RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be availableCLEARANCE TYPE: A US Government security clearance per customer's requirements.TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time
Description
At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.
Northrop Grumman Mission Systems is a trusted provider of mission-enabling solutions for global security. Our Engineering and Sciences (E&S) organization pushes the boundaries of innovation, redefines engineering capabilities, and drives advances in various sciences. Our team is chartered by providing the skills, innovative technologies to develop, design, produce and sustain optimized product lines across the sector while providing a decisive advantage to the warfighter. Come be a part of our mission!
We are seeking a multi-faceted physicist with a robust background in quantum control experimentation, data analysis, circuit design, or modeling and simulation. The ideal candidate has experience with a combination of the above disciplines and has a strong interest in developing novel superconducting quantum technologies and prototypes. This candidate is expected to aid in the development of data acquisition techniques, quantum characterization algorithms, and the design of advanced superconducting integrated circuits.
This position requires fulltime work on site located at our Advanced Technology Lab (ATL) in Linthicum, Maryland OR our Annapolis Junction, Maryland location.
Your responsibilities:
- You will be spearheading solving complex technical problems involving quantum control experiments.
- You will be analyzing test data to develop better analytical models of superconducting quantum systems.
- You will be analyzing test data to develop better integrated circuits towards future superconducting prototype demonstrations.
What you need to be successful in the role:
- Strong interest in quantum control experiments, including but not limited to superconducting qubit systems.
- Motivation to learn new technologies and technical skills.
- Ability to collaborate in a small group setting (4-7 people) as well as work independently.
This position can be filled at the Principal Quantum Physicist level OR Sr. Principal Quantum Physicist level. Qualifications for both are listed below:
Basic Qualifications for Principal Quantum Physicist:
- Bachelor’s degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) with 5 years of relevant experience; Master's degree in STEM related field with 3 years' of relevant technical experience OR Masters’ degree in STEM related field and currently enrolled in a PhD program with a completion date prior to start with 1 year of relevant technical experience OR PhD in STEM related field with 1 year of relevant technical experience.
- Experience in a cryogenic lab conducting quantum control experiments.
- Proficiency writing code in MATLAB and/or Python.
- This position requires the applicant to be a U.S. Citizen.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance per business requirements.
Basic Qualifications for Sr. Principal Quantum Physicist:
- PhD in experimental physics, electrical engineering, or a STEM related field and 4 years of relevant technical experience; Master's Degree in experimental physics, electrical engineering, or a STEM related with 6 years of relevant technical experience; Bachelor's Degree in experimental physics, electrical engineering, or a STEM related with 8 plus years' of relevant experience
- Extensive experience in a cryogenic lab conducting quantum control experiments.
- Proficiency writing code in MATLAB and/or Python.
- US Citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a USG security clearance.
Preferred Qualifications for both Principal AND Sr. Principal Quantum Physicist:
- PhD in experimental physics plus four years of relevant post-doc or industry experience.
- Expertise with superconducting qubit control methods and experimental protocols.
- Experience with designing superconducting qubit circuits and integrated control components.
- Knowledge of superconducting qubit interactions with external circuitry and general device physics.
- Experience modeling superconducting quantum systems.
- Active U.S. Government security clearance
Primary Level Salary Range: $131,500.00 - $197,300.00Secondary Level Salary Range: $164,200.00 - $246,400.00The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.
TECHNICAL & MARKET ANALYSIS | Appended by Quantum.Jobs
The structural maturation of superconducting quantum architectures necessitates a specialized tier of senior physicists capable of bridging the gap between fundamental qubit physics and scalable systems engineering. This role type exists to resolve the deterministic control and characterization bottlenecks that currently limit the fidelity of multi-qubit integrated circuits within high-security computational environments. By translating experimental data into high-fidelity analytical models, these experts provide the essential architectural feedback loop required to move from laboratory prototypes toward fault-tolerant demonstrations. The necessity of this function is driven by the global escalation in quantum hardware complexity and the transition toward mission-critical technology readiness levels. Within the broader value chain, this role serves as a primary conduit for translating theoretical breakthroughs in quantum control into hardened, industrial-grade hardware.
The global quantum ecosystem is currently navigating a critical pivot from basic research to the engineering of reliable, large-scale hardware platforms. Within the hardware and systems tier of the value chain, superconducting modalities remain a primary focus for organizations pursuing universal quantum computation. However, achieving the required error rates for fault tolerance depends on the precise orchestration of quantum control protocols and the physical optimization of superconducting integrated circuits. This transition is constrained by a notable structural deficit in senior-level human capital capable of navigating the intersection of cryogenic experimentation, circuit design, and complex data modeling.
Macro-level dynamics, including increased public funding for national security and sovereign quantum capabilities, are driving the demand for specialized research centers like the Advanced Technology Lab. These facilities function as essential infrastructure for addressing the technology readiness level gap that persists between experimental proof-of-concepts and utility-scale systems. The integration of advanced quantum sensors and processors into global security frameworks requires a workforce that can maintain rigorous standards for characterization and benchmarking while operating within stringent regulatory and security environments.
Furthermore, the industry is witnessing a trend toward full-stack hardware optimization, where the development of novel data acquisition techniques and characterization algorithms is directly coupled with the design of next-generation integrated circuits. This cross-disciplinary approach is necessary to mitigate risks associated with hardware decoherence and crosstalk in high-density qubit arrays. As the sector moves toward the NISQ-to-FTQC inflection point, the ability to synthesize experimental results into predictive architectural roadmaps becomes a primary determinant for achieving sustainable quantum advantage in both commercial and strategic domains.
The capability architecture for this role type centers on the synthesis of experimental physics and high-performance computational modeling. Mastery of cryogenic quantum control experimentation is the foundational layer, ensuring the high-fidelity manipulation of superconducting states required for reliable logic operations. This technical proficiency is integrated with advanced data analysis and characterization algorithms, which are essential for identifying emergent error sources in complex multi-component systems. By establishing robust interfaces between physical hardware and digital simulation environments, these experts ensure the reproducibility and stability of next-generation quantum prototypes. These capabilities matter for the structural throughput of the industry as they facilitate the transition from single-device metrics to system-level performance optimization. Furthermore, the ability to design superconducting integrated circuits that incorporate constraints from experimental characterization ensures that hardware development remains grounded in empirical reality, directly influencing the scalability and interoperability of the final computational stack.
Accelerates the deterministic maturation of superconducting quantum hardware through high-fidelity experimental validation
Mitigates systemic integration risks by establishing rigorous characterization protocols for multi-qubit integrated circuits
Facilitates the transition from experimental physics to industrial-scale engineering of fault-tolerant quantum systems
Reduces iteration cycles in quantum hardware development through the integration of predictive analytical models
Strengthens national strategic positioning by securing high-authority expertise in mission-enabling quantum technologies
Harmonizes fundamental qubit research with the practical requirements of scalable superconducting architectures
Optimizes the performance of cryogenic quantum systems through the development of advanced control protocols
Supports the global transition toward fault-tolerant computing by identifying and resolving structural hardware bottlenecks
Improves the reliability of high-security quantum infrastructures through the application of rigorous characterization standards
Shortens the timeline to practical quantum advantage by bridging the gap between circuit design and experimental feedback
Protects long-term investments in quantum hardware by providing expert technical validation of emerging superconducting modalities
Enables the strategic orchestration of complex research projects within high-authority advanced technology environments
Industry Tags: Superconducting Qubits, Quantum Control, Cryogenic Engineering, Integrated Circuit Design, Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computing, Quantum Characterization, Experimental Physics, System-Level Modeling, Quantum Hardware Scalability
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