Chief Computer Scientist 5 - Quantum Computing

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory•Seattle, OH

19h•Hybrid

About The Position

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory seeks a Chief Scientist in Quantum Computing to provide senior scientific leadership in quantum computing architectures, compilation, large-scale simulation, and fault-tolerant scalability, supporting PNNL’s contributions to the Quantum Science Center (QSC) and PNNL’s Internal Research Investment QuAADS. This position is focused on end-to-end, system-level research across the quantum computing stack and hybrid quantum HPC systems. The successful candidate will help align architectures, compilers, error models, simulation, and hybrid quantum–classical execution to determine how fault-tolerant quantum computing can be realized in practice for scientific workloads. A key responsibility of this role is guiding and extending PNNL’s existing quantum software and simulation capabilities, including large-scale, noise-aware simulation on leadership-class HPC systems. This is a senior technical leadership role with substantial engagement in research, modeling, and software direction. The Chief Scientist will provide scientific leadership in the design and evaluation of quantum computing architectures and fault-tolerant systems, with a focus on system-level feasibility and scalability. The role includes guiding and coordinating research across the full quantum computing stack, spanning architectures, compilers, quantum simulation, and hybrid quantum-classical execution models, and ensuring that these components are developed in a coordinated and technically consistent manner. Focus areas for this role include research on large-scale, noise-aware quantum simulation, advancing and applying quantum modeling and simulation tools to study architectural scalability, compilation strategies, and fault-tolerance trade-offs under realistic physical and operational assumptions. In addition, the Chief Scientist will coordinate and provide research leadership while collaborating closely with existing teams working on hybrid algorithms, scientific applications, and experimental validation efforts. The role includes publishing results in peer-reviewed venues, presenting findings in technical reviews and workshops, and contributing to the development of reusable research software and modeling tools. The Chief Scientist will also mentor senior staff, scientists, and postdoctoral researchers in research methods, technical rigor, and scientific communication, helping to sustain PNNL’s research excellence in quantum computing.

Requirements

BS/BA and 9+ years of relevant experience OR MS/MA and 7+ years of relevant experience OR PhD with 5+ years of relevant experience
U.S. Citizenship
Ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance.
Ability to pass a Federal background investigation.
Ability to pass pre-employment and random drug testing for illegal drugs, including marijuana.

Nice To Haves

PhD in Computer Science, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related discipline
Extensive experience with demonstrated impact and recognition in quantum computing systems, architectures, or software
Established expertise in quantum computer simulation, compilation, or system-level modeling for noisy or fault-tolerant systems
Strong applied knowledge of quantum error correction and fault-tolerant architectures
Prior experience working within DOE-funded programs, national laboratories, or comparable research environments
Proven leadership in defining scientific and technical objectives with influence across programs
Successful capture, planning, and execution of complex interdisciplinary projects
Sustained record of high-quality publications, software contributions, or technical leadership
Ability to secure and sustain funding that supports staff, project teams, and long-term research directions

Responsibilities

Provide senior scientific leadership in quantum computing architectures, compilation, large-scale simulation, and fault-tolerant scalability.
Support PNNL’s contributions to the Quantum Science Center (QSC) and PNNL’s Internal Research Investment QuAADS.
Focus on end-to-end, system-level research across the quantum computing stack and hybrid quantum HPC systems.
Align architectures, compilers, error models, simulation, and hybrid quantum–classical execution to determine how fault-tolerant quantum computing can be realized in practice for scientific workloads.
Guide and extend PNNL’s existing quantum software and simulation capabilities, including large-scale, noise-aware simulation on leadership-class HPC systems.
Provide scientific leadership in the design and evaluation of quantum computing architectures and fault-tolerant systems, with a focus on system-level feasibility and scalability.
Guide and coordinate research across the full quantum computing stack, spanning architectures, compilers, quantum simulation, and hybrid quantum-classical execution models.
Ensure that components are developed in a coordinated and technically consistent manner.
Conduct research on large-scale, noise-aware quantum simulation.
Advance and apply quantum modeling and simulation tools to study architectural scalability, compilation strategies, and fault-tolerance trade-offs under realistic physical and operational assumptions.
Coordinate and provide research leadership while collaborating closely with existing teams working on hybrid algorithms, scientific applications, and experimental validation efforts.
Publish results in peer-reviewed venues.
Present findings in technical reviews and workshops.
Contribute to the development of reusable research software and modeling tools.
Mentor senior staff, scientists, and postdoctoral researchers in research methods, technical rigor, and scientific communication.