Principal Software Engineer
At a glance
Senior Engineering Leadership role at Atom Computing. Boulder · full-time · $180,000–$220,000 base.
techroles summary, based on the employer's posting.
What you'll do
- Set technical direction for a focused platform area, shaping project plans to fit the wider roadmap
- Design the systems that coordinate quantum workloads, connect with control and calibration software, and handle experiment data
- Turn quantum engineers’ prototype code into tested, dependable services and establish reusable engineering patterns
- Mentor engineers, improve code and design practices, and help maintain production systems through an on-call rotation
- Work with infrastructure engineers on CI/CD improvements and represent engineering in relevant customer or technical discussions
What you bring
- At least ten years as a software engineer, with substantial technical accomplishments
- A computer science, computer engineering, or related bachelor’s degree
- Strong Python and SQL skills, plus experience building and operating software on Linux
- A record of designing and delivering architecture-level features in complex systems
Who this fits
This is a senior, primarily backend role for someone ready to lead technical direction and mentor engineers, while still writing and guiding software. You’ll work mainly in Python and Rust, with occasional TypeScript/React tasks, and share production on-call duties. The role is based in the Boulder or Austin office.
From the employer
At Atom Computing, we build quantum computers using arrays of optically trapped neutral atoms that will empower customers to achieve unprecedented computational breakthroughs. Join a talented team of scientists, engineers, and business professionals to advance the state-of-the-art in quantum computing.
We are seeking a Principal Software Engineer to provide technical leadership for the software platform that orchestrates our quantum computers. In this role, you'll set the technical direction for a core area of our stack: the systems that coordinate quantum computing workloads, interface with the hardware control and calibration systems, and manage the experimental data our systems produce, while driving the architecture of our next-generation systems. Reporting to the Software Engineering Manager, you will be responsible for leading the technical direction of a focused set of projects, partner with the team that owns our hardware control and compilation systems, and collaborate closely with our quantum engineers.
This is a primarily backend role with occasional frontend work. Our backend services are written in Python and Rust, and our frontend components are written in TypeScript/React. Many of our services run directly on the quantum computers themselves, in a Linux environment, so you'll be writing and guiding software that operates close to the hardware.
This role is based in our Boulder, CO or Austin, TX office.
Job Responsibilities
- Provide technical leadership for a core area of our software platform, guiding the design and execution of its projects and setting the technical direction that aligns your area with the broader team roadmap.
- Drive architectural decisions across the software stack that orchestrates quantum computing on our systems, interfacing with (but not controlling) the hardware control and calibration systems owned by our partner team, and managing the experimental data our systems produce.
- Invent novel technologies and solutions that advance our technology roadmap, contributing to inventions and patents where appropriate.
- Rewrite and productionize prototype code written by our Quantum Engineers, turning research code into reliable, well-tested, maintainable services, and establishing the patterns the team builds on.
- Mentor engineers across the team, raising the bar on code quality, design, documentation, and engineering practice.
- Deploy, monitor, and support our production platform, sharing in a team on-call rotation to keep our quantum computers reliably available to customers.
- Partner with our infrastructure team to strengthen our CI/CD pipelines, contributing improvements that speed up and stabilize how we ship.
- Represent Atom Computing's engineering work externally where relevant, in customer and partner engagements and in the broader technical community.
Experience & Education
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field. Advanced degrees (Master's or PhD) are welcome but not required.
- 10+ years of professional experience as a software engineer, with a track record of significant technical achievements.
Required Qualifications
- A passion for writing software and a proven track record of designing and implementing architecture-level features in complex systems.
- Proficiency with Python and SQL.
- Experience developing and operating software in Linux environments.
- Familiarity with Git, automated testing, and modern software development practices.
- Willingness to learn the atomic, optical, laser physics, and quantum mechanics concepts needed to put your work in context.
Nice to Haves
- Experience with a compiled language such as C++ or Rust.
- Experience with cloud infrastructure (e.g. Azure, AWS, or GCP) and Terraform.
- Experience building TypeScript/React frontend components.
- Experience with containerization technologies.
- Strong organization and project management skills.
- Experience working at both a large technology company and a startup.
Atom Computing provides a wide variety of perks and benefits, including fully paid medical, dental, and vision insurance for our employees and their dependents. Additionally, unlimited paid time off, 401K company matching, short- and long-term disability, FSA, dependent care benefits, and life insurance. We also offer drinks, snacks, and catered team lunches in our offices, every day!
The base salary range for this position is $180,000 - $220,000, commensurate with experience. In addition to salary, we offer an annual bonus and equity in the company.
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