sitting at a computer workstation.
- Must be sufficiently mobile, have visual and hearing acuity, and manual dexterity to safely work within a laboratory environment.
- Must be able to climb ladders to use elevated test equipment.
Special Requirements:
U.S. Person Status Required
Compensation and Benefits:
- Pay Range: $128,000 - $159,900
- Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location (California). The range displayed on each job posting reflects the target range for new hire salaries for the position. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range during the hiring process.
- Benefits: HRL offers a generous and very competitive total compensation and benefits package. Our Regular/Full Time benefits include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401K match, gym facilities, PTO, Sick time, upward mobility, and an exciting and challenging work environment.
- For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: https://www.hrl.com/careers/benefits
Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)
Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At HRL, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.
We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing.
If you would like more information about Equal Employment Opportunity as an applicant under the law, please go to Employees & Job Applicants | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
For our privacy policy please visit: www.hrl.com/privacy
Skills Required
- Bachelor's or master's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, applied physics, or a related discipline emphasizing heat transfer
- 5+ years of experience performing thermal and structural analysis of electro-mechanical components or systems
- Hands-on proficiency with nonlinear FEA tools such as ANSYS Mechanical or COMSOL
- Working knowledge of CAD interfaces, GD&T interpretation, tolerance analysis, BOM structures, and hardware configuration documentation
- Strong analytical skills and structured modeling and validation approach
- Familiarity with Python or MATLAB for data analysis, scripting, or simulation workflow automation
- Strong written and oral communication skills
- Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary engineering team
- Interest in guiding junior engineers while functioning primarily as an individual contributor
- U.S. Person status
What the Team is Saying
HRL Laboratories Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Retirement Support — Automatic enrollment, a 100% match on the first 4% of contributions, and an additional age-based employer contribution indicate a strong retirement offering. The plan also lists 23+ investment options, supporting long-term savings choice.
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Healthcare Strength — Multiple PPO and HMO medical options plus an HDHP with employer HSA contributions, alongside dental options and employer‑paid vision, point to broad, well-supported coverage. Employer‑paid life, short‑ and long‑term disability, and optional supplemental coverage add further protection.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — A flexible PTO bank with hours available at hire, accrual that grows over time, roughly 13–14 paid holidays including a year‑end shutdown, and a separate sick‑time allotment suggest ample leave. Policies also include up to 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave for eligible employees.
HRL Laboratories Insights
What We Do
HRL Laboratories, an IBM company, pioneers the next frontiers of physical and information science. Delivering transformative technologies in automotive, aerospace and defense, HRL advances the critical missions of its customers. As a private company owned by IBM, HRL is a source of innovations that advance the state of the art in profound and far-reaching ways.
Why Work With Us
Our success is the result of our collaborative team of researchers, many of whom are the leading experts in their fields. Through their insights in support for our customers, we are finding the unique opportunities in technology.
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