Research Scientist — Quantum Algorithms & Fault-Tolerant

The Quantum Computing Research team is dedicated to developing innovative methods to get the best possible performance from contemporary and next generation quantum computers. We push toward quantum advantage by developing cutting-edge applications, employing AI, control theory, and physics principles to optimize and automate critical parts of the quantum computing stack. We conduct pioneering research looking toward the near future, including quantum error correction and the integration of quantum computers with high performance computing and data centers.

• Q-CTRL’s Applications & Algorithms team develops quantum algorithms and application workflows aimed at making quantum computers useful. We are seeking a Staff Research Scientist to help establish and lead our research program in fault-tolerant quantum applications.
• As quantum computing progresses toward error-corrected operation, an increasingly important question is not simply what can be demonstrated on today’s hardware, but which applications can justify future fault-tolerant quantum computers, what resources those applications will require, and how algorithmic innovation can bring those requirements within reach.
• In this role, you will identify compelling applications for fault-tolerant quantum computing and develop the algorithms, implementations, and quantitative resource analyses needed to understand when and how those applications can become useful. You will work from the application level down through algorithmic primitives and logical resource requirements, collaborating closely with researchers working in quantum error correction, compilation, control, and quantum software.
• This is an application-facing quantum-algorithms role rather than a quantum-error-correction role. Most of the work will involve theory, simulation, resource estimation, and research software, with selective use of contemporary quantum hardware or emerging logical-qubit systems where experiments can validate important algorithmic primitives or assumptions.
• Scientific simulation, quantum chemistry, and many-body physics are important areas of interest, but we are also interested in new application classes where there is a compelling and quantitatively defensible case for quantum advantage.

• Identify, formulate, and prioritize applications that offer credible opportunities for useful fault‑tolerant quantum computation.
• Design, implement, and analyze quantum algorithms for scientifically or commercially relevant problems.
• Translate high-level algorithms into explicit logical workloads and quantify requirements including logical qubits, non‑Clifford resources, circuit depth, measurements, runtime, and space‑time overhead.
• Develop algorithmic improvements that materially reduce the resource cost of fault‑tolerant computation, including improvements to problem formulation, state preparation, Hamiltonian representation, measurement, and algorithmic primitives.
• Establish rigorous classical baselines and quantitative criteria for assessing potential quantum advantage.
• Build and maintain high-quality research software for algorithm implementation, simulation, benchmarking, and resource estimation.
• Work closely with Q-CTRL researchers in quantum error correction, circuit synthesis, compilation, and control to understand how application algorithms interact with realistic fault‑tolerant architectures.
• Use contemporary quantum hardware or early logical‑qubit systems selectively where small-scale experiments can validate relevant algorithms, primitives, or assumptions.
• Initiate and lead ambitious research projects, mentor other researchers, and help shape the technical direction of Q-CTRL’s Applications & Algorithms team.
• Collabo…