Senior Cryogenic Engineer

About Xanadu:
Xanadu’s mission is to build quantum computers that are useful and available to people everywhere.At Xanadu, we are learners, innovators, researchers, collaborators and problem solvers. We are creating something that has never been built before. What we are doing is extremely hard, the classic moon shot. Few people in their life will be able to be a part of something like this, where if we are successful, the technologies we develop will solve some of the world’s most challenging problems and literally change the world. And that is something to be excited about!

Your role and responsibilities:
Xanadu is looking for a Cryogenic Engineer to lead designing, developing, and building Xanadu’s next generation cryostats as well as contribute to the build-out of our facility-level infrastructure. In this role, you won’t just design; you’ll own the entire hardware lifecycle, ensuring our cryogenic platforms are robust, scalable, and mission-ready. You will collaborate closely with internal teams, subcontractors, and external partners to design, configure, and improve deployable systems while providing operational support for existing platforms.
With your deep technical expertise and experience in low temperature engineering, hands-on expertise with cryostats and related technologies, you will play a critical role in designing and enhancing the performance and scalability of our detector systems necessary for our quantum architecture. This role requires a hands-on approach to low-temperature engineering and a proven ability to manage integration efforts across multidisciplinary teams, as well as the ability to work effectively across disciplines in a fast-paced environment.
You will take full ownership of their development, from concept through validation and deployment within large-scale cryostat systems.

Responsibilities include:

• Develop new and innovative cryostats for our photon detector systems
• Independently operate and test cryogenic systems (e.g. He-4 evaporator based, dilution refrigerators) including performance metrics, maintenance, and troubleshooting
• Work with cryogenic liquid and gas systems to achieve optimized cooling requirements
• Help deploy large-scale cryogenic facilities with high recovery and efficiency
• Work with our scientific and engineering teams to push the limits on state-of-the-arts detector technologies

Basic qualifications and experience:

• Master’s degree, in Mechanical Engineering, Applied Physics, or a closely related technical field with at least 5 years of cryogenic industry experience
• Experience leading and iterating on cryostat designs
• CAD and simulation experience for thermal/mechanical modeling (e.g. Solidworks)
• Extensive hands-on experience operating cryostats, including cooldowns, troubleshooting, and maintenance
• Knowledge and experience with high vacuum systems for cryogenic use
• Liquid cryogen handling and distribution experience
• Knowledge of design and fabrication of liquid heat exchangers
• Experience operating a variety of fridges including pulse tube, liquid-cryogen, sorption, and dilution refrigerators
• Thermal and mechanical engineering simulation experience, including knowledge of low-temperature material properties
• Self-motivated, comfortable working both independently and collaboratively with people of all disciplines on complex projects in a fast-paced environment
• Detail-oriented with positive attitude towards work
• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills

Preferred qualifications and experience:

• 7+ years cryogenic industry experience
• Experience with statistical process control and quality management system reporting methods
• Experience writing Python code
• Knowledge of Canadian and international regulations and standards for pressure and electrical systems

This is for a new position. Your base salary will be determined based on your location, experience, and internal benchmarks. The base salary range is 150,000 - 200,000 CAD. You will also be eligible for equity and benefits.

Our values are important. They are fundamental and lay the foundation for culture at Xanadu. Learn more about our values here.

We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. We are committed to building an inclusive, safe, and equitable culture and fostering an environment where our employees feel included, valued, and heard. We are committed to meeting the needs of all individuals and support a barrier-free workplace. Should you require accommodations at any point during the recruitment process please contact Recruiting at [email protected].

Please be advised that we may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in the screening and assessment of applicants for this position. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.