We are seeking a Sr Advanced Physicist in our Broomfield, CO location.
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Key Responsibilities:
- Work directly with other theorists and experimentalists to model trapped-ion quantum computers, measure and characterize performance, and propose methods for improvement
- Communicate ground-breaking results both internally and externally through publications and presentations
- Develop, implement, and oversee best scientific practices across the theory team
YOU MUST HAVE:
- PhD completed prior to start
- Minimum of 6+ years of experience in relevant research projects (Ph.D. inclusive)
- 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:
- Completed PhD in Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science or related field with background in atomic physics and/or quantum benchmarking
- Formal background in theoretical physics with a proven track record of solving outstanding and challenging problems
- Knowledge of trapped-ion systems
- Experience working with quantum computing hardware
- Experience working with experimentalists
- Experience operating as a team leader on a variety of projects and programs
- 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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$148,000 - $185,000 a year
Compensation & Benefits:
Non-Incentive Eligible
The pay range for this role is $148,000 – $185,000 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 transition from experimental prototypes to scalable, high-fidelity quantum processors necessitates a structural pivot toward advanced theoretical modeling and precise hardware characterization. In the trapped-ion sector, senior research roles are critical for closing the loop between abstract error modeling and actual device performance, ensuring that gate fidelities meet the rigorous thresholds required for fault-tolerant operations. This role type serves as a primary stabilization point in the quantum value chain, converting fundamental physics breakthroughs into reproducible performance benchmarks that inform architectural scaling. Market signals from the Quantum Economic Development Consortium indicate that such expertise is essential for mitigating the systemic risks of technology stagnation during the shift from NISQ to early-error-corrected systems. By establishing rigorous scientific frameworks for performance improvement, this function secures the reliability of long-term technology roadmaps and ensures that emerging hardware platforms are commercially viable for high-compute enterprise applications.
The quantum computing landscape is currently characterized by a decisive move toward system-level benchmarking and the management of hardware-software cross-dependencies. While multiple qubit modalities are under development, trapped-ion systems are frequently cited for their high connectivity and long coherence times, which present unique advantages for complex algorithm execution. However, the path to practical utility is hindered by architectural bottlenecks related to gate speeds, ion transport, and the scalability of control electronics. This ecosystem-level challenge requires a deep integration of theoretical physics with experimental systems engineering to ensure that hardware advancements are accurately mapped to algorithmic requirements.
Workforce scarcity is acute at the intersection of atomic physics and industrial-scale systems modeling. As the sector matures through various Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs), there is a paramount need for researchers who can navigate the fragmentation of the quantum software stack while maintaining rigorous standards for hardware verification. Current industry dynamics, influenced by national security priorities and significant public-private capital allocation, place a premium on roles that can drive deterministic improvements in qubit fidelity and system uptime. This structural layer of expertise is the primary mechanism for maintaining the momentum of the global quantum hardware market.
Furthermore, the integration of quantum processors into high-performance computing (HPC) environments remains a high-risk dependency for the sector. The success of the value chain depends on the ability to translate complex error mitigation strategies into scalable hardware architectures without disrupting the broader technology stack. Consequently, the availability of senior scientists capable of orchestrating these cross-functional dependencies is a primary determinant of whether a commercial hardware organization can successfully transition from research-grade systems to enterprise-ready production environments.
The capability architecture for this role type centers on the synchronization of atomic physics and quantum information theory with the protocols of advanced systems characterization. Mastery of trapped-ion dynamics and laser-ion interactions is essential for developing high-fidelity gates and managing the noise environments inherent in multi-qubit systems. This requires a sophisticated understanding of the interface points between high-level benchmarking protocols and the physical control layers that govern qubit operations. These capabilities are fundamental to the throughput of hardware organizations, as they enable the parallelization of experimental testing with theoretical modeling to reduce iteration cycles. By establishing robust verification and validation frameworks, this function provides the leverage needed to assess the true progress of quantum advantage before full-scale hardware deployment. Furthermore, the ability to communicate technical results to both scientific and commercial stakeholders ensures that research outputs are reconciled with the practical constraints of the emerging quantum market. Such expertise reduces the technical debt associated with scaling complex hardware, which is critical for the long-term interoperability of quantum systems within standardized data center infrastructures.
• Accelerates the deterministic transition from laboratory-scale experiments to industrial-grade trapped-ion hardware
• Mitigates systemic execution risks by aligning theoretical error models with observed experimental hardware performance
• Facilitates the implementation of standardized benchmarking protocols across complex multi-qubit quantum systems
• Strengthens the reliability of hardware scaling roadmaps through the application of rigorous scientific best practices
• Reduces iteration friction between fundamental atomic physics research and the engineering of scalable control systems
• Optimizes the allocation of specialized technical resources by identifying high-leverage pathways for fidelity improvement
• Enhances the stability of the hardware value chain by providing predictable performance metrics for software partners
• Supports the scaling of quantum computational capacity by managing the physical constraints of trapped-ion architectures
• Improves the transparency of technology readiness level progression for institutional investors and policy stakeholders
• Enables the structural reproducibility of quantum performance results through the standardization of characterization methodologies
• Protects high-capital research and development investments by ensuring scientific alignment with commercial hardware requirements
• Orchestrates the convergence of academic research standards with the operational demands of a global quantum company
Industry Tags: Trapped-Ion Systems, Quantum Benchmarking, Atomic Physics, Hardware Characterization, Fault-Tolerant Computing, Systems Modeling, Quantum Information Science, Performance Optimization, Deep Tech Strategy
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