PsiQuantum

Cryogenic Electrical Interconnect Engineer

PsiQuantum • $126K — $148K *
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • BSc or M.Sc. in Electrical, Mechanical, or Electromechanical Engineering.
  • 3+ years of experience in designing electrical interconnects and cable assemblies.
  • Professional experience with connectors and cables for electronic systems.
  • Strong understanding of electrical interconnect design principles.
  • Good grasp of mechanical engineering principles relevant to connector design.
  • Experience with 3D CAD software, preferably Siemens NX.
  • Ability to develop engineering drawings and specifications.

Responsibilities

  • Design electrical cables and assemblies for vacuum and cryogenic environments.
  • Create electrical feedthroughs and interconnect solutions across cryostat boundaries.
  • Integrate electrical connectors for PCB components at cryogenic temperatures.
  • Develop interconnect architectures for components inside the cryostat and external equipment.
  • Select materials based on electrical, thermal, and mechanical requirements.
  • Evaluate thermal conduction and manage cryostat thermal loads.
  • Design cable routing and mechanical support solutions within the cryostat.

Benefits

  • Competitive health coverage for employees and dependents.
  • 401(k) plan with company match.
  • Equity grants as part of the compensation package.
  • Access to financial wellness tools and planning resources.
  • Wellness benefits and family support programs.
  • Life and disability insurance coverage.
  • Paid leave programs and discretionary time off (DTO).
  • Company-designated paid holidays and an end-of-year shutdown.
Full Job Description
Job Summary:

The Cryogenic Electrical Interconnect Engineer is responsible for the design, development, integration, and testing of electrical interconnect solutions used within PsiQuantum's cryogenic systems.

This role focuses on cables, connectors, electrical feedthroughs, and PCB interconnects operating in vacuum and cryogenic environments. The engineer develops the electrical connection architecture required to interconnect components within the cryostat, provide reliable connections at cryogenic temperatures, and route electrical signals through the cryostat vacuum boundary to external equipment.

The Cryogenic Electrical Interconnect Engineer combines electrical and mechanical engineering expertise to develop interconnect solutions that meet electrical performance, thermal, mechanical, vacuum, and integration requirements. The role supports engineering activities from concept development through detailed design, component selection, qualification testing, manufacturing, installation, and troubleshooting.

The ideal candidate combines electrical interconnect expertise with strong mechanical engineering judgment and an understanding of the challenges associated with vacuum and cryogenic environments.

They are comfortable working at the interface between electrical, mechanical, thermal, and cryogenic engineering and can translate electrical connectivity requirements into practical cable, connector, feedthrough, and PCB interconnect solutions.

They are able to move between detailed 3D design, component selection, engineering analysis, supplier coordination, hands-on testing, integration, and troubleshooting. Success in this role requires attention to detail, practical engineering judgment, and effective collaboration across electrical, mechanical, cryogenic, system, and supplier teams.

Responsibilities:
  • Design electrical cables and cable assemblies for operation in vacuum and cryogenic environments.
  • Design electrical feedthroughs and interconnect solutions across cryostat vacuum boundaries.
  • Design and integrate electrical connectors for PCB and electronic components operating at cryogenic temperatures.
  • Develop interconnect architectures between electronic components located inside the cryostat and external room-temperature equipment.
  • Select cables, conductors, connectors, feedthroughs, insulation materials, and associated components based on electrical, thermal, mechanical, vacuum, and cryogenic requirements.
  • Evaluate thermal conduction through electrical cables and interconnects and contribute to the management of cryostat thermal loads.
  • Design cable routing, mechanical supports, strain relief, and thermal anchoring solutions within the cryostat.
  • Evaluate mechanical and thermal effects on connectors and cable assemblies, including differential thermal contraction during cooldown and warmup.
  • Develop 3D CAD models, drawings, interface definitions, and specifications for cables, connectors, feedthroughs, and associated mechanical components.
  • Work closely with electrical, mechanical, PCB, cryogenic, and system engineering teams to define and manage interconnect requirements and interfaces.
  • Support component selection and qualification through engineering analysis and testing.
  • Develop and execute test plans to validate electrical, mechanical, thermal, vacuum, and cryogenic performance of interconnect components and assemblies.
  • Support procurement and manufacturing activities and work directly with cable, connector, feedthrough, and electronics suppliers.
  • Support installation, integration, commissioning, and troubleshooting of electrical interconnect systems within cryogenic equipment.
  • Analyze field and test issues related to electrical interconnects and develop technical solutions where required.

