Software Engineering Manager

Senior Software Engineering ManagerLocation: Berkeley or Fremont, CaliforniaResponsibilities:Team Leadership and DevelopmentLead and mentor a cross-functional software engineering team working on scientific tools, analytics infrastructure, and fabrication-support systems.Establish effective processes for prioritization, execution, accountability, and project delivery.Coach engineers, provide feedback, support career development, and manage performance across different seniority levels.Build a healthy engineering culture with strong collaboration practices and clear team expectations.Work closely with the VP of Software Engineering to support organizational leadership and decision-making.Participate in recruitment and team expansion as the company grows.Technical and Engineering LeadershipGuide engineering work across scientific computing, fabrication tools, analytics systems, and workflow automation.Develop and maintain internal software and data systems connecting chip design, fabrication, and device performance workflows.Modernize internal tools that have evolved through research and prototyping, making them more reliable and maintainable.Establish long-term ownership, maintenance practices, and lifecycle planning for internal systems and infrastructure.Improve engineering infrastructure and validation frameworks to support scalability, reproducibility, and operational reliability.Participate in architecture discussions, technical decisions, and engineering prioritization while remaining sufficiently hands-on.Contribute to debugging, architecture reviews, infrastructure improvements, and smaller engineering projects when needed.Oversee the architecture and development of data platforms and modeling tools that combine design files, fabrication process data, and device performance metrics.Support tools for design rule checking (DRC), layout-versus-schematic (LVS) checks, and process-aware quantum device design verification.Cross-Functional CollaborationCollaborate with quantum engineers, physicists, fabrication engineers, chip designers, quantum control specialists, and algorithm researchers.Identify operational challenges and translate engineering requirements into effective software solutions.Balance competing stakeholder requests while improving prioritization and long-term planning.Support the evolution of manufacturing and foundry operations across Rigetti's Berkeley and Fremont locations.Integrate experimental data, fabrication workflows, characterization tools, and engineering analytics into scalable internal platforms.Support software systems for quantum processing units (QPUs), system characterization, measurement, and customer-facing delivery.Operational and Strategic ResponsibilitiesShift the team from reactive support work toward proactive engineering planning and scalable software development.Improve technical debt management, prototype ownership, platform sustainability, and operational support processes.Provide visibility into engineering priorities, project roadmaps, resource capacity, and technical trade-offs.Support the continued development of Rigetti's scientific and engineering software ecosystem as quantum hardware development scales.Qualifications:Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Applied Physics, or a related field.Master's degree or PhD is an advantage.At least 7 years of software engineering experience, including at least 2 years in a people leadership role or equivalent technical leadership position.Demonstrated experience developing data systems, preferably in scientific computing or physics-informed modeling.Experience managing large datasets, metadata, and scalable data pipelines.Experience with streaming architectures and tools such as Kafka, Kinesis, or Spark Streaming.Proficiency in Python and familiarity with JavaScript or TypeScript.Experience using AWS for development, production deployment, and distributed computing.Ability to coach engineers, manage performance, and build a collaborative team culture.Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, including the ability to communicate team capacity and manage competing internal requests constructively.Strong hands-on technical skills and the ability to contribute code when necessary, despite a primary focus on leadership.Preferred:Knowledge of quantum device physics, including superconducting qubits, trapped ions, photonics, or quantum information science.Understanding of quantum control systems and low-level hardware/software interfaces, including cryogenic hardware, RF electronics, and qubit calibration.Familiarity with semiconductor fabrication, quantum device manufacturing, or other hardware and laboratory environments.Experience with electronic design automation (EDA) tools, process design kits (PDKs), and chip layout software such as KLayout or Cadence.Experience with scientific computing platforms, simulation tools, and libraries such as NumPy, SciPy, and PyTorch.Experience applying machine learning to scientific, operational, or hardware systems for prediction, optimization, or anomaly detection.Experience with compiled programming languages such as Go or Rust.Benefits and Compensation:Base salary: $220,000 to $250,000 per year.Equity compensation.Medical, dental, and vision insurance.401(k) retirement plan.Paid parental leave.Rejuvenation days.Vacation policy aligned with local regulations and industry standards.Opportunities to lead software engineering initiatives supporting advanced quantum computing systems.Final compensation depends on relevant work experience, skills, and geographic location.Other Information:Company: Rigetti Computing.Work arrangement: Hybrid.Employment type: Full-time.Rigetti is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. Applications from women, minorities, and other underrepresented groups are encouraged.Rigetti may use AI tools to assist with application reviews and identify potential inconsistencies in application materials. These tools support the recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are made by people.