Senior Quantum Software Engineer

Designing and delivering fast, reliable, and secure components in Rust, Python, and TypeScript that form the backbone of our quantum developer experience Building language and compiler features for Q#, OpenQASM, QIR, and related technologies that push the boundaries of what programs quantum developers can express. Creating intuitive, high-impact VS Code integrations that help scientists and engineers work productively with complex quantum systems. Exploring new ways to integrate cutting-edge AI capabilities into quantum development workflows. Collaborating closely with experts in quantum chemistry, error correction, control systems, and hardware to design end-to-end solutions that connect research and product. Engaging with the open-source community, triaging issues, and contributing improvements that help shape the future of the ecosystem. Doctorate in Physics, Engineering, or related field AND 1+ year(s) experience in industry or in a research and development environment, could include completion of a post doctoral research position OR Master's Degree in Physics, Engineering, or related field AND 4+ years experience in industry or in a research and development environment OR Bachelor's Degree in Physics, Engineering, or related field AND 6+ years experience in industry or in a research and development environment OR equivalent experience. These requirements include, but are not limited to the following specialized security screenings: Citizenship & Citizenship Verification: This role will require access to information that is controlled for export under export control regulations, potentially under the U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) or Export Administration Regulations (EAR), the EU Dual Use Regulation, and/or other export control regulations. As a condition of employment, the successful candidate will be required to provide either proof of their country of citizenship or proof of their U.S. permanent residency or other protected status (e.g., under 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3)) for assessment of eligibility to access the export-controlled information. To meet this legal requirement, and as a condition of employment, the successful candidate's citizenship will be verified with a valid passport. Lawful permanent residents, refugees, and asylees may verify status using other documents, where applicable. Ability to work in an “AI-first” environment using modern AI tools to accelerate discovery through hardware development. Ability to leverage AI tools to drive innovation and efficiency (e.g., performance modeling and analysis, research gathering, day to day task automation). Doctorate in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Physical Sciences, or related field AND 3+ years software industry experience, including developing commercial software, compilers, scientific computing applications, or multi-component systems OR Master's Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Physical Sciences, or related field AND 6+ years software industry experience, including developing commercial software, compilers, scientific computing applications, or multi-component systems OR Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Physical Sciences, or related field AND 8+ years software industry experience, including developing commercial software, compilers, scientific computing applications, or multi-component systems OR equivalent experience 3+ years experience working with languages, compilers, simulators, code editors, or AI integration Experience developing in Rust, Python, or web technologies (HTML & CSS) Knowledge of quantum computing fundamentals or related mathematics (e.g., complex linear algebra) Familiarity with quantum development stacks (e.g., QDK, Qiskit, Cirq, Pennylane, CUDA-Q, etc.) Experience developing code for GPUs Background working with LLVM IR or compiler infrastructure 4+ years programming experience in related programming languages. 4+ years experience in a collaborative environment.

TECHNICAL & MARKET ANALYSIS | Appended by Quantum.Jobs

The maturation of the quantum software ecosystem necessitates a specialized tier of engineering talent capable of bridging the gap between theoretical algorithmic breakthroughs and robust, scalable system architectures. As the industry transitions from experimental research toward production-grade quantum development environments, the Senior Quantum Software Engineer serves as a critical architect of the middleware and tooling layers that define developer productivity. This role type addresses a systemic bottleneck in the quantum value chain by standardizing the interfaces between high-level programming abstractions and low-level hardware control. By industrializing the software stack, these professionals enable the transition from bespoke laboratory scripts to interoperable, high-performance computational kernels. Market signals from the QED-C and national quantum initiatives highlight that the ability to deliver reliable, secure, and AI-accelerated developer experiences is now a primary determinant for ecosystem leadership and long-term hardware adoption.

The global quantum computing landscape is currently characterized by a strategic pivot toward "full-stack" readiness, where the utility of quantum hardware is increasingly gated by the maturity of the surrounding software infrastructure. While significant public and private investment has accelerated hardware modalities, a persistent Technology Readiness Level (TRL) mismatch remains between raw physical qubits and the logical abstractions required by end-users in fields like quantum chemistry and materials science. This gap has elevated the role of software engineering from a supporting function to a primary driver of system-level performance, particularly as hybrid classical-quantum workflows become the standard operational model for near-term advantage.

Macro-level workforce analysis reveals that while the quantum physics talent pool is expanding, there is a critical shortage of engineers who possess the systems-level expertise to build high-performance compilers, intermediate representations, and integrated development environments (IDEs). This scarcity is compounded by the need for deep-tech organizations to transition away from proprietary, siloed toolchains toward open-source frameworks and standardized formats like QIR and OpenQASM. Such standardization is essential for mitigating vendor lock-in and ensuring that software investments remain resilient against the rapid evolution of underlying hardware architectures.

Furthermore, the integration of generative AI and machine learning into the quantum development lifecycle represents a transformative shift in how quantum programs are synthesized, optimized, and debugged. By leveraging AI-first methodologies, the industry aims to automate complex calibration tasks and accelerate the discovery of error-correction codes. This convergence of disciplines requires a workforce capable of navigating the intersection of classical high-performance computing (HPC), compiler infrastructure, and quantum information science to maintain the structural integrity of the emerging quantum cloud.

The capability architecture for this role type centers on the vertical integration of the quantum software stack, spanning from high-level domain-specific languages to low-level compiler optimizations. Mastery of systems programming languages like Rust is increasingly vital for ensuring the memory safety and execution speed of the components that form the backbone of the developer experience. At the core of this function is the development of robust intermediate representations and compiler backends that can target diverse hardware backplanes—including GPUs and specialized quantum processors—while maintaining algorithmic fidelity.

Beyond core compilation, the architecture emphasizes the creation of sophisticated tooling and IDE extensions that provide scientists with intuitive interfaces for managing complex quantum workflows. These capabilities are critical for the industrialization of quantum research, as they facilitate the seamless offloading of computational tasks between classical and quantum nodes. By standardizing these interface points and integrating AI-driven automation, these engineers provide the structural leverage required to scale quantum applications from small-scale proofs-of-concept to enterprise-grade solutions, ensuring long-term interoperability and system stability.

Accelerates the deterministic progression of the quantum software stack toward production-grade reliability and security

Mitigates systemic integration risks by standardizing intermediate representations across heterogeneous hardware architectures

Facilitates the transition from academic research scripts to industrial-strength quantum developer toolkits

Reduces iteration friction in hybrid classical-quantum workflows through optimized compiler infrastructure

Strengthens the global quantum ecosystem by contributing to and triaging open-source standards and protocols

Harmonizes high-level algorithmic intent with the practical constraints of low-level hardware control systems

Optimizes the throughput of quantum research teams by delivering high-impact, AI-accelerated development environments

Supports the scaling of quantum adoption by lowering the barrier to entry for classical software developers

Shortens the time-to-value for quantum-enhanced applications through the integration of cutting-edge AI capabilities

Improves the stability and performance of quantum programs through advanced error-mitigation and calibration tooling

Protects long-term technology investments by ensuring software portability across evolving quantum hardware modalities

Enables the strategic orchestration of end-to-end solutions that bridge the gap between research and product

Industry Tags: Quantum Software Engineering, Compiler Infrastructure, Hybrid Quantum-Classical Systems, Quantum Intermediate Representation, Full-Stack Quantum Development, Systems Programming, Quantum Tooling, AI-First Discovery, QIR, OpenQASM

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