Also called: Cryostat Wiring Technician, Microwave Cable Assembler
Hand-builds the wiring, filters and cable bundles that go inside the giant gold "chandelier" refrigerators of quantum computers.
You sit at a clean bench with a microscope, soldering and crimping hundreds of tiny coaxial cables to exact lengths. Every part is labeled, cleaned and checked, because one bad connection can ruin a month-long cooldown.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 0 years after high school. High school diploma plus soldering certification (IPC) or electronics assembly experience.
Ways in: On-the-job training, Certification, Trade school. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Electronics Assembly (certificate).
Growing faster than average. A small but growing niche inside quantum and cryogenics companies.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. Hand-soldering tiny cables to exact specs is skilled work; automated cable making may cut some jobs later.
Age 18+. One way to start: Take an IPC soldering course (or get hired and trained), then apply to quantum computing companies First: IPC J-STD-001 soldering certificate (a 4–5 day course), often paid by the employer
Classes: Electronics CTE, Physics, Geometry.
Official data: O*NET occupation 51-2028.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.