Principal Hardware Engineer, Analog & RF

About Mesa Quantum

Mesa Quantum is building the manufacturing backbone of the quantum economy. We specialize in chip-scale quantum devices, starting with clocks and sensors, that unlock resilient Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) for defense, telecom, space, and critical infrastructure. Our team combines world-class expertise in AMO physics, photonics, microfabrication, and engineering to transform breakthrough science into scalable, deployable technology. Backed by top-tier deep-tech investors and the U.S. Department of Defense, Mesa Quantum is rapidly scaling and actively recruiting exceptional innovators who want to build the future of quantum technology from the ground up.

The Role

We are hiring a Principal Hardware Engineer to own the board-level control electronics at the core of our chip-scale atomic clock. This is a circuit board design role, not an IC design role: you will take precision analog and RF boards from schematic through layout, bring-up, characterization, and production.

You will be the senior hardware engineer on the clock. You own the analog front end, the microwave synthesis chain, the laser drive and thermal control electronics, and the boards that tie them together. You will work daily with our AMO physics, photonics, firmware, and systems teams, and you will set the standard for how Mesa Quantum designs hardware.

This is a hands-on principal role. You are expected to personally do the bulk of the circuit and PCB design work, not delegate it. We want an engineer who loves designing circuits, takes pride in clean analog topology and a well-routed board, and would rather be at the bench than in front of slides. Reports to the CTO. Full-time, on-site in London, UK.

What You Will Do

• Design and lay out multi-layer precision analog and RF circuit boards yourself, from schematic capture and simulation through PCB layout, fabrication, bring-up, and debug
• Own the precision analog front end: photodetector signal conditioning, low-noise transimpedance and instrumentation amplification, and lock-in detection for weak atomic signal recovery
• Design and validate the microwave synthesis chain that drives atomic interrogation, including PLL and VCO design, phase noise optimization, and reference distribution
• Design precision VCSEL current drive and thermal control electronics for the laser and physics package
• Architect successive generations of the control electronics, driving size, power, and noise down at each iteration
• Build characterization protocols, test fixtures, and automation to validate clock performance against Allan deviation, phase noise, and holdover targets
• Partner with firmware engineers on the hardware and software interface, and with physicists on the system noise budget
• Drive Design for Manufacturability and Design for Test with PCB fabricators, assembly houses, and contract manufacturers as we scale toward volume production
• Set hardware design standards, lead design reviews, and mentor engineers