Senior Quantum Applications Engineer

Salary: £53,818 to £59,199 (UKRI Band E – S1) dependent upon experience*

Contract: 2 x Full-Time Permanent Positions

Location: RAL – Didcot, Oxfordshire

Come and do the kind of engineering that made you want to be an engineer.. Alongside world-leading scientists, technicians and technologists, shape projects that improve lives, and daily life, in the UK and far beyond. 

Put simply, come and discover the impact you can make when you’re equipped, encouraged and inspired to perform to your very best.

As part of the UK’s National Quantum Technologies Programme (NQTP), UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is leading a programme to establish a National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC). This includes a commitment of £93m over 5 years, dedicated to drive development in the field of Quantum Computing and to place the UK at the forefront of the field.

Our primary purpose is to fill a key gap in the research and innovation landscape addressing the challenge of scaling quantum computing.

Benefits: 

Our Benefits include a flexible working scheme, Defined benefit pension scheme, and 30 days annual leave allowance plus 10.5 bank holiday/privilege days and several other benefits. 

The Role:

As a Senior Applications Engineer, you will expand 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, aimed at understanding the potential and the opportunities presented by quantum computing, its applications and utilisation. You will work alongside hardware engineers, experts that 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 from support staff within the organisation.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leading technical work to support the delivery of the QAT’s objectives.
• Using quantum algorithms, emulators and quantum computers to develop solutions to practical problems and pursue pathways towards quantum advantage.
• Applying characterisation and benchmarking protocols to understand the performance and behaviour of quantum computers for algorithm execution.
• Using software development kits (SDKs) and tools to code quantum computers.
• Working on the development of a quantum applications roadmap.
• Working with enabling technologies to implement and execute quantum algorithms.
• Build the necessary mathematical models, libraries and codebases to underpin delivery of the technical work and research.
• Acting as the technical lead (PI and/or Co-I) on collaborative projects.
• Publishing non-confidential results appropriately.
• Present non-confidential work and results in meetings, conferences, workshops and events, both in the UK and internationally.
• Keeping up with the state-of-the-art in quantum computing.
• Providing technical advice and guidance to junior members of staff. 

Person Specification:

• Educated to a PhD level (or equivalent) in quantum computing or a closely a related field.
• Demonstrable track record of research in the field of quantum computing (or a closely related field), such as peer-reviewed publications.
• Party to delivery of projects and technical work in the field of quantum computing (or a closely related field).
• Experience of working with quantum algorithms in the areas of simulation, optimisation and/or machine learning.
• 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.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent team working and collaboration skills.

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