Superconducting Qubit Physicist

Location: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire, UK

Contract Type: Up to 2 Permanent Positions

Salary: Band E S1, £56,509 gross per annum

Hours: Full-time (We understand the importance of work-life balance, and are happy to discuss the possibility of flexible working with applicants)

Together, our scientist, technologists, engineers and business support team explore the unknown and turn what they find into work that changes the world around us. 

Come and discover how much you can achieve when you’re surrounded by world-leading experts, encouraged to constantly learn and empowered to explore your curiosity.

About NQCC

The National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) is the UK’s national laboratory dedicated to accelerating the development and adoption of quantum computing.

Headquartered at the Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire, the NQCC works across government, industry, and academia to address the engineering challenges of scaling quantum computers and to build a quantum-ready economy. Its mission is to enable the UK to solve complex societal and industrial challenges by harnessing the transformative potential of quantum computing.

The NQCC is a joint initiative of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). It sits alongside other departments within the STFC National Laboratories and is part of the wider National Quantum Technologies Programme (NQTP).

Our Benefits

Our Benefits include a flexible working scheme (subject to business requirements), Defined benefit pension scheme and 30 days annual leave allowance plus 10.5 bank holiday/privilege days and several other benefits. 

The Role

You will be based in the Superconducting Circuits Group in the Research division of NQCC. Using your skills in superconducting quantum devices you will work on a variety of science and engineering projects in superconducting qubit hardware and software. You will develop scalable and robust quantum computing systems to ensure in-house capability, progress on the technology roadmap, and maintain NQCC’s trusted technical expertise in quantum computing.

Key areas will include high-performance qubit architectures, improved wiring and signalling, scalable control and calibration, benchmarking & noise analysis, and quantum error correction.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and build superconducting quantum computing (SCQC) systems.
• Perform experimental characterisation, optimisation, and benchmarking of SCQC systems.
• Research and develop strategies to improve system performance, integration and scaling.
• Work with NQCC colleagues on full-stack integration and use of quantum computers.
• Perform collaborative R&D on enabling technologies with academic and industry partners.
• Keep up to date with advances in the field, present and publish non-confidential results.

Person Specification

We offer significant development opportunities at the NQCC, but as a starting point you should be able to demonstrate some of the following.

(Please note the below criteria will be assessed at Shortlisting or Interview stage as indicated)

• PhD or equivalent industry research in superconducting quantum devices or a related field (S&I)
• Conceptual understanding of superconducting qubits and quantum computing systems (S&I)
• Familiar with dilution fridge measurements and cryogenic microwave signal chains (S&I)
• Scientific programming skills for instrumentation, measurements and data analysis (S&I)
• Measurement experience with superconducting qubits or similar quantum devices (S&I)
• Motivated to work in a collaborative research team, with areas of individual responsibility (S&I)
• Able to communicate effectively, including technical writing and presentation (S&I)

Join us and discover what’s possible!

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