We are seeking a Sr Advanced Software Engineer in our Broomfield, CO location to be a force multiplier working side-by-side with scientists in the lab to develop software solutions that improve robustness, automation, and throughput of trapped ion R&D systems. The ideal candidate will have experience developing software solutions for rapid-pace R&D environments in quantum science.
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Key Responsibilities:
- Improve robustness, automation, and throughput of trapped ion R&D systems.
- Develop and integrate advanced calibration routines for quantum hardware.
- Identify inefficiencies and create innovative software solutions to solve them.
- Collaborate with a diverse team including physicists and other engineering disciplines.
YOU MUST HAVE:
- Bachelor's degree minimum
- 5+ years of experience (including graduate experience) in an engineering lab or R&D environment.
- Due to national security requirements imposed by the U.S. Government, candidates for this position must not be a People's Republic of China national or Russian national unless the candidate is also a U.S. citizen.
- Due to Contractual requirements, must be a U.S. Person. defined as, U.S. citizen permanent resident or green card holder, workers granted asylum or refugee status
WE VALUE:
- Master’s or Doctorate degree in computer science, physics, or a field related to quantum computing.
- Experience working with multiple different programming languages, for example C/C++, Python, or Rust.
- Experience integrating a diverse set of components, including hardware and software, particularly in fast-paced or laboratory environments.
- Knowledge of virtualization technologies such as Git, Docker, Kubernetes and Rancher.
- Ability to solve complex problems and clearly document/communicate your solutions.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively with team members and stakeholders.
- Familiarity with Redis, PostgreSQL, Influx, Grafana, Telegraf, RabbitMQ.
- Proficiency with software testing and deployment tools.
- Proficiency in developing software for both Linux and Windows environments.
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$145,000 - $181,000 a year
Compensation & Benefits:
Non-Incentive Eligible
The pay range for this role is $145,000 – $181,000 annually. Actual compensation within this range may vary based on the candidate’s skills, educational background, professional experience, and unique qualifications for the role.
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Quantinuum is the world leader in quantum computing. The company’s quantum systems deliver the highest performance across all industry benchmarks. Quantinuum’s over 650 employees, including 400+ scientists and engineers, across the US, UK, Germany, and Japan, are driving the quantum computing revolution.
By uniting best-in-class software with high-fidelity hardware, our integrated full-stack approach is accelerating the path to practical quantum computing and scaling its impact across multiple industries.
By joining Quantinuum, you’ll be at the forefront of this transformative revolution, shaping the future of quantum computing, pushing the limits of technology, and making the impossible possible.
What’s in it for you?
A competitive salary and innovative, game-changing work
Flexible work schedule
Employer subsidized health, dental, and vision insurance
401(k) match for student loan repayment benefit
Equity, 401k retirement savings plan + 12 Paid holidays and generous vacation + sick time
Paid parental leave
Employee discounts
Quantinuum is an equal opportunity employer. You will be considered without regard to age, race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, nationality, sex, or veteran status. Know Your Rights: Workplace discrimination is illegal
TECHNICAL & MARKET ANALYSIS | Appended by Quantum.Jobs
The maturation of trapped-ion quantum architectures requires a structural shift from manual laboratory processes to industrialized software-driven orchestration. Advanced software engineering in this domain functions as a critical force multiplier, bridging the gap between fundamental physics research and high-throughput hardware R&D. By automating calibration routines and stabilizing experimental environments, this role type directly impacts the sector’s Technology Readiness Level (TRL) and the reliability of logical qubit scaling. Market signals from the Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C) indicate that the integration of robust software stacks with physical hardware is the primary determinant for moving quantum systems from prototypes to deployable infrastructure. This role ensures that complex hardware subsystems operate with the deterministic reliability required for commercial-scale research and development.
The quantum computing ecosystem is currently transitioning from the Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum (NISQ) era toward fault-tolerant, modular architectures. Within the quantum value chain, software engineering for R&D systems occupies the vital "systems integration and control" layer. This layer is responsible for translating high-level algorithmic requirements into precise physical operations within the quantum processor. As hardware modalities like trapped ions grow in qubit count and gate fidelity, the complexity of managing these systems manually becomes an insurmountable bottleneck for research progress.
Macro-level analysis suggests that while significant capital is directed toward hardware development, a critical constraint remains the "software-hardware interface." This bottleneck is exacerbated by a scarcity of engineers capable of operating at the intersection of low-latency systems programming and experimental physics. To overcome this, the industry is increasingly adopting DevOps and virtualization methodologies to standardize laboratory workflows. By decoupling the experimental logic from the physical control layer, organizations can achieve the rapid iteration cycles necessary to compete in the global quantum race.
Furthermore, the shift toward hybrid classical-quantum cloud platforms necessitates that laboratory systems maintain 24/7 availability. This requirement elevates software engineering from a supporting function to a core strategic asset. The ability to automate complex hardware tuning and error characterization is now viewed as a prerequisite for achieving practical quantum advantage. As public and private funding cycles prioritize evidence of scalability, the professionalization of laboratory software stacks has become a key signal of institutional maturity and commercial readiness.
The capability architecture for this role type centers on the synthesis of systems programming with high-fidelity hardware control. At the foundational layer, mastery of languages such as Python, C++, or Rust is required to manage the tight latency tolerances of quantum control electronics. These languages facilitate the development of advanced calibration routines and automated testing frameworks, which are essential for maintaining the operational stability of trapped-ion systems. This technical infrastructure allows for the seamless integration of diverse hardware components, ensuring that updates to individual subsystems do not disrupt the integrity of the overall quantum stack.
Beyond core programming, the role requires a deep understanding of virtualization and containerization technologies to ensure reproducibility across different experimental environments. Knowledge of distributed systems and message brokers facilitates the coordination of complex data streams between physical sensors and high-level control software. This cross-functional coupling between software engineering and experimental physics enables a level of structural throughput that traditional research models cannot sustain. By standardizing these interfaces, engineers provide the leverage needed to transition theoretical breakthroughs into validated hardware performance.
Accelerates the deterministic progression of technology readiness levels for trapped-ion hardware
Mitigates systemic risks associated with manual calibration and experimental drift
Facilitates the transition from laboratory prototypes to standardized commercial-grade systems
Reduces iteration friction by automating high-fidelity hardware characterization and testing
Strengthens the uptime of R\&D platforms through robust software orchestration
Harmonizes experimental workflows with industrial software development standards
Optimizes the lifecycle of quantum control hardware through proactive monitoring
Supports the scaling of logical qubit counts by stabilizing physical layer operations
Shortens the time-to-market for hardware iterations through improved automation throughput
Improves the reproducibility of research outcomes across distributed quantum hubs
Protects capital-intensive hardware investments by preventing software-related system failures
Enables the integration of quantum hardware into high-performance computing workflows
Industry Tags: Quantum Control Software, Trapped Ion Systems, Hardware-Software Integration, Systems Engineering, R&D Automation, Quantum Infrastructure, Low-Latency Programming, Distributed Systems, TRL Advancement
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