Senior Quantum Applications Engineer

Salary: Band E S1 £56,509 Gross per annum

Contract type: Permanent

Hours: Full-time (We understand the importance of work-life balance and are happy to discuss flexible working opportunities with candidates)

Location: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire, UK

Together, our scientists, technologists, engineers and business support team explore the unknown and turn what they find into work that changes the world around us. Come and discover how much you can achieve when you’re surrounded by world-leading experts, encouraged to constantly learn and empowered to explore your curiosity.

About NQCC: The National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) is the UK's national laboratory dedicated to accelerating the development and adoption of quantum computing. Headquartered at the Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire, the NQCC works across government, industry, and academia to address the engineering challenges of scaling quantum computers and to build a quantum-ready economy. Its mission is to enable the UK to solve complex societal and industrial challenges by harnessing the transformative potential of quantum computing.

Our Benefits include a flexible working scheme (subject to business requirements), a defined benefit pension scheme and 30 days annual leave allowance plus 10.5 bank holiday/privilege days and several other benefits.

About the role: You will join the Quantum Applications Team (QAT) within the Innovation function of the NQCC. At the core of your activities, you will be striving to solve practical problems using quantum computing and work towards the development of possible applications. As part of the QAT, you will be working within an environment with access to a range of different quantum computing architectures and prototypes.

As a Senior Applications Engineer, you will utilise your skills and build your understanding of methodologies and technologies that enable the implementation and execution of quantum algorithms. Your work will be in support of the NQCC's quantum readiness activities and quantum computing testbeds initiative, aimed at understanding the potential and the opportunities presented by quantum computing, its applications and utilisation. You will be working alongside hardware engineers, experts who are building and operating quantum computers. In addition, you will work with and be supported by software developers who build software and systems that access and control quantum devices. Project support is provided by dedicated staff within the organisation. Externally, you will be working collaboratively, alongside partners from industry and the research community, on exciting projects that aim to push the state‐of‐the‐art in quantum computing.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead technical work to support the delivery of the QAT's objectives.
• Use quantum algorithms, emulators and quantum computers to develop solutions to practical problems and pursue pathways towards quantum advantage.
• Benchmark and evaluate prototype quantum computers to understand their performance, behaviour, potential utility and suitability for algorithm execution.
• Use software development kits (SDKs) and tools to code quantum computers.
• Work on the development of a quantum applications roadmap.
• Work with enabling technologies to implement and execute quantum algorithms.
• Build the necessary mathematical models, libraries and codebases to underpin the delivery of the technical work and research.
• Act as the technical lead (PI and/or Co‐I) on collaborative projects.
• Publish non‐confidential results appropriately.
• Present non‐confidential work and results in meetings, conferences, workshops and events, both in the UK and internationally.
• Keep up with the state‐of‐the‐art in quantum computing.
• Provide technical advice and guidance to junior members of staff.

Person specification:

This role is suitable for persons holding PhD qualifications or equivalent experience in quantum algorithms and applications development, physics or quantum technologies. A Senior Quantum Applications Engineer works well as part of a multidisciplinary team, but also demonstrates autonomy within their area of responsibility. You will be proactive, self‐motivated and able to work in a dynamic environment. You will have a good eye for detail, interpreting and presenting technical data. You will be able to work/travel within the UK and overseas as and when required to attend international meetings with collaborators and/or events or conferences.

(Please note the below criteria will be assessed at the Shortlisting [S] or Interview [I] stage, as indicated)

• Educated to PhD level (or equivalent industry experience) in quantum computing or a closely related field. [S]
• Demonstrable track record of research in the field of quantum computing (or a closely related field), such as peer‐reviewed publications. [S&I]
• Party to the delivery of projects and technical work in the field of quantum computing (or a closely related field). [S&I]
• Experience of working with quantum algorithms in the areas of simulation, optimisation and/or machine learning, with knowledge in emulation, implementation of algorithms and execution of quantum circuits, as well as the challenges facing the above within the current state‐of‐the‐art. [S&I]
• Demonstrable experience in using classical programming languages, such as Python (as a minimum), as well as using programming languages and software development kits (SDKs) to program quantum computers. [S&I]
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly present and disseminate technical work and results and influence internal staff and other stakeholders. [S&I]
• Excellent teamwork and collaboration skills, with a positive attitude towards working in a multidisciplinary team, but also the ability to demonstrate autonomy within the area of responsibility. [I]

Please note, if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you and any dependants travelling with you will be required to pay costs directly to the Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some or all of these fees after you have become an employee, and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager.