Staff Research Scientist — Quantum Algorithms & Fault-Tolerant Applications

Q-Ctrl • Los Angeles, CA

8d

About The Position

Q-CTRL’s Applications & Algorithms team is seeking a Staff Research Scientist to establish and lead research in fault-tolerant quantum applications. The role focuses on identifying applications that could justify future fault-tolerant quantum computers, developing algorithms and implementations for those applications, and producing quantitative analyses of their resource requirements and potential usefulness. The position is application-facing rather than focused on quantum error correction. Most work will involve theory, simulation, resource estimation, and research software, with selective use of contemporary quantum hardware or emerging logical-qubit systems to validate algorithms, primitives, or assumptions.

The scientist will work from application-level problems down to algorithmic primitives and logical resource requirements, collaborating with researchers in quantum error correction, compilation, control, and quantum software. Areas of interest include scientific simulation, quantum chemistry, and many-body physics, as well as other application classes with a compelling, quantitatively defensible case for quantum advantage. The role also includes research leadership, mentoring, collaboration with engineering and product teams, and communicating and publishing research.

Requirements

• Advanced degree in Physics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Chemistry, Engineering, or a related discipline; a PhD is strongly preferred, with equivalent research or industry experience also considered.
• Deep expertise in quantum computing and quantum algorithms, with a record of independently leading substantial research projects.
• Experience progressing beyond asymptotic algorithmic results to explicit implementations, numerical studies, or concrete resource estimates.
• Strong record of impactful research demonstrated through publications, software, patents, presentations, or equivalent technical contributions.
• Strong scientific-programming skills, particularly in Python, and experience developing reliable research software.
• Ability to reason critically about quantum and classical algorithms and construct credible classical baselines.
• Broad scientific judgment and ability to identify important research problems, set technical direction, and carry projects from concept through quantitative validation.
• Experience using large language models or AI agents to accelerate scientific research, such as literature synthesis, hypothesis generation, code development, automated experimentation, or scientific reasoning.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills across quantum algorithms, error correction, compilation, software engineering, and application domains.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with Hamiltonian simulation, quantum phase estimation, quantum signal processing or QSVT, block encoding, amplitude estimation, or other techniques relevant to large-scale quantum algorithms.
• Experience in quantum chemistry, many-body physics, materials simulation, or other scientific-computing applications.
• Experience in fault-tolerant resource estimation or logical circuit synthesis.
• Working knowledge of quantum error correction and fault-tolerant architectures.
• Experience with HPC, GPU computing, tensor-network methods, or other advanced classical simulation techniques.
• Experience executing algorithms on contemporary quantum hardware.
• Experience with quantum compiler development or circuit optimization.
• Experience in rigorous quantum-learning theory or other emerging application areas with a credible route to quantum computational advantage.

Responsibilities

• Identify, formulate, and prioritize applications offering credible opportunities for useful fault-tolerant quantum computation.
• Design, implement, and analyze quantum algorithms for scientifically or commercially relevant problems.
• Translate high-level algorithms into explicit logical workloads and quantify logical qubits, non-Clifford resources, circuit depth, measurements, runtime, and space-time overhead.
• Develop algorithmic improvements that reduce fault-tolerant computation costs, including improvements to problem formulation, state preparation, Hamiltonian representation, measurement, and algorithmic primitives.
• Establish rigorous classical baselines and quantitative criteria for assessing potential quantum advantage.
• Build and maintain research software for algorithm implementation, simulation, benchmarking, and resource estimation.
• Collaborate with researchers in quantum error correction, circuit synthesis, compilation, and control to assess how application algorithms interact with realistic fault-tolerant architectures.
• Use contemporary quantum hardware or early logical-qubit systems selectively to validate algorithms, primitives, or assumptions.
• Initiate and lead research projects, mentor researchers, and help shape the technical direction of the Applications & Algorithms team.
• Collaborate with engineering and product teams to translate research results into reusable capabilities and insights for Q-CTRL’s technology roadmap.
• Publish and present research in peer-reviewed journals and leading conferences, and engage with external academic, government, and industrial collaborators.
• Communicate technical work clearly to expert and broader technical audiences.

Benefits

• Flexibility
• Equity potential
• Competitive benefits
• The role may be eligible for annual discretionary bonuses and other forms of compensation outside the targeted base salary range.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree