Lead Quantum Scientist, Government Programs (QEC)

Riverlane•College Park, MD

10d•$145,000 - $240,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Riverlane's mission is to master quantum error correction (QEC) and unlock a new age of human progress. Quantum computers have the potential to solve significant challenges in areas like material science, climate science, and drug design, but QEC is a critical technical hurdle. Riverlane is a leader in QEC technology and is seeking a Lead Quantum Scientist for its new Maryland office. This role will involve taking technical ownership of key research programs in collaboration with US government agencies, national laboratories, and research institutions. It's a hands-on leadership position where you will shape and run research, act as the technical lead, manage delivery against milestones, and serve as the senior technical contact for sponsors. You will also work with quantum hardware partners, using Riverlane's DeltaKit software to design, run, and interpret QEC experiments, feeding insights back into the company's roadmap. The role operates within a collaborative Research and Engineering organization and offers opportunities to mentor and build a research group as the Maryland team grows.

Requirements

A PhD in physics, mathematics, computer science, engineering, or a related technical field (or equivalent professional experience)
Substantial research experience in quantum computing, gained in academia or industry
Experience taking technical ownership of a project or workstream and delivering on time against agreed milestones
Experience working with external stakeholders, ideally government agencies, national labs or research consortia
Experience designing, running and analyzing experiments or simulations using research-grade tools
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to discuss complex ideas clearly with a variety of audiences
The ability to work effectively in a collaborative, interdisciplinary team, and independently where needed
Willingness to travel within the US, including to partner and national laboratory sites, and occasionally to the UK
Must be able to obtain a US government security clearance if required

Nice To Haves

Experience as a named investigator or technical lead on government-funded research programs
Experience leading collaborations with national labs, major research facilities, or government-funded consortia
Deep expertise in one or more QEC-relevant areas such as fault-tolerant architectures, decoding algorithms, noise characterization, or system-level performance analysis
Experience integrating quantum or HPC research with real hardware systems, simulators, or large-scale testbeds
Exposure to multiple qubit architectures and an understanding of their respective QEC considerations
A track record of securing external funding through competitive grants or program-level proposals
A strong network across the US quantum computing research landscape
Experience mentoring, coaching or supervising early-career researchers or research engineers

Responsibilities

Lead the technical delivery of government-funded QEC research programs, owning milestones, deliverables and technical reporting
Act as Riverlane's senior technical interface to government agencies, national labs and research partners
Conceive and conduct original research in quantum error correction and related areas, working hands-on where appropriate
Work with partners across the US with varied qubit architectures to design and execute quantum computing experiments, using Riverlane's DeltaKit software and tools
Investigate experimental results, diagnose issues, and work with internal research and product teams to resolve them
Lead technical contributions to competitive funding proposals and oral evaluations
Publish high-quality research and present results at leading journals, conferences and technical forums
Help establish Riverlane's presence in Maryland, building relationships across the local quantum research ecosystem
Mentor researchers and contribute to Riverlane's research culture and technical excellence