Lead Systems Engineer

About the team

The Sensing Engineering team at Q-CTRL transforms quantum research into deployable technologies that address real-world problems. We design, build, and field-validate an array of quantum sensors that support our key products, including Ironestone Opal - our solution for GPS-denied navigation.

You don’t need a background in quantum to make an impact here. We value strong engineering fundamentals, a product mindset, and a drive to solve the hardest engineering problems in quantum sensing today.

About the role

We are seeking a Lead Systems Engineer to help establish and lead the Systems Engineering team within our Sensing division based in Sydney, Australia. This is an exciting opportunity to define the systems role in the development of new quantum sensor prototypes and products, contributing to our growing efforts to deliver software-ruggedised quantum gravimeters, accelerometers, and magnetometers for GPS-denied navigation applications.

As the Lead Systems Engineer, you will own the system engineering strategy and implementation for Q-CTRL’s quantum navigation products, ensuring that complex hardware and software subsystems operate together as a reliable, deployable system. You will define the engineering standards, processes, and documentation that underpin scalable product development and ensure our systems meet performance, reliability, and manufacturability targets.

This is a hands‑on technical and people leadership role that combines system planning, execution, oversight, and team mentorship. You will work closely with engineers and scientists to manage integration of subsystems spanning electronics, optics, mechanics, and software, and help validate complete systems in both lab and field environments. The ideal candidate will be an accomplished engineer with extensive experience working and leading in R&D environments, as well as aerospace or other mission‑critical industries, and a passion for building technology that delivers real‑world capability.

What you’ll be doing:

- Leading the team responsible for systems development, integration, and validation of quantum navigation products for Aerospace, Defence, and other applications.

- Establishing and maintaining systems engineering processes, standards, and documentation frameworks (requirements management, architecture, verification, and validation).

- Developing and maintaining system-level requirements, architecture, and interface definitions across multiple disciplines and programs.

- Ensuring internal and external stakeholders are engaged to capture and refine system, product and user requirements, ensuring alignment and technical feasibility, and translating these into technical and functional requirements for cross-disciplinary teams to implement.

- Supporting business development and sales activities from a technical solutions perspective

- Working with Product and Program Management to align engineering activities with program milestones, budgets, and customer deliverables.

- Collaborating with engineers and scientists across disciplines to integrate components into complex quantum sensor systems, resolving issues and ensuring subsystems work together reliably.

- Planning and executing integration, environmental and functional testing using a variety of tools and equipment

- Responsible for planning and executing flight and field trials, including equipment preparation; logistics, and on-site setup, operation, and troubleshooting.

- The role may involve intermittent domestic and international travel, which may amount to several months per year to support field activities.

- Ensure teams document system configurations, results, and anomalies for reproducibility, root cause analysis, and quality assurance.

- Setting the standard and producing high‑quality technical documentation including requirements, test plans & reports, interface diagrams, work instructions, operating manuals and other external documentation.

- Establishing clear communication channels with project, product, engineering and research teams to report progress, assist in planning, and identify risks

- Mentoring and developing systems engineers and technicians, fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement.

- Contributing to continuous improvement of engineering practices, processes and tools

- Other duties within the Employee’s skills and experience, or with reasonable training.

Ideally you’ll have:

- A Bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant field of engineering. Aerospace industry experience and recognised qualifications will be highly regarded.

- Formal systems engineering training and recognition (e.g. INCOSE certification or equivalent) will be highly regarded.

- Proven ability to lead systems engineering teams or functions through full lifecycle delivery from concept and requirements through to field validation and sustainment.

- R&D experience working concurrently with scientists and engineers from low to high TRL maturity.

- Proven experience in systems engineering, integration, and validation of complex hardware/software systems, ideally within aerospace, defence, or advanced sensing domains.

- Extensive experience in requirements management, stakeholder engagement, and technical documentation.

- Excellent written and verbal communications skills and experience working with a variety of stakeholders including technical, commercial, and operational staff including external partners and customers.

- Extensive experience with system integration, instrumentation, and environmental testing.

- Ability to interpret schematics, mechanical drawings, and wiring diagrams, and to identify and resolve system‑level issues.

- Proficiency with test and measurement tools such as multimeters, oscilloscopes, spectrum analysed, and data acquisition systems.

- Experience leading field trials and flight testing autonomously, and readiness to travel for short deployments as needed.

- Experience supporting the transition from lab prototypes toward manufacturable designs is desirable, though not essential.

- Knowledge of aerospace quality systems, certification and qualification processes.

- Knowledge of documentation and configuration management practices, and experience using collaboration tools such as Jira and Confluence.

- A collaborative mindset and the ability to build strong relationships across technical and non‑technical teams.

- A strong desire to work with a world‑leading team and a company that is fundamentally building the future of the quantum technology industry.

About Q-CTRL

Q-CTRL is the global leader in AI‑powered quantum control infrastructure software. We build the tools that make quantum technology useful, solving the hardest challenges in quantum computing and quantum sensing to deliver real‑world impact.

Founded in 2017, we operate globally with offices in Sydney, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Berlin, and Oxford. Our teams bring together technical and multi‑disciplinary expertise across the product lifecycle, and we’re hiring talent to help scale every part of the business. We work quickly to turn cutting‑edge science into deployable technology.

In 2024 we raised US$113 million in Series B funding, the largest aggregate investment for a quantum software company. Six months later we delivered the first commercial quantum advantage with Ironstone Opal, our field‑validated quantum navigation solution for defence and industry.

At Q-CTRL, we prioritize outcomes over hours. We offer flexibility, equity potential, and competitive benefits that reflect our high‑performance culture. If you’re ready to help shape the future of quantum, we’d love to hear from you

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