# Senior Quantum Engineer, Gate Calibration

**Company:** [Rigetti Computing](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/rigetti-computing)
**Location:** Berkeley, CA
**Role:** Hardware Engineering
**Salary:** $175k – $200k/yr
**Skills:** quantum computing, superconducting qubits, tunable couplers, two-qubit gates, pulse engineering, Python, qutip, dynamical decoupling, randomized benchmarking, gate set tomography, cycle benchmarking, quantum control, error suppression, hamiltonian extraction, decoherence
**Posted:** 2026-08-06

> Leads experimental characterization, calibration, and optimization of two-qubit gates on tunable-coupler superconducting processors. The role requires a PhD, substantial hands-on quantum-device experience, strong scientific Python skills, and expertise in pulse engineering and error diagnostics.

## Job Description

## Responsibilities
- Lead experimental programs to characterize, calibrate, and optimize two-qubit gates on tunable-coupler devices, from single-pair physics investigations to full-processor deployment.
- Identify gate-error bottlenecks, including coherent control error, decoherence, leakage, crosstalk, and TLS interactions, and isolate their physical origins through targeted experiments, benchmarking, and simulation.
- Develop and harden calibration methods using optimal pulse shaping, dynamical decoupling, and other error-suppression strategies, emphasizing robustness and automation at scale.
- Develop and improve metrology for full-processor Hamiltonian and characteristic extraction, correlate it with gate performance, and turn findings into actionable feedback for device design, fabrication, and control-hardware teams.
- Prepare Rigetti devices for internal applications development teams and external deployment.
- Stay current with the literature and convert state-of-the-art techniques into working capability on production hardware.
- Contribute to superconducting quantum computing through high-quality publications.

## Requirements
- PhD in Physics, Applied Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
- Significant hands-on experience calibrating and characterizing two-qubit gates on superconducting quantum devices; direct tunable-coupler experience is strongly preferred.
- Deep understanding of gate design, pulse engineering, and decoherence mechanisms, with demonstrated fidelity improvements from error diagnostics.
- Ability to independently execute complex experimental efforts from concept through validated results.
- Strong Python skills in a scientific context and experience building tools used by others.
- Experimental determination and judgment in balancing investigation depth with iteration speed.
- Excellent communication skills and a collaborative, team-first mindset.

## Nice-to-haves
- Experience with quantum simulation frameworks such as QuTiP for gate and noise modeling.
- Experience deploying calibration or benchmarking procedures across large multi-qubit processors in an industrial or startup setting.
- Familiarity with randomized benchmarking variants, gate set tomography, cycle benchmarking, or other scalable error diagnostics.
- Publications or demonstrated results in high-fidelity entangling gates, error suppression, or quantum control.
- Experience mentoring junior scientists or leading small technical teams.

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