We are seeking an Atomic Source Physicist in our Broomfield, CO Location.
Our team is leading the development, integration, and operation of atomic sources for trapped ion quantum computing systems at Quantinuum. We are looking for experimental scientists with hands-on experience building and operating complex atomic physics systems, taking and analyzing datasets, and collaboration across disciplines. The ideal candidate will have intimate knowledge of one or more advanced laboratory techniques for controlling quantum systems, which could include precision laser spectroscopy, atomic or molecular beams, or cryogenic UHV systems. They will also have excellent communication and collaboration skills as they are working with teams of engineers and other scientists to develop and test new concepts. Our scientists are thought leaders in the field, publishing papers and presenting research to peers.
All applicants for placement in safety-sensitive positions will be required to submit to a pre-employment drug test.
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Key Responsibilities:
- Work directly with other experimentalists and engineers to conceptualize, design, build, and validate atomic sources for trapped ion quantum computers
- Communicate ground-breaking results both internally and externally through publications and presentations
- Develop, implement, and oversee best scientific practices across the experimental team
YOU MUST HAVE:
- PhD completed prior to start
- Minimum of 5+ years (PhD inclusive) of atomic physics experience
- 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
- 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.
WE VALUE:
- Experience working with magneto-optical traps, atomic or molecular beams, and other cold atom techniques
- Experience working with trapped ions
- Experience working with quantum computing hardware
- Experience performing simulation and modeling to inform experiments
- Experience programming experimental control systems for data collection, signal processing, and data analysis
- Formal background in experimental physics with a proven track record of solving outstanding and challenging problems
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, with published results within their field of research.
- As a top candidate, you will have strong organizational and leadership skills, and be good at working and negotiating with customers and partners
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$135,000 - $180,000 a year
Compensation & Benefits:
The pay range for this role is $135,000 – $180,000 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
Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis, there is no application deadline for this position.
TECHNICAL & MARKET ANALYSIS | Appended by Quantum.Jobs
The expansion of Atomic Source Physicist roles reflects a critical structural requirement in the trapped-ion quantum computing sector to transition from experimental laboratory setups to scalable, industrial-grade systems. As the industry moves through varying Technology Readiness Levels, the stability and reliability of the atomic source serve as the primary bottleneck for continuous high-fidelity qubit operation. This role type functions as a stabilization point in the hardware value chain, ensuring that the fundamental physical building blocks of the computer are consistent and reproducible. Market signals from the Quantum Economic Development Consortium indicate that such specialized experimental expertise is essential for mitigating the systemic risks of technology stagnation during the transition to fault-tolerant architectures. By converting complex atomic physics research into deterministic system components, this function secures the foundation for long-term hardware reliability and competitive differentiation in the global deep-tech market.
The trapped-ion quantum computing landscape is undergoing a decisive shift from laboratory-scale proof-of-concepts to the integration of high-performance hardware within global enterprise ecosystems. While computational logic continues to progress, the primary bottleneck for industrial adoption has shifted to the physical infrastructure layer, specifically regarding the reliability and automation of atomic sources and vacuum systems. The current sector-wide focus lies on bridging classical and quantum capabilities at scale, necessitating a sophisticated management of the hardware interface to ensure that qubits can be generated and maintained with the precision required for production environments.
Workforce scarcity is particularly acute at the intersection of ultra-high vacuum engineering and advanced atomic spectroscopy. As organizations move beyond NISQ-era benchmarks, the ecosystem requires specialized physicists who can navigate the fragmentation of the hardware stack and the lack of standardized experimental protocols. Current industry dynamics, influenced by public-private funding cycles and national security mandates, place a premium on roles that can drive the transition from manual, high-maintenance experimental rigs to automated, self-correcting atomic source subsystems. This structural layer of expertise is the primary mechanism for maintaining momentum as trapped-ion platforms scale toward higher qubit counts.
Ongoing ecosystem initiatives aim to accelerate readiness for practical quantum applications by focusing on the materials and methods used in qubit generation. The evolution of the value chain depends on the ability to miniaturize and integrate atomic sources into modular architectures without disrupting the delicate quantum coherence required for operation. Consequently, the availability of experimentalists capable of orchestrating these complex hardware dependencies is a primary determinant of whether a hardware organization can successfully transition from early-stage research to the deployment of utility-scale quantum infrastructure.
The capability architecture for this role type centers on the synchronization of advanced laser spectroscopy with the protocols of precision systems engineering. Mastery of atomic beam dynamics and cooling techniques is essential for ensuring that qubit sources are optimized for the specific constraints of ion traps, such as loading efficiency and vacuum longevity. This requires a deep understanding of the integration points between experimental control software and the underlying physical hardware that manages the atomic environment.
These capabilities are fundamental to the throughput of hardware organizations, as they enable the parallelization of research initiatives alongside the development of scalable system architectures. By establishing rigorous validation frameworks for atomic source performance, this function provides the leverage needed to assess the true stability of quantum hardware before full-scale deployment. Furthermore, the ability to manage complex cross-functional dependencies ensures that scientific outputs are reconciled with the practical constraints of system uptime and operational reliability. Such expertise reduces the iteration friction between fundamental physics breakthroughs and hardware product delivery, which is critical for long-term interoperability within the emerging quantum-as-a-service market. - Accelerates the deterministic transition from experimental atomic physics research to industrial-grade trapped-ion hardware
- Mitigates systemic execution risks by synchronizing long-term experimental cycles with near-term technology roadmaps
- Facilitates the integration of high-fidelity atomic sources into standardized quantum computing system architectures
- Strengthens the reliability of organizational hardware strategies through the implementation of rigorous experimental benchmarking
- Reduces iteration friction between fundamental laser physics breakthroughs and the deployment of scalable qubit sources
- Optimizes the allocation of specialized experimental talent across research, development, and system integration portfolios
- Enhances the stability of the quantum hardware value chain by providing predictable performance frameworks for atomic sources
- Supports the scaling of qubit counts by managing the complex physical dependencies of atomic loading and cooling
- Improves the transparency of hardware readiness level progression for stakeholders in the investment and policy sectors
- Enables the structural reproducibility of quantum experiments through the standardization of atomic source implementation protocols
- Protects high-capital hardware investments by ensuring alignment between scientific discovery and commercial scalability
- Orchestrates the convergence of academic physics research pathways with the practical demands of reliable quantum systemsIndustry Tags: Trapped-Ion Systems, Atomic Physics, Laser Spectroscopy, Ultra-High Vacuum, Qubit Generation, Hardware Scalability, Deep Tech Engineering, Experimental Physics, Quantum Infrastructure
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