Senior Mechanical Technician

About the team

The Sensing Engineering team at Q-CTRL transforms quantum research into deployable technologies that address real-world problems. We design, build, and field-validate an array of quantum sensors that support our key products, including Ironestone Opal - our solution for GPS-denied navigation.

You don’t need a background in quantum to make an impact here. We value strong engineering fundamentals, a product mindset, and a drive to solve the hardest engineering problems in quantum sensing today.

About the roleWe are seeking an exceptionally skilled and intuitive Precision Mechanical Technician to join our fast-paced Quantum Sensing team. In this role, you will work across our cutting-edge Gravimetry and Magnetometry R&D groups to turn high-level scientific concepts into physical reality.

This is not a production assembly line job. You will be working almost exclusively on custom, one-off or low volume prototypes and ultra-delicate assemblies. We need a natural problem solver—someone with outstanding mechanical intuition who thrives in an R&D environment, handles high-stakes precision hardware with extreme care, and can figure out how to build complex systems even when step-by-step instructions don't exist yet.

Note on Quantum Experience: You do not need a background in quantum mechanics or quantum hardware! We have world-class scientists to handle the physics—we need your exceptional mechanical craftsmanship to bring the hardware to life.

What you'll be doing

• Precision Assembly: Perform meticulous, hands-on assembly of custom, highly delicate mechanical and electro-optical systems where high care, patience, and tight tolerances are critical.
• R&D Troubleshooting & Fixing: Diagnose, troubleshoot, and fix complex mechanical hardware issues. You'll be our go-to "fixer" when parts don't fit quite right or systems need physical tuning.
• Upkeep of lab: use, maintain and train others to keep our 3D printers, laser cutter, tools and other equipment smoothly. Contribute to making our lab space an efficient and organised place
• Simple CAD Design: Utilize Inventor CAD modeling to design simple brackets, enclosures, boxes, and mounting hardware, taking load off the engineering team and keeping builds moving forward.
• Basic Machining & Fabrication: Perform light manual machining, modification, and custom fixture fabrication in-house to rapidly adapt components on the fly.
• Elevate Build Standards: Apply your hands-on experience to improve our assembly workflows, suggest design-for-manufacturability tweaks, and raise the overall standard of how we build and care for our hardware.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner directly with quantum scientists, mechanical engineers, and electrical engineers to assemble, test, and iteratively improve hardware concepts.

Ideally you'll have

• Ultra-High Vacuum (UHV) Systems: Prior experience assembling or maintaining vacuum hardware, UHV-clean assembly protocols, bake-outs, or helium leak detection.
• Optics & Laser Lab Experience: Hands-on familiarity working in optics or laser laboratory environments (e.g., handling optics, fibres, or basic laser safety protocols).
• R&D & Scientific Collaboration: Experience working in an academic or industrial research environment, with a proven ability to communicate effectively and collaborate side-by-side with scientists and research physicists.