Job Title: Senior Quantum Applications Engineer
Salary: Band E S1 £56,509 Gross per annum
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: Full-Time ( We understand the importance of work-life balance and are happy to discuss flexible working opportunities with candidates)
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 is part of the wider National Quantum Technologies Programme (NQTP).
Our Benefits:
Our Benefits include a flexible working scheme (subject to business requirements), Defined benefit pension scheme and 30 days annual leave allowance plus 10.5 bank holiday/privilege days and several other benefits.
About the Role:
You will join the Quantum Applications Team (QAT) within the Innovation function of the NQCC. At the core of your activities, you will be striving to solve practical problems using quantum computing and work towards the development of possible applications. As part of the QAT, you will be working within an environment with access to a range of different quantum computing architectures and prototypes.
As a Senior Applications Engineer, you will utilise 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 and quantum computing testbeds initiative, aimed at understanding the potential and the opportunities presented by quantum computing, its applications and utilisation. You will be working 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 dedicated staff within the organisation.
Externally, you will be working collaboratively, alongside partners from industry and the research community, on exciting projects that aim to push the state-of-the-art in quantum computing.
Key Responsibilities:
Responsibilities and day-to-day activities of a successful candidate:
* Lead technical work to support the delivery of the QAT's objectives.
* Use quantum algorithms, emulators and quantum computers to develop solutions to practical problems and pursue pathways towards quantum advantage.
* Benchmark and evaluate prototype quantum computers to understand their performance, behaviour, potential utility and suitability for algorithm execution.
* Use software development kits (SDKs) and tools to code quantum computers.
* Work on the development of a quantum applications roadmap.
* Work 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.
* Act as the technical lead (PI and/or Co-I) on collaborative projects.
* Publish non-confidential results appropriately.
* Present non-confidential work and results in meetings, conferences, workshops and events, both in the UK and internationally.
* Keep up with the state-of-the-art in quantum computing.
* Provide technical advice and guidance to junior members of staff.
Person Specification:
This role is suitable for persons holding PhD qualifications or equivalent experience in quantum algorithms and applications development, physics or quantum technologies. A Senior Quantum Applications Engineer works well as part of a multidisciplinary team, but also demonstrates autonomy within their area of responsibility. You will be proactive, self-motivated and able to work in a dynamic environment. You will have a good eye for detail interpreting and presenting technical data. You will be able to work/travel within the UK and overseas as and when required to attend international meetings with collaborators and/or events or conferences.
(Please note the below criteria will be assessed at Shortlisting [S] or Interview [I] stage, as indicated)
Essential
* Educated to PhD level (or equivalent industry experience) in quantum computing or a closely a related field. [S]
* Demonstrable track record of research in the field of quantum computing (or a closely related field), such as peer-reviewed publications. [S&I]
* Party to delivery of projects and technical work in the field of quantum computing (or a closely related field). [S&I]
* Experience of working with quantum algorithms in the areas of simulation, optimisation and/or machine learning, with knowledge in emulation, implementation of algorithms and execution of quantum circuits, as well as the challenges facing the above within the current state-of-the-art. [S&I]
* Demonstrable 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. [S&I]
* Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly present and disseminate technical work and results and influence internal staff and other stakeholders. [S&I]
* Excellent team working and collaborationskills, with a positive attitude towards working in a multidisciplinary team, but also the ability to demonstrate autonomy within the area of responsibility. [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!
UKRI - UK Research and Innovation
UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.
Supporting some of the world's most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.
More information can be found at www.ukri.org .
Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI .
How we support EDI in the workforce
At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit 'How we support EDI in the workforce'.
Disability Confident Employer
As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all applicants with a disability who opt into the disability confident scheme and meet the minimum criteria for the role. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
How to apply
Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the 'experience' section of the application.
UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion - a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.
The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.
The Science and Technology Facilities Council is a world-leading multi-disciplinary science organisation where curiosity-driven, blue-skies thinking meets practical, application-led science and engineering. Our goal is to deliver economic, societal, scientific and international benefits to the UK and its people - and more broadly to the world.
One of Europe's largest research organisations, we're trusted to support, enable and undertake cutting-edge projects in an amazing diversity of fields. Through world-class facilities and people, we're driving ground-breaking advances in science, engineering, computing and technology. Our research seeks to understand the Universe from the largest astronomical scales to the tiniest constituents of matter, yet creates impact on a very tangible, human scale.
For more information about STFC please visit https://stfc.ukri.org/
You can also visit our careers site https://www.stfccareers.co.uk/