Superconducting quantum hardware developer Rigetti Computing, Inc. (Nasdaq: RGTI) has reorganized its operating structure to separate commercial system deployments from core quantum processor R&D. The company has established a dedicated Systems Delivery organization, appointed David Rivas as Chief Operating Officer (COO), and promoted Dr. Andrew Bestwick to Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Both executives report directly to Rigetti President and CEO Dr. Subodh Kulkarni.

                     [ Rigetti Reorganized Operational Architecture ]
                                            │
     ┌──────────────────────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────────────┐
     ▼                                                                             ▼
  Systems Delivery & Operations (COO: David Rivas)              Technology & Hardware Engineering (CTO: Dr. Andrew Bestwick)
  • Manufacturing Operations & Fab-1 Delivery.                • Quantum Processor Architecture & Chiplet Design.
  • On-Premises System Install & Customer Support.             • Multi-Chip Interconnects (IMCs) & Cryo-RF.
  • Commercial Sales, Software & Government Programs.         • Targeted 99.5% 2Q Gate Fidelity on Cepheus-1-108Q.

Leadership Roles and Operational Responsibilities

  • Chief Operating Officer (COO) — David Rivas: Previously serving as CTO since February 2023, Rivas will oversee manufacturing operations at Fab-1, customer-facing system delivery, software engineering, cloud platform services, government programs, supply chain, and commercial business development.
  • Chief Technology Officer (CTO) — Dr. Andrew Bestwick: Previously Senior Vice President of Quantum Systems, Dr. Bestwick will lead the technology organization—Rigetti’s largest engineering team. He will oversee QPU architecture, chiplet fabrication R&D, cryogenic RF hardware engineering, and quantum circuit design.

Scaling On-Premises Systems and Multi-Chip Roadmap

Historically, customer installation and field engineering were managed within Rigetti’s core engineering group. The structural shift isolates customer delivery logistics from core hardware research, allowing the R&D team to focus on processor fidelity targets:

  • Customer System Demand: The dedicated delivery unit will scale deployment of on-premises systems ranging from the 9-qubit Novera QPU to 36-qubit systems and the 108-qubit Cepheus platform.
  • Cepheus-1-108Q Performance Targets: The technology group remains focused on achieving its target of 99.5% median two-qubit gate (CZ) fidelity on the Cepheus-1-108Q system—a 108-qubit QPU constructed by tiling twelve 9-qubit chiplets together using inter-module couplers.

Review the announcement on Rigetti Investor Relations here, explore processor specifications via Rigetti Quantum Cloud Services here, and examine our previous coverage of Rigetti Demonstrating Multi-Chip Systems and Gate Fidelity Milestones here.

August 20, 2026

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