Senior Applications Lead - Defense

Job Summary

As the Senior Applications Lead, Defense, you will help define and advance Psi Quantum's defense and national security applications strategy. Sitting in the Industry Applications team, you will partner closely with Business Development, Applications, Algorithms, Software, and other technical teams to translate defense and national security needs into credible quantum computing opportunities.

The ideal candidate brings deep experience in the U.S. defense, national security, intelligence, aerospace, or adjacent government technology ecosystem, combined with strong scientific judgment and the ability to develop fluency in quantum computing. This role is expected to be U.S.

-based, ideally in the Washington, D.C. area.

• Serve as a senior applications lead for Psi Quantum's defense and national security efforts, identifying and shaping high-value use cases for fault‑tolerant quantum computing.
• Partner closely with Business Development on customer engagement, strategic account development, conference participation, proposal shaping, and senior stakeholder conversations.
• Engage credibly with senior officials, defense primes, national laboratories, FFRDCs, service research organizations, and other strategic partners.
• Translate defense and national security priorities into application opportunities, including mission relevance, technical feasibility, potential quantum advantage, adoption pathway, and strategic value.
• Develop customer‑facing narratives, briefings, white papers, proposals, and other materials that connect Psi Quantum's roadmap to defense‑relevant challenges.
• Work with Applications, Algorithms, and Software teams to assess feasibility, define project scope, identify risks, and develop paths toward customer‑facing work.
• Act as a project owner for selected defense and national security engagements, including project charters, milestones, deliverables, stakeholder alignment, and communication.
• Help define Psi Quantum's broader defense applications strategy, including priority use cases, target customers, partner strategy, funding opportunities, and go‑to‑market approach.

• Significant experience in the U.S. defense industry, national security, intelligence, aerospace, or adjacent government technology ecosystem.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance required; active clearance (TS/SCI) preferred.
• Ph.D. required in physics, engineering, applied mathematics, chemistry, materials science, or a related technical field.
• Familiarity with quantum computing, quantum algorithms, high-performance computing, AI, semiconductors, or other technologies preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing briefings, proposals, white papers, conference materials, or customer‑facing technical content.
• Self‑starter with strong cross‑functional collaboration skills and the ability to thrive in a fast‑paced environment with high ambiguity and evolving priorities.

Psi Quantum provides equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. Psi Quantum does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable laws.

Washington, D.C. Pay Range: $164,000 – $192,000 USD (base salary). Full‑time roles are eligible for equity and benefits. Base pay is subject to change and may be modified in the future.