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Xanadu is building quantum computers designed to be useful and accessible globally. This Senior Cost Engineer role is central to translating hardware innovation into manufacturable, profitable products. You will lead bottom-up cost modeling, clean-sheet analysis, and design-to-cost initiatives across Xanadu's photonic quantum computing portfolio, bridging Hardware Design, Manufacturing Operations, and Strategic Sourcing.
Key responsibilities include developing process-based "should-cost" models for electronic assemblies, custom tooling, mechanical enclosures, and emerging optoelectronic/photonic hardware components. You will partner with Hardware Design Engineers and foundry/EMS partners to quantify cost impacts of component selection, optical packaging, manufacturing steps, and test yields. Your technical benchmarking and supplier negotiation work will highlight pricing gaps and provide data-driven support during procurement, directly influencing vendor relationships and product economics.
You will identify value engineering opportunities across standard electronics and next-generation quantum photonics modules through material substitutions and simplified assembly, without compromising quality. You'll utilize cost-estimation software (aPriori, Costimator) or custom parametric models to track product target costs against actual estimates across design revisions, ensuring target profit margins are met throughout the product lifecycle.
Required: B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related technical field. 3+ years in should-cost engineering, product cost estimation, or technical strategic sourcing in complex hardware environments. Proficiency in clean-sheet analysis, bottom-up costing, and value engineering. Strong working knowledge of standard electronics manufacturing (SMT, PCB fabrication, sheet metal, enclosure assembly) with exposure to integrated optics or photonics. Hands-on experience with parametric costing software and advanced analytical tools (Excel, Python). Direct experience interpreting engineering drawings, schematics, and BOM data to calculate material, labor, and overhead costs.
Preferred: High-level familiarity with advanced semiconductor manufacturing, silicon photonics, or quantum computing hardware architectures. Experience with Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) providers, commercial foundries, and specialized optics suppliers. Strong vendor management and cross-functional project leadership background.
