Job Description

Job Summary

General Atomics (GA), and its affiliated companies, is one of the world’s leading resources for high-technology systems development ranging from the nuclear fuel cycle to remotely piloted aircraft, airborne sensors, and advanced electric, electronic, wireless and laser technologies.

We currently have an exciting opportunity for an Experimental Physicist within the Energy Group focusing on hardware development and integration of quantum sensor systems.

The ideal candidate is responsible for determining and developing effective approaches for resolving a wide range of difficult engineering and scientific problems in hardware development and system integration. Assignments are normally outlined in terms of overall objectives and anticipated results. Work is reviewed at milestones or at completion for adequacy in meeting objectives.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead end-to-end characterization, verification, and validation of quantum measurement systems, ensuring system qualification and acceptance for deployment.
• Design, construct, and field complex scientific instruments in a team environment to support quantum sensor development, including quantum magnetometers, gravimeters, transition edge sensors, and superconducting nanowire detectors.
• Build and qualify prototype quantum sensor testbeds, translating system requirements and hardware specifications into reliable, scalable experimental platforms.
• Conduct system-level studies to optimize performance parameters such as electrical noise, thermal stability, and measurement fidelity in cryogenic environments.
• Perform integration, testing, and validation of integrated quantum sensor systems at customer sites.
• Develop and implement cryogenic system integration including vacuum equipment, cryogenic cooling systems, low-noise electronics, and electrical noise reduction techniques to enable high-fidelity quantum sensor measurements.
• Develop custom software for experimental control and data acquisition using LabVIEW, Python, and MATLAB to interface with hardware systems and automate measurement protocols.
• Addresses complex and difficult technical issues requiring novel and highly creative approaches drawing on advanced scientific concepts in hardware integration and system design.
• Anticipates future scientific needs and the modifications required to accomplish technical goals in quantum sensor hardware development.
• Leverage engineering and scientific knowledge of internal and external experts to define what is current state-of-the-art, understand deficiency from a real-world application perspective, and suggest technical solutions and roadmaps to bridge such gaps.
• Propose experiments, publish in recognized scientific journals, present work at national and international level, pursue research projects, and work with and provide support to the wider Energy Group team, national laboratory collaborators (including NIST), and private fusion energy start-up companies in the above topic areas.
• Documents findings, communicates results to scientific staff and makes technical presentations as required.
• May coordinate segments of a specific project and may have frequent inter-organization and customer contact on difficult technical issues.
• Provides directions to design or technical staff and may provide direction to less experienced professional staff.
• Provides expert guidance and consulting to other staff members working on difficult scientific problems.
• May participate in program review, both internal and external.
• Responsible for observing all laws, regulations and other applicable obligations wherever and whenever business is conducted on behalf of the Company. Expected to work in a safe manner in accordance with established operating procedures and practices.
• Performs other duties as assigned or required.

We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.


 

Job Qualifications

• Requires a Master’s or PhD degree in Experimental Physics, Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, or similar discipline with progressively complex scientific experience as follows. Nine or more years experience with a Bachelors degree, seven or more years experience with a Masters degree, and four or more with a PhD.

Must demonstrate:

• An extensive technical expertise and application of scientific concepts, principles, and theory with regards to experimental design, cryogenic systems, equipment engineering and problem solving.
• Experience demonstrating a broad application of those concepts, particularly in building sophisticated scientific instruments, vacuum systems, cryogenic equipment, and low-noise electronics.
• Hands-on experience in laboratory settings with analytical instruments and an expanding knowledge of principles, concepts, theory, and practice related to cryogenic systems, electrical systems, and quantum sensor hardware.
• A first principles understanding for their discipline, and analytical techniques they apply in the execution of the scientific method.
• The ability to organize, plan, schedule, conduct, and coordinate workloads to meet established deadlines or milestones with some experience in project leadership.
• Good communication skills to interface with a wide range of audiences.
• Original work(s) published in professional scientific journals or formal technical equivalents.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience and understanding of the following is desirable:
• Familiarity with quantum sensors (magnetometers, gravimeters, transition edge sensors, superconducting nanowire detectors, Rydberg atoms, etc.) is highly desirable, especially in technology maturation and practical fielding.
• Experience collaborating with national laboratories (particularly NIST) on quantum technology development, metrology standards, and technology maturation efforts.
• Familiarity with quantum communication is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with RF technology and RF components testing is desirable but not required.
• Practical knowledge of building sophisticated scientific instruments, performing system testing and integration into more complex systems.
• Hands-on skills in vacuum equipment and cryogenic systems, including dilution refrigerators, pulse tube coolers, and performance characterization of such systems.
• Experience serving as Responsible System Operator (RSO) for high-value experimental testbeds, including system qualification, configuration control, and deployment of validated upgrades.
• Expertise in low-noise electronics design and integration, including noise modeling, reduction techniques, and electrical system optimization to reduce electrical noise and improve measurement fidelity.
• Perform integration, testing and validation of integrated scientific instruments at customer sites.
• Software development capability using LabVIEW, Python, MATLAB for custom instrumentation.  Be able to integrate large-scale equipment with multitude of components from different vendors, and perform data acquisition in LabVIEW, understand and modify existing Python, LabVIEW and MATLAB scripts, or create new ones to perform data analysis, algorithm development, and large data set management.
• Some knowledge of CAD drawing software such as SolidWorks, and optical simulation tools such as Zemax.
• Familiarity with optical microscopy, x-ray and gamma ray technology and instrumentation is highly desirable.
• Good communication skills to interface with people with diverse educational backgrounds and comm styles.
• US Citizenship and the ability to acquire security clearance is strongly desired.
• Some business travel expected.