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Physics World

Staff Quantum Scientist - Superconducting Circuits

Warrington On-site 5-10 yrs exp Book and Periodical Publishing 45 employees
Quantum computing hardwareSuperconducting circuitsQuantum error correctionQuantum error mitigationSystem calibration

Requirements

Candidates must hold a PhD and postdoctoral research experience or industry equivalent in quantum computing hardware. Expertise in experimental quantum systems, multi-qubit calibration, and measurement software is required.

Job Description

Job Details

Job Title: Staff Quantum Scientist (Superconducting Circuits)

Salary: Band F S1 £67,409 gross per annum

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: Full-Time or Part-Time (Minimum 0.8FTE) (We understand the importance of work-life balance, and are happy to discuss the possibility of flexible working with applicants)

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

Together, our scientist, 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.

The NQCC is a joint initiative of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). It sits alongside other departments within the STFC National Laboratories and has a 10-year funding commitment as part of the National Quantum Strategy

Our Benefits

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

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

Link to more benefits: https://stfccareers.co.uk/rewards-and-benefits/

The Role

You will be based in the Superconducting Circuits Team in the Research division of NQCC. Using your skills in quantum hardware you will lead on a variety of science and engineering projects in superconducting quantum computer scaling. You will develop scalable and robust quantum computing systems to build capability, progress on the technology roadmap, and maintain NQCC’s trusted technical expertise in quantum computing.

Key areas will include architecture of quantum computing systems, leading implementation of the team’s quantum error correction strategy, and responsibility for gate fidelity and error-budget characterisation to guide research into architectural and technology improvements.

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead the control and measurement of superconducting quantum computers
  • Develop infrastructure and best-practice for system calibration and measurement
  • Enable the quantum measurement needs in other areas of the team and NQCC
  • Scope and deliver research on scaling control, calibration and quantum error correction
  • Drive full-stack integration and use of quantum computers at NQCC
  • Establish and lead R&D collaborations on key technologies to accelerate our roadmap
  • Develop key collaborator and supplier relationships and represent NQCC externally
  • Train and guide technical staff and students including through line management
  • Keep up to date with advances in the field, present and publish non-confidential results

Person Specification

We offer significant development opportunities at the NQCC, but as a starting point you should be able to demonstrate some of the following.

(Please note the below criteria will be assessed at Shortlisting or Interview stage as indicated)

  • PhD and postdoctoral research or industry equivalent in quantum computing hardware (S)
  • Expert in state of the art approaches to experimental quantum computing systems (such as superconducting circuits, trapped ions, neutral atoms, photonics) (S&I)
  • Expert in calibration and error characterisation of multi-qubit systems (S&I)
  • Knowledgeable on quantum error mitigation and quantum error correction methods (S&I)
  • Highly experienced in measurement software for quantum computing experiments (S&I)
  • Systematic approach to planning research and experimental measurements (S&I)
  • Excellent technical communication skills across teams and disciplines (S&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. For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact Recruitment@ukri.org.

Join us and discover what’s possible!

Education

Postgraduate Degree

Skills

Quantum computing hardwareSuperconducting circuitsQuantum error correctionQuantum error mitigationSystem calibrationGate fidelity characterisationError-budget characterisationMeasurement softwareResearch planningTechnical communicationR&D collaborationLine managementFull-stack integration

About Physics World

Physics World helps scientists working in academic and industrial research stay up to date with the latest breakthroughs in physics and interdisciplinary science. We provide an international readership with a unique mix of daily news, opinion and analysis from an award-winning team of science writers and editors.