Senior Research Scientist

About us

Founded in 2017, Q-CTRL has grown to become the global leader in quantum control infrastructure software. 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. We believe that working in deep tech domains like quantum provides an opportunity to upskill whilst applying existing knowledge and practices to new markets.

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

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

- 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.

- Grew our global presence in Los Angeles and Berlin, and expansion into the UK, recently opening up a new office in Oxford.

- 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.

From educating the workforce on how quantum computing works, and 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 role

As a Research Scientist, you’ll be responsible for developing solutions for quantum technologies and deploying them in the Q-CTRL product suite.

What you’ll be doing:

• Develop efficient and reliable methods and tools that solve challenges facing real quantum computers.
• Implement and innovate the latest techniques and algorithms from machine learning and quantum control. In particular, you will use these tools for improving the performance of real devices, quantum algorithms, near-term quantum applications, and quantum error correction schemes.
• Collaborate with your colleagues in the Quantum product team and Quantum Professional Services in order to better direct the research goals. 
• Explain and document sophisticated control and machine learning solutions in accessible language.
• Use numerical packages like NumPy, Scipy, Tensorflow, and Scikit-learn to build high-quality research code to develop, test, and demonstrate new algorithms and methods.

About you:

• Ideally, you’ll have a PhD in Physics, Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• Expertise in running quantum experiments on silicon-based quantum computers with experience in system characterization and tune-up. 
• You have at least 3 years of experience conducting research and ideally some publications to your name or a presentation track record in recognized academic journals/conferences in a relevant field.
• You have at least 2 years of experience in developing software for scientific experiments using one of the commonly used languages languages like Python, C, Rust, Matlab.
• A keen understanding of Quantum/Optimal control or Machine Learning tools for optimization, optimal selection, and model learning (desirable, but not essential).
• Familiarity in executing circuits in Qiskit is also highly desirable, but not essential.

Why Q-CTRL?

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

Attractive salary: You’ll get to live the start-up life without 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.

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 employment opportunity employer. We value diversity, inclusion and providing equal opportunities to all, actively supporting initiatives like the ‘Global Women in Quantum’ program among others. 

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. 

Impactful work: Last but not least! You’ll have the opportunity to work in the world’s leading field of technology and truly make an impact that matters! 

Q-CTRL is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that values the strength diversity brings to the workplace. We are committed to being inclusive in the way we hire. We strongly encourage you to apply even if you do not meet all of the requirements mentioned in the job posting. 

Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

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.