Quantum Scientist, Quantum Computing Services

🏢 QuEra Computing Inc.

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Role Type

🧪 Scientist / Researcher

Role Focus

🏗️ Build Systems

Seniority

🌿 Experienced

🌸 PhD / Postdoc

🌳 Senior / Lead

Employer Type

🏢 Industry

This role seeks a Quantum Scientist to operate and develop QuEra’s Gemini-class quantum computer located at the AIST facility in Japan. The scientist will focus on ensuring the machine's operational stability, performance, and programmability, while managing daily operations and continuous feature development. A key aspect is collaborating with customers and internal teams to translate user needs into technical requirements and support cutting-edge quantum application projects.

Key Responsibilities

Develop the Gemini-class quantum computer at AIST into a stable, operational platform focusing on performance and programmability.

Manage overall day-to-day system operations, optimizing for reliability, uptime, and running costs.

Drive the integration and testing of new features across hardware and software stacks, including calibration design and automation.

Collaborate with customers on co-design projects to implement algorithms and applications using the quantum computer's advanced capabilities.

Translate customer and end-user needs into technical requirements and priorities for system development and operational improvements.

Required Skills

Ph.D. in experimental AMO physics or a related field.

Hands-on experience building or operating a neutral atom, trapped ion system, or other quantum device platforms.

Demonstrated success in experimental research (e.g., peer-reviewed publications or scientific talks).

Strong communication skills.

Proficiency in programming languages and a basic understanding of software architectures.

Experience in mentoring or training scientists or engineers.

Willingness to provide on-call support for machine operations.

Technology Tags

Neutral Atoms

The role specifically focuses on the development and operation of QuEra's Gemini-class neutral atom digital quantum computer.

Error correction

A key mission of the role is to develop cutting-edge quantum error correction capabilities for the operational platform.

Control software

The scientist is responsible for continuous development and integration of features across the software stacks, including operational workflows.

Qubits & gates

The job involves setting up the machine to function as a gate-based quantum computer.

Atomic Physics

A required qualification is a Ph.D. in experimental AMO physics, providing the fundamental knowledge necessary for neutral atom systems.

Laser cooling

This technology is strongly implied as essential for the hands-on operation and control of neutral atom quantum systems.

Noise & benchmarking

The responsibilities include optimizing operations for performance reliability and uptime, driving calibration design and telemetry.

Source Job Description

Summary

QuEra is seeking a Quantum Scientist to join the Quantum Computing Services team in Japan (junior and senior roles available). The team’s mission is to develop QuEra’s machines into cutting-edge quantum computing products and services; the work in Japan is currently focused on QuEra’s Gemini-class digital quantum computer at the AIST facility in Tsukuba.

In this role, you will be responsible for: 

Development of the Gemini-class machine at AIST into an operational platform offering cutting-edge quantum computing and quantum error correction capabilities, with a focus on performance, stability and programmability.
Overall day-to-day operations of the system, to be optimized for performance reliability, uptime and running costs. 
Continuous development and integration of advanced features across the hardware and software stacks, as defined by customer needs, market opportunities, and QuEra’s technology roadmap. 
Working with customers on co-design projects to run algorithms and applications at the cutting edge of the quantum computer’s capabilities.

All of these responsibilities will be executed in collaboration with the teams in the US headquarters and with scientists and engineers on the ground in Japan. During the onboarding process, the person is expected to spend time in the headquarter (Boston, United States) to learn and to establish relationships across the company.

Responsibilities

System development: you will be responsible for the integration and testing of capabilities and features across the hardware and software stacks, ranging from hardware modules and atomic schemes to software pipelines and operational workflows. In particular, in the initial development of the machine towards a service launch, the person is expected to collaborate with the rest of QuEra team to set up the machine in AIST and make it functional as a gate-based quantum computer.  
Operations: you will be part of the operations team running the machine and optimizing the operations for performance reliability, uptime and running costs, as well as troubleshooting the machine in cases of outages and performance degradations. As part of this work, you will drive calibration design, telemetry and automation. 
Customer success management: you will interact with QuEra’s customers – a mix of the owner of the production machine (AIST), end users and quantum software/service providers – to help them understand their needs, and translate those needs into goals and priorities for system development and operations. 
Scientific and application development support: you will collaborate with select customers to enable high-impact projects to succeed by using QuEra’s quantum computer. Sometimes, this means running the machine in special configurations, or developing features in the stack to support the projects. This work will often involve a close interaction with QuEra’s Algorithms and Applications team.

Qualifications  

A Ph.D. in experimental AMO physics or related field, with hands-on experience in building or operating a neutral atom or a trapped ion system, or other forms of quantum devices or quantum computing platforms. 
Success in experimental research, as evidenced by peer-reviewed publications and/or scientific talks and other contributions.  
Strong communication skills and strong interest in working with a variety of customers and end users to understand their needs and translate them into technical requirements and roadmaps.  
Software skills, including programming languages and a basic understanding of software architectures. 
Experience in mentoring or training scientists or engineers. 
A willingness to provide on-call support for machine operations.

QuEra is committed to cultivating a diverse work environment and proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We highly value diversity in our current and future employees and do not discriminate (including in our hiring and promotion practices) based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or any other characteristic protected by law.