Cryogenic Assembly Engineer

HRL Laboratories, an IBM company, pioneers the next frontiers of physical and information science. Delivering transformative technologies in automotive, aerospace and defense, HRL advances the critical missions of its customers to help them remove limitations and create competitive advantage. HRL then transitions the work back to customers – ready for real-world application. For more than 70 years, HRL’s rich portfolio of scientific discoveries and engineering innovations continues to build on each other — often in unexpected, profound and far-reaching ways. As a private company owned by IBM, HRL prioritizes purpose over profit, significantly advancing the state of the art. 

General Description
You will join a multi disciplinary engineering team responsible for building, operating, and maintaining cryogenic and vacuum test systems in support of HRL’s silicon quantum dot technologies. In this role, you will perform hands on integration of electro mechanical assemblies, support maintenance and troubleshooting of cryogenic equipment, and contribute to laboratory infrastructure and engineering documentation.

Essential Duties
•    Perform hands‑on assembly, integration, and testing of cryogenic and vacuum systems, including initial build‑ups, reconfigurations, upgrades, and hardware changes under the direction of senior engineers.
•    Assist with installation, commissioning, operation, maintenance, and servicing of dilution refrigerators and associated cryogenic equipment.
•    Set up and operate diagnostic equipment to verify system performance, identify issues, perform helium leak checks, troubleshoot vacuum systems, and execute corrective or preventative maintenance actions.
•    Support integration of electrical and mechanical subsystems, including cabling, mechanical assemblies, thermal components, sensors, and instrumentation.
•    Utilize engineering documentation—drawings, assembly instructions, test procedures, and bills of material—to perform work accurately; create and maintain documentation for assembly, integration, maintenance, and system configurations.
•    Contribute to mechanical design tasks using SolidWorks, including fixture design, assembly aids, basic tooling, and revisions to existing hardware.
•    Coordinate system builds and integration activities with engineering teams, ensuring equipment availability, alignment with schedules, and clear status communication to stakeholders.
•    Support laboratory organization, equipment management, inventory control, and configuration management to maintain an efficient and safe working environment.
•    Participate in process development and continuous improvement for assembly, integration, maintenance, and troubleshooting workflows.
•    Assist with specifying and procuring parts, materials, and tools, and contribute to facility and laboratory layout planning for cryogenic operations.

Required Qualifications
•    BS degree in mechanical engineering or a closely related discipline.
•    A minimum of 3 years of hands on experience assembling mechanical or electro mechanical systems (cryogenic or vacuum experience a plus but not required).
•    Basic understanding of mechanical and electrical integration principles.
•    Familiarity with vacuum or cryogenic systems, or interest in developing expertise in these areas.
•    Ability to work safely and effectively in a laboratory environment performing assembly, integration, and troubleshooting tasks.
•    Experience generating or following engineering documentation such as drawings, schematics, and process instructions.
•    Working knowledge of SolidWorks for mechanical design; ability to create models and basic drawings.
•    Strong problem solving skills, mechanical aptitude, and willingness to learn from senior engineering staff.
•    Ability to collaborate effectively in a multidisciplinary team environment.

Physical Requirements:
•    Must be able to perform tasks safely in a lab environment and be able to occasionally work on ladders and/or scaffolding. 
•    Must be able to lift/push/pull 15-20 pounds consistently.

Special Requirements:
U.S. Person Status Required

Compensation and Benefits:

• Pay Range: $105,700 - $132,200
• Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location (California). The range displayed on each job posting reflects the target range for new hire salaries for the position. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range during the hiring process.

• Benefits: HRL offers a generous and very competitive total compensation and benefits package. Our Regular/Full Time benefits include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401K match, gym facilities, PTO, Sick time, upward mobility, and an exciting and challenging work environment.
• For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: https://www.hrl.com/careers/benefits

Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At HRL, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing. 

If you would like more information about Equal Employment Opportunity as an applicant under the law, please go to Employees & Job Applicants | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

For our privacy policy please visit: www.hrl.com/privacy