What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Mechanical Technician position at Q-CTRL?
About the team
The Sensing Engineering team at Q-CTRL transforms quantum research into deployable technologies that address real-world problems. We design, build, and field-validate an array of quantum sensors that support our key products, including Ironestone Opal - our solution for GPS-denied navigation.
You don’t need a background in quantum to make an impact here. We value strong engineering fundamentals, a product mindset, and a drive to solve the hardest engineering problems in quantum sensing today.
About the role
We are seeking an exceptionally skilled and intuitive Precision Mechanical Technician to join our fast-paced Quantum Sensing team. In this role, you will work across our cutting-edge Gravimetry and Magnetometry R&D groups to turn high-level scientific concepts into physical reality.
This is not a production assembly line job. You will be working almost exclusively on custom, one-off or low volume prototypes and ultra-delicate assemblies. We need a natural problem solver—someone with outstanding mechanical intuition who thrives in an R&D environment, handles high-stakes precision hardware with extreme care, and can figure out how to build complex systems even when step-by-step instructions don't exist yet.
Note on Quantum Experience: You do not need a background in quantum mechanics or quantum hardware! We have world-class scientists to handle the physics—we need your exceptional mechanical craftsmanship to bring the hardware to life. \n- Precision Assembly: Perform meticulous, hands-on assembly of custom, highly delicate mechanical and electro-optical systems where high care, patience, and tight tolerances are critical.
- R&D Troubleshooting & Fixing: Diagnose, troubleshoot, and fix complex mechanical hardware issues. You'll be our go-to "fixer" when parts don't fit quite right or systems need physical tuning.
- Upkeep of lab: use, maintain and train others to keep our 3D printers, laser cutter, tools and other equipment smoothly. Contribute to making our lab space an efficient and organised place
- Simple CAD Design: Utilize Inventor CAD modeling to design simple brackets, enclosures, boxes, and mounting hardware, taking load off the engineering team and keeping builds moving forward.
- Basic Machining & Fabrication: Perform light manual machining, modification, and custom fixture fabrication in-house to rapidly adapt components on the fly.
- Elevate Build Standards: Apply your hands-on experience to improve our assembly workflows, suggest design-for-manufacturability tweaks, and raise the overall standard of how we build and care for our hardware.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner directly with quantum scientists, mechanical engineers, and electrical engineers to assemble, test, and iteratively improve hardware concepts.
- Ultra-High Vacuum (UHV) Systems: Prior experience assembling or maintaining vacuum hardware, UHV-clean assembly protocols, bake-outs, or helium leak detection.
- Optics & Laser Lab Experience: Hands-on familiarity working in optics or laser laboratory environments (e.g., handling optics, fibres, or basic laser safety protocols).
- R&D & Scientific Collaboration: Experience working in an academic or industrial research environment, with a proven ability to communicate effectively and collaborate side-by-side with scientists and research physicists.
About Q-CTRL
Q-CTRL is the global leader in AI-powered quantum control infrastructure software. We build the tools that make quantum technology useful, solving the hardest challenges in quantum computing and quantum sensing to deliver real-world impact.
Founded in 2017, we operate globally with offices in Sydney, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Berlin, and Oxford. Our teams bring together technical and multi-disciplinary expertise across the product lifecycle, and we’re hiring talent to help scale every part of the business. We work quickly to turn cutting-edge science into deployable technology.
In 2024 we raised US$113 million in Series B funding, the largest aggregate investment for a quantum software company. Six months later we delivered the first commercial quantum advantage with Ironstone Opal, our field-validated quantum navigation solution for defense and industry.
At Q-CTRL, we prioritize outcomes over hours. We offer flexibility, equity potential, and competitive benefits that reflect our high-performance culture. If you’re ready to help shape the future of quantum, we’d love to hear from you!
Please be advised that our communications will only come from the @q-ctrl.com domain. All our active job postings are available on our company website.
To recruitment agencies, we do not accept unsolicited branded profiles and are not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.