Quantum Readiness Support Graduate

Overview

Science and Technology Facilities Council
Salary: £33,472 per annum + £1,000 welcome bonus
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: Full-time
Location: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX
Closing date: 19th October 2025
Assessment Centre: December 2025 / January 2026
Start date: September 2026

The National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) is a new research institution, funded through UK Research and Innovation, which is dedicated to accelerating the development and adoption of quantum computing by addressing the challenges of scaling up the technology. Our vision is to enable the UK to solve some of the most sophisticated and challenging problems facing society by harnessing the potential of quantum computing. The Centre works with businesses, government and the research community to deliver quantum computing capabilities for the UK and support the growth of the emerging industry.

A purpose-built facility for the NQCC, which opened in 2024, is located at the growing Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire. The NQCC sits alongside other departments within the STFC National Laboratories, part of the wider National Quantum Technologies Programme (NQTP). The NQCC is a joint initiative of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).

We are recruiting for a Quantum Readiness Support Graduate to support the continued growth of the NQCC’s SparQ Quantum Readiness programme. This programme aims to drive the responsible adoption of quantum computing in the UK. This graduate position will sit within our ‘Quantum Computing in Society’ team and will enable scaled delivery against our key objectives to drive the development of a skilled UK quantum workforce, and to enable the responsible and ethical development and use of the technology.

Graduate Scheme

The STFC Graduate scheme will give you the opportunity to really pursue your interests and passion early in your journey with us, supported by technical training and a broader programme of career support and training and development.

Our dedicated Graduate Development Team will provide the right combination of challenge and support throughout, helping you achieve your ambitions. We know that professional recognition is also important to you too, so we will provide mentoring and expertise to help you achieve valued qualifications or chartered status in your chosen field.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Evaluate, monitor and report on the ongoing performance of our quantum skills courses and identify and propose ways to drive continual improvement
• Support the management and delivery of key activities, schemes and forums e.g. the NQCC’s Doctoral Studentship Scheme, Quantum Programming Residency and the Responsible Quantum Industry Forum
• Support delivery of key events such as the UK Quantum Hackathon
• Work with our Professional Training Lead and Outreach & Education Lead to manage NQCC placement schemes, coordinating schemes internally to ensure successful recruitment, delivery and evaluation
• Depending on background and interests, commission and/or develop educational materials and activities related to quantum computing
• Ensure relevant audiences are aware of the NQCC’s training opportunities by promoting through relevant communication channels and outreach events

Person Specification

In order to apply for the role we are looking for the following:

• Achieved, or be on course to achieve, a minimum 2:1 degree, in a relevant field of study (S)
• Have the right to live and work in the UK at time of starting employment(S)
• Knowledge of a field relevant to quantum computing, including physics, chemistry, maths or computer science (S&I)
• Excellent organisational skills with demonstrable experience planning and delivering projects or events (S&I)
• Demonstrable interest in software/AI tools to improve productivity and automate processes (S&I)
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, including the ability to use data analysis tools to manage and interpret sophisticated datasets accurately and efficiently (S&I)
• Excellent communication skills, to convey complex information clearly and appropriately to a range of audiences (S&I)
• Excellent team working skills with the ability to build and maintain strong working relationships and adapt to changing priorities (I)
• Prior experience and/or knowledge of quantum computing or related quantum technologies (S&I)
• Demonstrable interest in training e.g. through guiding and/or creating learning content (S&I)

Employee Benefits

We are offering a permanent position with a whole host of benefits including:

• 30 days holiday (in addition to 10.5 bank holidays and privilege days).
• An excellent defined average salary pension scheme.
• Easily accessible public transport links/ free parking.
• Excellent learning and development opportunities.

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. For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact stfcgraduates@ukri.org.

Application Guidance

Please note that we can only accept a maximum of 2 applications per candidate.

Part of our application process involves submitting your CV and a cover letter. Your cover letter should address your suitability for the opportunity based how you meet each essential criteria stated in this advert.

Please note that we hold the right to close this vacancy early if a sufficient number of applications have been received.

We ask some of the biggest questions in the universe, to answer some of the biggest challenges in the world. Together, our scientists, technologists, engineers and business support team explore the unknown across every field you could think of. And they turn what they find into work that changes the world around us.

What could you achieve with the world-leading facilities and experts of one of Europe\\\’s largest research organisations by your side? Join us and discover what\\\’s possible!

About Us

UKRI – UK Research and Innovation

UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.

Supporting some of the worlds most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.

More information can be found at www.ukri.org.

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI.

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all applicants with a disability who opt into the disability confident scheme and meet the minimum criteria for the role. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

About the Team

The Science and Technology Facilities Council is a world-leading multi-disciplinary science organisation where curiosity-driven, blue-skies thinking meets practical, application-led science and engineering. Our goal is to deliver economic, societal, scientific and international benefits to the UK and its people – and more broadly to the world.