We are seeking a R&D Atomic Physicist in our Brooklyn Park, MN location.
Our team is leading the development, integration, and operation of quantum computing systems at Quantinuum. We are looking for experimental scientists with hands-on experience building and operating devices to manipulate qubits, quantum spin systems, or cold and trapped atomic systems. The perfect candidate will have intimate knowledge of one or more advanced laboratory techniques for controlling quantum systems, which could include precision laser spectroscopy, low noise DC and RF electronics, cryogenic UHV systems, or computer control 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:
- You will apply previous experience in experimental laboratory research to design, develop, verify, and deploy quantum computers using trapped ions as qubits.
- You will work alongside teams of scientists and engineers to bring new concepts to life.
- You will be responsible for working in a research lab environment to collect data on system performance and characterizing device characteristics.
- You will generate and implement innovative solutions to improve current and future systems.
- You will present scientific results at conferences or in publications.
YOU MUST HAVE:
- PhD completed prior to starting
- Minimum 4+ years’ experience (PhD inclusive) involving one or more of the following areas: quantum information, qubits, cold atom or trapped ion physics
- 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 with design or operation of a device for quantum information processing
- Experience with laser cooling and trapping of ions or neutral atoms
- Experience programming experimental control systems for data collection, signal processing, and data analysis
- A history of excellent experimental practices designing or improving existing advanced systems
- Experience performing simulation and modeling to inform experiments
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, with published results within their field of research.
- Excellent attention to detail, organization, and a results-oriented mindset
- Experience in post-doctoral research positions or other mentorship positions
- Demonstrated organizational and leadership skills
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$135,000 - $175,000 a year
Compensation & Benefits:
The pay range for this role is $135,000 – $175,000 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 specialized role of an R&D Atomic Physicist in the trapped-ion modality represents a critical transition point from fundamental laboratory research to industrial-scale quantum computing. As the global ecosystem prioritizes high-fidelity qubits and architectural scalability, these roles provide the experimental backbone necessary to navigate the technology readiness level gap between academic proof-of-concept and commercial utility. By resolving systemic bottlenecks in quantum state manipulation and system integration, this function directly impacts the deterministic delivery of fault-tolerant systems. Current market signals from the Quantum Economic Development Consortium highlight a critical scarcity of PhD-level experimentalists capable of bridging the divide between atomic physics and systems engineering. This role type serves as a primary driver of technical throughput, ensuring that breakthroughs in laser cooling and ion trapping are translated into stable, reproducible computational hardware.
The trapped-ion quantum computing sector is currently navigating a pivotal phase of industrialization, moving beyond isolated experimental setups toward integrated, high-availability systems. While various hardware modalities compete for dominance, trapped ions offer significant advantages in qubit coherence and gate fidelity, positioning this role type at the heart of the race for practical quantum advantage. The primary macro constraints facing the sector include the extreme complexity of cryogenic and ultra-high vacuum (UHV) environments, coupled with the need for precise, low-noise control electronics that can scale to support larger qubit arrays.
Ecosystem-level dynamics are increasingly influenced by the convergence of atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) physics with classical high-performance computing (HPC) infrastructures. This integration is essential for managing the high-speed data throughput and real-time feedback loops required for quantum error correction. As organizations like Quantinuum push toward million-qubit systems, the structural necessity for researchers who can orchestrate these cross-functional dependencies becomes a primary determinant of a company's ability to maintain its competitive position in the global deep-tech value chain.
Furthermore, national security mandates and strategic technology competition are shaping the talent pipeline for these specialized roles. The concentration of expertise within a small number of high-capital organizations creates a high-stakes environment where the ability to publish peer-reviewed research while maintaining commercial confidentiality is paramount. Current industry focus lies on bridging classical and quantum capabilities at scale, necessitating a sophisticated management of the software-hardware interface to ensure that emerging algorithms can be reliably executed on evolving hardware platforms.
The capability architecture for this role type centers on the mastery of advanced laboratory protocols for the deterministic control of quantum systems. This includes high-precision laser spectroscopy for state preparation and readout, as well as the implementation of low-noise RF and DC electronics for stable qubit confinement. These technical competencies are fundamental to achieving the gate fidelities required for fault tolerance, directly impacting the overall reliability and performance benchmarks of the system.
Structural leverage is derived from the integration of these experimental capabilities with computer control systems and signal processing workflows. This allows for the automated characterization of system performance and the rapid iteration of hardware designs. Furthermore, the ability to conduct simulation and modeling at the atomic level ensures that experimental efforts are synchronized with theoretical roadmaps, reducing the friction between discovery and deployment. These interfaces are critical for maintaining the throughput of research initiatives within a complex, multi-disciplinary engineering environment. - Accelerates the deterministic transition from laboratory-scale experiments to industrial-grade trapped-ion quantum processors
- Mitigates systemic execution risks by synchronizing atomic-level research with long-term hardware scalability roadmaps
- Facilitates the integration of high-fidelity qubits into standardized system architectures for enterprise-level deployment
- Strengthens the reliability of quantum computing benchmarks through the implementation of rigorous characterization protocols
- Reduces iteration friction between fundamental physics breakthroughs and the engineering of scalable control infrastructures
- Optimizes the throughput of research pipelines by bridging the gap between theoretical modeling and experimental verification
- Enhances the stability of the hardware value chain by providing predictable requirement frameworks for precision components
- Supports the scaling of quantum information processing by managing the complex dependencies of UHV and cryogenic systems
- Improves the transparency of technology readiness level progression for institutional stakeholders and investment sectors
- Enables the structural reproducibility of quantum experiments through the standardization of laboratory implementation protocols
- Protects high-capital research investments by ensuring alignment between scientific excellence and commercial scalability
- Orchestrates the convergence of academic research pathways with the practical demands of global quantum-as-a-service providersIndustry Tags: Trapped Ion Quantum Computing, Atomic Physics, AMO Physics, Quantum Hardware Engineering, Fault Tolerant Systems, Laser Spectroscopy, Cryogenic UHV Systems, Quantum Information Science, Deep Tech R&D
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