Postdoctoral Appointee - Quantum Characterization and Information Science, NM​/CA

Position: Postdoctoral Appointee - Quantum Performance Characterization and Information Science, NM/CA - [...]

Postdoctoral Appointee – Quantum Performance Characterization and Information Science
• Remote

Apply for this position at Sandia National Laboratories
. Sandia is the nation’s premier science and engineering laboratory dedicated to national‑security technology and innovation.

About Sandia

Working at Sandia means contributing to projects that support security, peace, and freedom worldwide. The laboratory provides a collaborative environment, state‑of‑the‑art research facilities, generous benefits, and a flexible work‑arrangement culture that supports a healthy work/life balance.

What Your Job Will Be Like

As a Postdoctoral Appointee in the Quantum Performance Laboratory (QPL), you will help advance the design and application of machine‑learning (ML) and artificial‑intelligence (AI) methods for the characterization, calibration, benchmarking, and simulation of quantum computers. You will collaborate across Sandia’s QIS and ML/AI programs, publishing in high‑impact journals and taking ownership of research projects from problem definition to solution.

On Any Given Day, You May

• Develop and implement new ML and AI methods for evaluating quantum‑computer performance.
• Collaborate with software developers, experimentalists, and theorists at Sandia, academia, national labs, and industry.
• Lead technical projects, publish research in peer‑reviewed journals, and present findings at conferences.

Qualifications We Require

• A Ph.D. in Computer Science, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, Chemistry, or a related field, conferred within five years of employment.
• Proficient scientific software development in Python, including collaborative code development, verification, and modern software quality practices.
• Experience with ML libraries such as Tensor Flow and applying ML to scientific problems.

Qualifications We Desire

• Strong publication record in peer‑reviewed journals or conferences.
• Experience with mathematical modeling for noisy quantum‑computer characterization.
• Demonstrated research experience in quantum computation and information science.
• Ability to translate mathematical concepts into executable code.

About Our Team

The QPL is a multidisciplinary group that develops and deploys cutting‑edge techniques for assessing and improving quantum‑computer hardware. The team works closely with industry and academia to develop performance‑assessment tools for emerging quantum‑computing platforms. We publish in journals including Nature, Physical Review X, and PRX Quantum, and we value open communication, collaboration, and a robust work/life‑balance culture.

Posting Duration

This posting is open for at least seven (7) calendar days from the posting date; the date may be extended at any time.

Security Clearance

The position does not currently require a Department of Energy (DOE) security clearance. However, a pre‑employment drug test and background review will take place. Applicants in New Mexico may additionally need to pass a U.S. Air Force background screen for access to Kirtland Air Force Base.

EEO

All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status, and any other protected class under state or federal law.

NNSA Requirements For MedPEDs

If you have a Medical Portable Electronic Device (MedPED) such as a pacemaker, defibrillator, drug‑releasing pump, hearing aids, or diagnostic equipment that monitors body functions, you may be required to comply with NNSA security requirements for MedPEDs. If selected for an on‑site interview, additional compliance steps may be necessary.

Position Information

This is a temporary postdoctoral position for up to one year, renewable at Sandia’s discretion up to a total of five additional years. The Ph.D. must have been conferred within five years prior to employment. Postdoctoral personnel may be eligible to bid on regular Sandia positions and could be converted to regular career positions during the term if warranted.

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