Quantum Scientist, Government Programs (QEC)

Riverlane•College Park, MD

10d•$120,000 - $175,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Riverlane's mission is to master quantum error correction (QEC) and unlock a new age of human progress. From advances in material and climate science, to complex chemistry simulation for new drug design, quantum computers will help humanity solve some of its most important challenges. But without QEC, the industry's defining technical challenge, such breakthroughs can never be achieved. Riverlane is the world leader in QEC technology. QEC is a complex problem that requires a range of skills, talent and passion. Having raised more than $125M in funding to date to accelerate our cutting-edge R&D in quantum error correction (QEC), Riverlane partners with many of the world's leading quantum hardware providers and government agencies to make fault-tolerant quantum computing a reality. We're making remarkable progress and growing fast. We are opening an office in Maryland to work more closely with the US government agencies, national laboratories and research institutions that are shaping the future of quantum computing. This role is one of our founding hires there. You will help establish Riverlane's presence in one of the densest concentrations of quantum research in the world, and have a direct hand in how we build the team, the partnerships and the programs that follow. As a Quantum Scientist, Government Programs, you will contribute directly to the research programs Riverlane runs with US government agencies, national laboratories and research partners. You will do real QEC research, and you will see it land: the simulations you run and the results you analyze feed straight into program deliverables and into the hands of the partners we work with. Working with a diverse set of partners, you will gain exposure to different qubit architectures and develop an understanding of their respective QEC considerations. You will help translate program and experimental goals into practical implementations, analyze results, and share insights that inform both partner success and Riverlane's ongoing product and research development. This is a research-focused role, but a visibly external-facing one. You will collaborate directly with partners to set up experiments, understand technical challenges and support progress, work closely with internal teams to resolve issues, and represent Riverlane at partner meetings, workshops and conferences. Strong communication skills, a collaborative mindset, and an interest in applying research in real-world settings are essential for success in this role. You will be supported by senior colleagues in Maryland and in the UK, and joining a new office early means unusual scope to grow with the team and the programs.

Requirements

A PhD in physics, experimental physics, mathematics, computer science, engineering, or a related field (recent graduates are welcome to apply)
Research experience in quantum computing, gained in academia or industry
Experience designing, running and analyzing experiments or simulations using research-grade tools
An interest in quantum error correction and in applying research in real-world settings
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience presenting or discussing technical work
Comfort with collaborating with partners and external stakeholders as part of the role
The ability to work effectively in a collaborative, interdisciplinary team
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 in QEC research
Experience working on government-funded research programs, or time spent at a national laboratory or government research facility
Familiarity with one or more qubit architectures and their QEC considerations
Strong software skills (for example Python or C++) and experience with large-scale simulation or data analysis
Experience contributing to technical reports, grant proposals or milestone documentation
Technical sales or external customer support experience

Responsibilities

Contribute hands-on research to government-funded programs in quantum error correction, including simulation, data analysis and performance evaluation
Support delivery against program milestones, including technical reports and updates for government sponsors
Work with partners across the US with varied qubit architectures to design and execute quantum computing experiments, using Riverlane's DeltaKit software and tools
Support the deployment of quantum applications and QEC-related solutions into partner environments
Investigate experimental results, diagnose issues, and work with internal research and product teams to resolve them
Contribute technical content to funding proposals
Present results internally and externally, including at partner meetings, workshops and conferences
Contribute to internal research projects related to quantum computing and quantum error correction