Sr Technical Product Manager - QPU Platform

About UsWe are building quantum computing systems that push the boundary of what is physically possible. Doing so requires a rare combination of scientific depth, engineering rigor, and operational maturity.Our Quantum Control Platform sits at the heart of this effort, translating physics breakthroughs into executable engineering across hardware, software, optics, embedded systems, and automation. As we scale, we are looking for a Senior Technical Product Manager to serve as the operational backbone between our quantum physics research team and our multi-disciplinary engineering organization.This is not a traditional software product role. You will operate at the intersection of complex hardware development and modern agile delivery, making them work together in a physics-constrained environment.The RoleRequirements Translation & TraceabilityYou will work directly with quantum physicists to extract scientific intent — goals such as enabling a logical non-Clifford gate, achieving specific QPU-level performance milestones, or meeting target fidelity thresholds — and translate them into structured, executable engineering requirements.You will:Build full traceable requirement hierarchies from top-level physics goals down to subsystem specificationsCover domains including control electronics, embedded systems, optics, calibration workflows, and automationDefine clear acceptance criteria and validation plans at every levelEnsure no critical requirement lives informally in someone’s headYour work will create clarity where complexity currently dominates.Documentation Discipline & GovernanceYou will own and elevate the requirements process, not just participate in it.This includes:Defining standardized requirement templatesEstablishing definition-of-ready and definition-of-done criteriaImplementing milestone readiness frameworksInstitutionalizing documentation governance within Jira and ConfluenceEnsuring proper decomposition, traceability, ownership, and auditabilityYou will introduce structure without bureaucracy — building systems that accelerate execution rather than slow it down.Agile Delivery PartnershipEngineering owns delivery. You will be their strongest product partner.You will:Structure requirements so they are consumable by agile hardware and software teamsDecompose physics goals into Jira epics and stories while preserving validation rigorParticipate fluently in sprint planning, backlog grooming, and retrospectivesOperate effectively in hybrid delivery environments where hardware constraints meet agile cadenceYou understand where agile breaks in hardware environments — and how to adapt it without becoming dogmatic or reverting to rigid sequential processes.Stakeholder Alignment & Process MaturityYou will align scientists, hardware engineers, and software engineers around shared execution frameworks.This role requires:Translating between research language and engineering execution models in real timeSurfacing unstated assumptions in scientific requirementsChallenging habits constructivelyRaising the overall maturity of technical product management across the organizationYou lead through credibility and demonstrated value — not mandate.What We’re Looking For8–15+ years of experience in technical product management within deep-tech, hardware-centric, multi-disciplinary environmentsBackground in industries where precision and traceability are non-negotiable, such as:Photonics and optical systems (e.g., Coherent, Lumentum, II-VI)Lidar and sensing (e.g., Luminar, Ouster)Defense and aerospace with photonics or directed energy programsScientific instrumentation (e.g., Thorlabs, Newport)Semiconductor capital equipment (e.g., ASML, Applied Materials)Fusion energy, advanced aerospace, or modern defense companies (e.g., SpaceX, Anduril, Joby)You have:Personally built requirements governance frameworks, not just operated within themDemonstrated end-to-end requirement traceability from high-level goals to subsystem specificationsDefined acceptance criteria and validation plans across complex systemsDeep fluency in Jira and ConfluenceExperience with dedicated requirements management tools such as Jama or AhaStrong technical grounding in physics, electrical engineering, optics, or related fieldsThe ability to engage meaningfully with PhD-level scientists and systems engineersYou are:A mature, credible operator who earns trust quicklyComfortable introducing process discipline in high-intellect environmentsComfortable working in ambiguity while building structureOn-site in Boston and thrive in fast, whiteboard-heavy collaborationNice to HaveDirect experience with quantum computing hardware or quantum software stacksFamiliarity with neutral atom systemsExperience with optical system integration, laser control, or free-space beam controlFamiliarity with calibration workflows, qubit characterization, or QPU benchmarkingExperience building or scaling a technical product management functionWhat Success Looks Like in Year OneA fully traceable requirement hierarchy from physics goals to subsystem specificationsEngineering teams executing against documented requirements with clear acceptance criteriaGovernance frameworks embedded in Jira and Confluence and operating sustainablyMeasurable improvement in organizational requirements maturityScientists and engineers describing the requirements process as a source of clarity, not overheadIf you thrive at the intersection of frontier science and disciplined engineering execution — and want to help build quantum systems that redefine what computation can do — we would love to talk.As QuEra scales from individual machine development to a cohesive platform, this role will ensure that requirements are clearly specified, validation protocols are established, and system builds proceed predictably. By bringing structure, visibility, and technical coherence to our process, this person will enable teams to deliver high-performance machines efficiently, collaboratively, and with minimal rework.Salary: $170,000-250,000QuEra is committed to cultivating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We highly value diversity in our current and future employees and do not discriminate (including in our hiring and promotion practices) based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.#LI-NB1