Lead Scientist, Quantum Sensing (Control)

About us

Founded in 2017, Q-CTRL has grown to become the global leader in quantum. We’re using control to solve the hardest problems facing quantum technology, improving hardware performance and accelerating pathways to useful quantum computers and other technologies. As a product-led company, we bring together diverse teams such as product, design, engineering and research to help achieve our mission of making quantum technology useful. Join us to help shape the quantum future.

As one of the fastest growing companies in the quantum sector, we’ve had a number of key milestones:

- In November 2023, we announced an industry-first partnership with IBM Quantum Services, natively integrating our performance management software with all IBM quantum computers. Building off of this relationship, in September 2024 we started offering two services via IBM’s new Qiskit Functions Catalog as an inaugural partner.

- Designed and moved our Global HQ offices and lab space into the first purpose-built (and award winning) commercial and research facility for a quantum technology company in Australia.

- Continued to deliver real world outcomes across the quantum sectors, with our work with Australian Defence on software-ruggedized quantum sensing for navigation without GPS, as featured in the New York Times.

- In October 2024, we announced our record breaking expansion of our Series B funding round to USD $113M, with $59M USD of new capital.

- Grew our global presence to include Los Angeles, Berlin, and Oxford - as well as the recently announced office in San Francisco.

From educating the workforce on how quantum computing works, to building the next generation of quantum sensors, to delivering massive performance gains for end-users, it all starts with hiring the right talent. If you want to help us build the Quantum future, read on.

About the team

Q-CTRL’s Quantum Sensing Division is world leading and globally unique, comprising ~35 hardware and modeling experts in quantum sensing, supported by a team of quantum control engineers with deep expertise translating fundamental quantum research into novel sensing capabilities with real-world utility. Q-CTRL’s unique software-layer quantum control technology to enable robust quantum sensor operation onboard dynamic platforms (e.g. a ship, an aircraft, a satellite).

We are seeking a new Lead Scientist, Quantum Sensing to lead a technical team based out of Sydney, Australia focussed on maturing this control technology, thereby accelerating the wide-scale uptake of quantum sensors in industry.

What you'll be doing:

• Perform essential research and development into novel quantum control solutions to enhance the performance of real-world quantum sensors (including atom interferometers and magnetometers).
• Develop novel theoretical models and numerical simulation tools suitable for assessing the performance of quantum sensors in real-world environments.
• Analyse sensor performance in realistic environments and apply optimization and machine learning techniques for both performance enhancement.
• Foster a high-performing and cohesive team culture by mentoring technical contributors and encouraging knowledge sharing;
• Work closely with our quantum control engineers, experimental physicists, and sensor hardware specialists to deploy your developed quantum control protocols on real quantum sensor hardware.
• Collaborate with your colleagues in the Quantum Sensing (Modelling) Team, the Quantum Sensing Division, and the company more broadly.
• Share your insights into control-augmented quantum sensing with the broader Quantum Sensing Division, company, external stakeholders and customers through verbal presentations and written outlets (e.g. academic publications, technical reports, blog posts).

Ideally you'll have:

• A PhD in Physics, Engineering or a closely related discipline plus 3-5 years relevant experience in academia or industry.
• Experience in the theory, numerical modelling, and/or optimization of one or more of the following: atom interferometry; cold and/or ultracold atomic systems; optical magnetometry and/or quantum sensing in warm atomic vapours; nitrogen-vacancy centres in diamond; pulse-level optimisation and quantum control techniques.
• Proven experience leading technical teams within a startup, scaleup, and/or academic environment in the area of atomic physics, quantum physics and/or quantum sensing.
• Finally, you will have a strong desire to work with a world leading team and a company that is fundamentally building the future of the quantum technology industry.

Bonus points if you have:

• Familiarity with the Python programming language for scientific computing.
• Experience modelling real experiments/hardware and working closely with experimental teams.

Why Q-CTRL?

Flexibility: We embrace workplace flexibility so you worry more about your impact vs a rigid work schedule.

Attractive salary: You’ll get to have the start-up impact without the start-up wages.

Equity: We want people to have a sense of ownership in what they do and offer the potential for equity share and annual bonuses.

Cash bonus: We recognize exceptional performance and impact by offering annual discretionary cash bonuses.

Resources: We are well funded by the world’s best technology investors, letting us chase our ambitions with minimal constraints.

Parental support: We offer paid parental leave to support you and your loved ones.

Diversity:  We’re an equal opportunity employer and actively support initiatives like the ‘Global Women in Quantum’ program to help expand the quantum workforce.

Unique culture: You’ll be surrounded by some of the world’s leading physicists, engineers, product, marketing and design people (to name a few!) with a strong desire to learn and transfer knowledge.

Meaningful values: You’ll work with an incredibly supportive team who work consistently to deliver our core values to be real, be trusted, be just and to be revered. 

Personal development: We provide you with a personal development and wellness budget. 

Make a dent: Last but not least you’ll have the unique opportunity to help set the direction for this revolutionary technology and truly make an impact that matters!

Q-CTRL aims to bring together cross-functional teams from many different backgrounds to help achieve our goals - we strongly encourage you to apply even if you do not meet all of the requirements mentioned in the job posting.

Please be advised that our communications will only come from the @q-ctrl.com domain. All our active job postings are available on our company website.

To recruitment agencies, we do not accept unsolicited branded profiles and are not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.