Systems Engineering Leader for Quantum Sensing Platform

We are seeking a seasoned systems engineering professional to lead the development and delivery of a cutting-edge quantum sensing platform. As Product and Engineering Lead, you will be responsible for bridging deep technical design with systems integration, customer co-development, and program delivery.

You will own the architecture and systems integration of the device, spanning our quantum sensing core (diamond, optics, chip), electronics, and embedded systems through to downstream integration requirements. Your expertise in applied sensing technology is crucial in delivering a compact, high-performance sensing platform into real-world evaluation environments.

• Technical Leadership
• Lead the system-level design of Deteqt's quantum magnetometry device, spanning hardware, optics, electronics, software, and embedded integration.
• Provide hands-on technical guidance while mentoring and coordinating the engineering team.
• Make informed trade-offs to balance experimental performance, manufacturability, and field robustness.
• Act as the primary point of contact for customer and co-development meetings, translating requirements into technical specifications and product milestones.
• Serve as the technical liaison with external manufacturing and integration partners to ensure alignment with go-to-market needs.

You will oversee component selection, system integration, validation, and field testing. Leading and participating in bench testing, simulations, and debugging are also part of your responsibilities.

• Align system design with field pilot needs including power, packaging, robustness, calibration, and user interfaces.
• Build in diagnostics, error handling, and documentation to support operability in real-world environments.
• Establish and maintain project management frameworks and tools that provide visibility on progress, priorities, and workload.
• Own project planning, scope, and delivery milestones, anticipating and unblocking roadblocks across teams.
• Manage project budgets and track costs across internal builds and partner deliverables.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate technical and operational risks to ensure reliable delivery.

• 10+ years experience in systems engineering for high-tech hardware products.
• Proven track record delivering functional prototypes into field use.
• Demonstrated ability to engage directly with customers and partners, translating requirements into technical specifications and product milestones.
• Experience managing project budgets, timelines, and risk in complex technical programs.
• Experience in applied sensing technology, ideally in navigation, mineral resource discovery or medical imaging.
• Experience leading end-to-end system builds that involve optics, embedded systems, and electronic design.
• Strong interdisciplinary communication skills; can translate between physics, engineering, software, and commercial needs.

• A ground-floor impact at a well-funded, fast-growing startup.
• A values-led culture prioritising curiosity, diversity of thought, and building with integrity.
• A mission with meaning, helping bring quantum sensing out of the lab and into real-world domains that matter.

• A field-deployable prototype delivered on time, tested with customers and partners, and meeting performance goals.
• A well-integrated, manufacturable system that demonstrates Deteqt's core technical advantage and readiness for productisation.
• A scalable project delivery framework is in place, providing transparency on workload, priorities, and timelines as the company grows.
• Strong alignment across internal teams, external partners, and co-development customers, with clear technical leadership.
• Effective management of budgets, risks, and delivery milestones, ensuring reliable execution.
• A solid foundation laid for scale-up beyond the pilot, with customer feedback directly informing the product roadmap.