Job Description

Job Title: Staff Quantum Scientist (Superconducting Circuits)
Salary: Band F S1 £67,409 gross per annum
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: Full-Time or Part-Time (Minimum 0.8FTE) (We understand the importance of work-life balance, and are happy to discuss the possibility of flexible working with applicants)
Location: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire, UK

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 has a 10-year funding commitment as part of the National Quantum Strategy

Our Benefits:

We are offering this position with a whole host of benefits including:

• 30 days holiday (in addition to 10.5 bank holidays and privilege days)
• Flexible working hours
• An excellent defined salary pension scheme
• Easily accessible public transport links/ free parking
• Excellent learning and development opportunities
• Cycle to work scheme

Link to more benefits: https://stfccareers.co.uk/rewards-and-benefits/

The Role:

You will be based in the Superconducting Circuits Team in the Research division of NQCC. Using your skills in quantum hardware you will lead on a variety of science and engineering projects in superconducting quantum computer scaling. You will develop scalable and robust quantum computing systems to build capability, progress on the technology roadmap, and maintain NQCC’s trusted technical expertise in quantum computing.

Key areas will include architecture of quantum computing systems, leading implementation of the team’s quantum error correction strategy, and responsibility for gate fidelity and error-budget characterisation to guide research into architectural and technology improvements.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the control and measurement of superconducting quantum computers
• Develop infrastructure and best-practice for system calibration and measurement
• Enable the quantum measurement needs in other areas of the team and NQCC
• Scope and deliver research on scaling control, calibration and quantum error correction
• Drive full-stack integration and use of quantum computers at NQCC
• Establish and lead R&D collaborations on key technologies to accelerate our roadmap
• Develop key collaborator and supplier relationships and represent NQCC externally
• Train and guide technical staff and students including through line management
• 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 and postdoctoral research or industry equivalent in quantum computing hardware (S)
• Expert in state of the art approaches to experimental quantum computing systems (such as superconducting circuits, trapped ions, neutral atoms, photonics) (S&I)
• Expert in calibration and error characterisation of multi-qubit systems (S&I)
• Knowledgeable on quantum error mitigation and quantum error correction methods (S&I)
• Highly experienced in measurement software for quantum computing experiments (S&I)
• Systematic approach to planning research and experimental measurements (S&I)
• Excellent technical communication skills across teams and disciplines (S&I)

Please note, if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you and any dependants travelling with you, will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact Recruitment@ukri.org.

Join us and discover what’s possible!

UKRI - UK Research and Innovation

UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.

Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.

More information can be found at www.ukri.org

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, any candidate who opts into the scheme and best meets the essential criteria, will be shortlisted for interview. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be rejected and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

As part of the pre-employment checks there is a requirement to undergo Baseline Personnel Security Screening. BPSS is a pre-condition of employment and failure to achieve it may mean that the employment offer is rescinded. UKRI reserves the right to run, or re-run, security clearance as required during the course of employment.