Mechanical Engineer

Position overview

QuEra Computing Japan is advancing the development of neutral-atom quantum computing systems in collaboration with global engineering teams. We are seeking a Mechanical Engineer to join our growing Japan team.

This is a deliberately broad, hands-on role for someone who likes being close to the hardware. You will do mechanical design as well as hands-on work on the quantum computer — inspecting, assembling, installing, troubleshooting, and fixing — and the local technical point of contact for the Japanese suppliers and contract manufacturers who build our parts.

We are looking for a practical generalist rather than a specialist: comfortable in CAD in the morning, on a machine with a multimeter in the afternoon, and on a call with a supplier about a drawing tolerance the next day. If you want narrow, deep design work, this is not that role. If you want to own the physical reality of a quantum computer on the ground in Japan, it is.

Key responsibilities

Mechanical design and documentation

• Create 3D CAD models and 2D drawings using Autodesk Inventor, managed in Autodesk Vault.
• Design parts, brackets, enclosures, and assemblies with forethought toward manufacturing and assembly (DfM/DfA), applying GD&T appropriately.
• Specify, procure, and prepare prototypes; assist with testing and validation.
• Produce and maintain technical documentation — design requirements and specifications, drawings, assembly instructions, and test reports.
• Work with cross-functional and interdisciplinary teams to ensure designs meet performance and manufacturability requirements.

Machine support and site reliability

• Keep deployed systems running: inspection, assembly, installation, and preventive maintenance of quantum computer modules.
• Identify performance issues, determine root cause, propose correction options with tradeoffs, and implement the fix.
• During testing, development, and deployment phases, surface issues early and review problems and proposed solutions with the US team.
• Perform hands-on technical work as needed — wiring, soldering, basic electrical measurement and troubleshooting with a multimeter, assembly, cleaning, and general lab support. We are a startup and everyone touches hardware.
• Improve serviceability and reliability of the systems over time, feeding lessons learned back into design.

Supplier and contract manufacturer interface

• Act as the local technical interface between QuEra engineering and Japanese suppliers and contract manufacturers — alignment on specifications, manufacturability, and timelines.
• Support the identification, qualification, and onboarding of Japanese suppliers, in partnership with the US Supply Base Engineering and Supply Chain teams.
• Ensure supplier documentation packages are complete and current: 3D models, drawings, assembly procedures, test procedures, test reports.
• Support design, procurement, and assembly of parts and enclosures by third-party vendors.
• Perform incoming part acceptance inspection and drive resolution when parts don't conform.
• Lead or support root cause analysis and corrective action for supplier-related quality issues.
• Help identify high-risk items and acceptable alternate components; support the US team's risk mitigation planning.
• Support Engineering Change Orders (ECOs) and supplier transitions with minimal disruption to builds.
• Support supplier readiness during new product introduction (NPI).

Ways of working

• Contribute to a culture of engineering best practices — documentation, configuration control, and disciplined change management.
• Communicate clearly across a distributed, cross-timezone team.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
• Approximately 5 years of professional experience in mechanical design, with meaningful hands-on build, installation, or field-service exposure.
• Proficiency in 3D CAD (Autodesk Inventor preferred) and experience with PDM software (Autodesk Vault preferred).
• Strong understanding of mechanical design principles, materials, and manufacturing processes — machining, sheet metal, and mechanical assembly.
• Demonstrated experience working with machine shops and contract manufacturers.
• Practical electrical skills: soldering, wiring, and basic troubleshooting with a multimeter.
• Working knowledge of GD&T and DfM/DfA.
• Familiarity with product lifecycle management and configuration management processes.
• Business-level Japanese and English. Japanese is required for supplier and contract-manufacturer work; English is required for daily collaboration with the US engineering team.
• Willingness to travel domestically to supplier and customer sites, and internationally to the US as needed.
• Self-motivated, strong problem-solving skills, and a genuine team player.

Preferred

• Experience with supplier quality tools and methods (FMEA, 8D, CAPA, PPAP, SPC) — familiarity is valued; certification is not expected.
• Experience in thermal management and liquid cooling design.
• Experience with opto-mechanical system design, optics, or lasers.
• Experience with power electronics systems and infrastructure.
• Experience with prototype fabrication and testing.
• Experience with precision metrology or high-performance test equipment.
• Working knowledge of PLM/ERP/MRP systems.
• Exposure to lean manufacturing principles.
• Familiarity with MBSE concepts.