Experience/Qualifications:

Required Qualifications
  • BSc Courses, Eligibility, Fees & Verified Programs | B.SC . or M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electromechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
  • 3+ years of experience designing electrical interconnects, cable assemblies, connectors, electronic packaging, or related electromechanical systems.
  • Professional experience with connectors and cables for electronic components and systems.
  • Strong understanding of electrical interconnect design, including conductors, insulation, connectors, shielding, grounding, and signal integrity considerations.
  • Good understanding of mechanical engineering principles relevant to connector and cable design, including tolerances, mechanical interfaces, strain relief, and material selection.
  • Experience designing components and assemblies using 3D CAD software. Experience with Siemens NX is preferred.
  • Ability to develop engineering drawings, specifications, interface definitions, and component requirements.
  • Ability to work across electrical and mechanical engineering disciplines to develop integrated solutions.
  • Ability to adapt to changing requirements and handle multiple assignments.

Required Qualifications
  • Experience designing cables, connectors, or electrical feedthroughs for vacuum and/or cryogenic environments.
  • Experience with cryogenic electronic systems and electrical interconnects operating at cryogenic temperatures.
  • Experience with superconducting cables, superconducting electrical connections, or other low-temperature electrical technologies.
  • Understanding of material behavior at cryogenic temperatures, including differential thermal contraction and its impact on electrical and mechanical interfaces.
  • Understanding of thermal conduction through electrical wiring and methods for thermal anchoring of cables within cryogenic systems.
  • Experience with hermetic electrical feedthroughs and vacuum-compatible connectors and materials.
  • Experience with PCB connectors and electronic packaging for cryogenic applications.
  • Experience with low-noise, high-density, high-frequency, or other performance-sensitive electrical interconnects.
  • Hands-on experience assembling, testing, and troubleshooting cables, connectors, feedthroughs, and electronic hardware.
  • Experience performing vacuum, thermal cycling, cryogenic, and electrical qualification testing.
  • Familiarity with manufacturing processes applicable to cable and connector assemblies, including soldering, crimping, brazing, and related joining techniques.
  • Understanding of Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing per ASME Y14.5.

Base pay is one part of the total compensation package. Full-time roles are eligible for equity and benefits. Our compensation ranges reflect the cost of labor across multiple U.S. geographic markets, and we pay based on defined geographic zones. This position may be filled within one of the following U.S. geographic zones, each with its own salary range.

Actual compensation may vary outside of these ranges and is dependent on various factors including, but not limited to, a candidate's qualifications, relevant education and training, competencies, experience, geographic location, business needs, and internal equity. Your recruiter can share more details about the salary range applicable to your location during the hiring process.
  • Zone 1 - Bay Area and NYC
  • Zone 2 - Examples include Los Angeles and Washington DC
  • Zone 3 - Examples include Austin, Chicago, and Sacramento
  • Zone 4 - Examples include Nashville and Phoenix/Tempe and many remote locations

This position includes the following benefits: competitive health coverage for you and your dependents, 401(k) with company match, equity grants, access to financial wellness tools and planning resources, wellness benefits, family support programs, life and disability insurance, paid leave programs, company-designated paid holidays, discretionary time off (DTO), and an end-of-year company shutdown. Some of these benefits have eligibility requirements and may vary based on location, role, or employment status. Many of these benefits are subsidized or fully paid for by the company.

The estimated annual base salary range for this role is:

Zone 1

$126,600-$148,700 USD

Zone 2

$113,900-$133,800 USD

Zone 3

$101,300-$119,000 USD

Zone 4

$88,600-$104,100 USD

About PsiQuantum

PsiQuantum is a California-based company that is developing a quantum computer using photonics technology. The company's goal is to build a fault-tolerant quantum computer with millions of qubits, which would be capable of solving problems that are currently intractable with classical computers. PsiQuantum was founded in 2016 by a team of experts in photonics, quantum computing, and computer science. The company has received funding from investors such as BlackRock, Founders Fund, and Atomico.
Learn more about PsiQuantum
Size
100 employees
Industry
Founded
2016

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