Job Description
Job Title: Superconducting Qubit Physicist
Location: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire, UK
Contract Type: Up to 2 Permanent Positions
Salary: Band E S1, £56,509 gross per annum
Hours: Full-time (We understand the importance of work-life balance, and are happy to discuss the possibility of flexible working with applicants)
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.
The Role
You will be based in the Superconducting Circuits Group in the Research division of NQCC. Using your skills in superconducting quantum devices you will work on a variety of science and engineering projects in superconducting qubit hardware and software. You will develop scalable and robust quantum computing systems to ensure in-house capability, progress on the technology roadmap, and maintain NQCC's trusted technical expertise in quantum computing.
Key areas will include high-performance qubit architectures, improved wiring and signalling, scalable control and calibration, benchmarking & noise analysis, and quantum error correction.
Key Responsibilities
• Design and build superconducting quantum computing (SCQC) systems.
• Perform experimental characterisation, optimisation, and benchmarking of SCQC systems.
• Research and develop strategies to improve system performance, integration and scaling.
• Work with NQCC colleagues on full-stack integration and use of quantum computers.
• Perform collaborative R&D on enabling technologies with academic and industry partners.
• Keep up to date with advances in the field, present and publish non-confidential results.
Person Specification
We offer significant development opportunities at the NQCC, but as a starting point you should be able to demonstrate some of the following.
(Please note the below criteria will be assessed at Shortlisting or Interview stage as indicated)
• PhD or equivalent industry research in superconducting quantum devices or a related field (S&I)
• Conceptual understanding of superconducting qubits and quantum computing systems (S&I)
• Familiar with dilution fridge measurements and cryogenic microwave signal chains (S&I)
• Scientific programming skills for instrumentation, measurements and data analysis (S&I)
• Measurement experience with superconducting qubits or similar quantum devices (S&I)
• Motivated to work in a collaborative research team, with areas of individual responsibility (S&I)
• Able to communicate effectively, including technical writing and presentation (S&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 or contact Recruitment@ukri.org.
Join us and discover what's possible!
About Us
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
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.
About the Team
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
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