Quantum Hardware Engineer
Impact: Innovation
Designs, develops, and tests the physical components and systems that enable quantum computing and other quantum technologies. This includes working with superconducting circuits, trapped ions, photonic systems, and other quantum-mechanical devices.
What the day looks like
- People interaction
- Moderate
- Team vs solo
- Team-oriented with significant solo work
- Client facing
- Never
- Impact visibility
- High
- Travel
- Occasional
- Schedule flexibility
- Structured
- Remote work
- Hybrid
- Typical work hours
- 40-50 hours per week
- Stress level
- High
At a glance
- Median salary
- $140,000
- Entry-level
- $95,000
- Senior
- $200,000
- Growth by 2033
- 25%+
- Demand
- Growing Fast
- Freelance potential
- Low
- Salary growth potential
- Very High
- Typical student debt
- $80,000 - $150,000
Skills you'll use
Hard skills
- Quantum Mechanics
- Semiconductor Physics
- Circuit Design
- Cryogenics
- FPGA Programming
- Materials Science
Soft skills
- Problem-solving
- Critical Thinking
- Attention to Detail
- Collaboration
- Adaptability
Technical complexity: Very High
How to get there
- Minimum education
- Doctoral or Professional Degree
- Licensing
- No
- Years to mid-career
- 5
- Years to senior
- 10
- Career switching
- Hard
Where this career leads
How people arrive here
Where you can go from here
Typical progression
- Lead Engineer
- Principal Engineer
- Architect
- Research Fellow
Future outlook
- Automation probability
- Low
- AI disruption risk
- Low
- Demand trend
- Growing Fast
How people feel about it
- Overall satisfaction
- 4/10
- Meaning
- 4/10
- Work-life balance
- 3.5/10
- Prestige
- 8.5/10
- Social perception
- High