Director of Technology - Quantum

Digital Catapult is a technology innovation organisation. We accelerate the practical application of deep technologies to equip the UK to be future ready. We partner with businesses, investors and academia to identify valuable opportunities and create market pathways, ensuring the UK is future ready, supporting economic growth. Digital Catapult helps deep tech businesses grow by showing what is possible, positive and productive with advanced technology including AI, Quantum, Advanced Connectivity Technologies, IoT, Immersive and distributed ledger technologies.

The UK has invested through the National Quantum Technology Programme, and it is a critical moment to support the quantum technologies, innovations and research outcomes to benefit the UK economy through growth of leading companies and adoption across the wider economy. Quantum Technology is a key part of the Digital Catapult Strategy. and a key opportunity for the UK, prioritised within the government Industrial Strategy as one of the Frontier Technologies within the Digital & Technologies sector.

Reporting to the CTO, the Director of Technology Quantum will play a critical role in leading the Quantum and photonics portfolio of work, defining and driving the technology roadmap for Quantum, photonics and related areas, creating and delivering collaborative research, development and technology translation programmes with university and industry partners and innovators. Our focus is on software, application, algorithm, design, architecture and use cases, and not on hardware development.

WHAT YOU'LL DO (Duties). Be a collaborative and ambitious leader and expert in Quantum and photonics across Digital Catapult. Direct and enable a high quality programme of research and development in Quantum and photonics, securing funding via R&D projects and supporting commercial opportunities. Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including innovators, startups and scaleups, government, academic institutions, industry partners, building a productive network in support of our research ambitions and goals.

Represent Digital Catapult at industry events, conferences, and public engagements. Be part of the Technology Research, Development and Innovation leadership team, overseeing the execution and evaluation of activities in programmes, projects and technology exploitation Lead and mentor a diverse team, coach and guide immediate reports, and the Quantum, photonics and related team members across the wider organisation, building capability in Quantum and photonics Supervise and deliver horizon scanning, developing the technology roadmap and plans in Quantum, photonics and related areas, supporting other teams to enable their areas to be similarly well defined in relation to Quantum and photonics.

WHAT WERE LOOKING FOR (Experience) A visible and respected leader within Quantum and photonics, with a proven ability to represent an organisation through thought leadership, publications, conferences and industry events. Track record of building strategic partnerships across academia, industry and government. Demonstrable experience defining and delivering technology strategy, horizon scanning, roadmaps and research agendas. Strong understanding of contemporary Quantum and photonics technologies, including Quantum computing (use case, algorithms, optimisation and quantum machine learning);
Quantum sensing (solution, product and use case development);
Quantum networking (use case and architecture);
Photonics (design and use cases). Experience securing collaborative research and innovation funding, including grant-funded programmes. Strong commercial awareness with experience identifying opportunities for technology translation and future commercialisation. Significant experience leading technology research, development and innovation programmes in quantum and photonics, and leading multi-disciplinary technical teams within a research, innovation, technology or R&D environment. Track record in building teams and Quantum and photonics capability, promoting a culture of learning, excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement, and…