Principal Engineer

Quantum Machines is a global leader in control systems for quantum computing, a field on the verge of exponential growth.  

Our innovative hardware and software mark a groundbreaking approach in quantum computer control, scaling from individual qubits to expansive arrays of thousands. 

At the core of QM lies a passionate and ambitious team committed to reshaping the construction and operation of quantum computers. Our work is fueled by a deep understanding of customer needs, driving us to deliver unparalleled solutions in this revolutionary field. 

We’re seeking a Principal Engineer to drive cross‑disciplinary design and execution across all R&D teams. This role spans Embedded/Linux, Backend (Java/Kotlin), Python SDK, Compiler, and Logic Design/Verification, owning multi‑team epics end‑to‑end—from planning and interface definition to high‑quality delivery. You’ll be the technical driver and execution leader: aligning architecture with product needs, orchestrating interfaces between teams, de‑risking integration, and staying 50–70% hands‑on to unblock execution.

You’ll thrive here if you love complex systems, multi‑threaded and real‑time challenges, hardware/logic/software co‑design, and building resilient, production‑quality systems for cutting‑edge quantum computing products.

Responsibilities

Cross‑Disciplinary Ownership & Delivery

• Own several multi‑disciplinary epics concurrently; define scope, plan milestones, manage risks, and deliver on time with high quality.
• Translate product outcomes into technical roadmaps and cross‑team work breakdown structures.

Architecture, Interfaces & Integration

• Define and maintain interface contracts (APIs, protocols, HW/logic/SW boundaries, timing & resource constraints) across teams.
• Establish integration readiness criteria; lead integration plans, dry‑runs, and cross‑stack troubleshooting.
• Drive architectural decisions balancing performance, reliability, testability, and maintainability.

Hands‑On Technical Leadership (50–70%)

• Contribute code/designs in at least two disciplines (e.g., Embedded C/C++/Linux, Python SDK, Java/Kotlin backend, compiler/LLVM/MLIR, Logic Design/Verification).
• Build POCs, profiling harnesses, and integration tooling to de‑risk complex paths.
• Perform deep dives on performance, concurrency, and resource utilization in HW‑constrained environments.

Quality, SDLC & Execution Excellence

• Champion clean architecture, code reviews, automated testing, CI/CD, and production hardening.
• Define non‑functional requirements and acceptance gates for cross‑team epics (latency, throughput, accuracy, reliability).
• Lead technical reviews; ensure documentation (design docs, interface specs, runbooks) is complete and up‑to‑date.

Mentorship & Stakeholder Management

• Mentor senior engineers, set engineering standards, and grow cross‑disciplinary capabilities.
• Interface with Product, Architecture, and all development teams; communicate risks and trade‑offs clearly and early.

Requirements

Must‑Have

• 10+ years hands‑on engineering spanning at least two R&D disciplines (e.g., Embedded/Linux, Backend, Python SDK, Compiler/Low‑Level, Logic Design/Verification).
• 5+ years management experience (direct line or dotted‑line) leading cross‑team delivery.
• Proven track record shipping production‑grade systems at scale, including multithreaded and distributed components.
• Expertise in systems & software architecture and design patterns; strong code quality and testing discipline.
• Experience leading interface definition and integration efforts across multiple teams.
• Strong English communication; comfort in cross‑geography, multi‑site collaboration.

Education

• B.Sc. or higher in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Computer Engineering, Mathematics, or equivalent.

Preferred

• Experience in hybrid quantum/classical systems, real‑time orchestration, or hardware‑oriented environments.
• Open‑source contributions; fluency with modern tooling (Docker, CI, build systems like Gradle/Maven/Bazel).