AC
Boulder, Colorado, United States· Full-time
$170K – $200K/yr
AC
Active3w ago
Principal Subsystem Build and Test Engineer
Pay vs market · Top quarter
This job's pay ($197,500 a year at the midpoint) is higher than over 90% of 283 salary-listed QA Engineer jobs in United States in the last 12 months; their median is $140,000.
Role overview
Job description
Responsibilities
Lead the build, integration, and testing of optical, vacuum/mechanical, RF, electronic, and cable assemblies.
Manage and develop a multidisciplinary team of engineers and technicians.
Partner with Engineering on first-of-a-kind builds and translate designs into practical assembly and test methods.
Work with Manufacturing Engineering and Quality to establish repeatable build processes, work instructions, fixtures, and test procedures.
Provide hands-on technical direction for optical alignment, precision assembly, integration, and troubleshooting.
Diagnose build and test failures and work with Engineering to identify design, process, material, or workmanship issues.
Ensure required materials, documentation, qualified personnel, and calibrated equipment are available before builds begin.
Maintain accurate build, inspection, and test records and release verified subsystems to System Integration & Test (SI&T).
Track build progress, first-pass acceptance, rework, and cycle time and use repeat-build findings to improve processes and fixtures.
Oversee approved subsystem measurements and acceptance tests, including optical characterization, electronic checkout, and applicable mechanical or vacuum verification.
Collaborate with leadership to plan personnel, workspace, fixtures, and shared equipment across parallel build efforts.
Experience & Education
BS in Optical, Mechanical, Electrical, or Manufacturing Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field, or equivalent relevant experience. Advanced degree preferred.
8+ years of experience building, integrating, testing, or developing precision optical, scientific, or similarly complex hardware.
3+ years of experience mentoring engineers and technicians in an integration, manufacturing, or test environment.
QualificationsExtensive hands-on experience assembling, aligning, integrating, and testing precision optical systems.
Experience working with electronic/RF, vacuum, mechanical, or electromechanical subsystems.
Experience taking first-of-a-kind hardware through build, test, troubleshooting, and transition into repeatable production.
Practical knowledge of optical assembly, alignment, cleanliness, bonding coordination, and the measurements used to verify precision optical subsystems.
Working knowledge of electronic and RF assembly, chassis and cable checkout, and vacuum and mechanical build requirements.
Strong troubleshooting skills and the ability to distinguish design issues from process, material, equipment, and workmanship problems.
Experience working with released drawings, work instructions, inspection criteria, test procedures, calibrated equipment, and nonconformance processes.
Desire to coach engineers and technicians and distinguish process problems from design issues.
Experience with quantum computing, atomic physics, advanced photonics, aerospace, semiconductor, scientific instrumentation, or similarly complex hardware preferred.
Capable of lifting and moving objects that weigh up to 25 pounds.
Qualifications
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About this listing
- Source: Atom Computing's official careers site · still listed there on 8 Nov 2026
- Posted 17 Oct 2026
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Role market pulse
How QA Engineer demand looks in United States
Live jobs
349
Posted 30d
321
30d movement
+1359.1%
Remote share
5.2%
Salary listed
86.2%
Salary trend 1Y
Not enough history
What they are looking for
Skills & requirements
Qualification
Ensure required materials, documentation, qualified personnel, and calibrated equipment are available before builds begin; Advanced degree preferred; 8+ years of experience building, integrating, testing, or developing precision optical, scientific, or similarly complex hardware; 3+ years of experience mentoring engineers and technicians in an integration, manufacturing, or test environment
Department · Manufacturing
Hiring company
Atom Computing
View the company profile, current openings and hiring details.
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