{"id":136141,"url":"https://alion.io/job/oxford-quantum-circuits-senior-quantum-engineer-qser","title":"Senior Quantum Engineer - Processor Research","company":{"id":2118546,"name":"OQC","domain":"oqc.tech","url":"https://alion.io/company/oqc-tech","size_band":"201-500","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workable","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":91,"open_postings":11,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.364,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":30,"computed_at":"2026-11-05T05:54:30Z"}},"role":"Quantum","role_family":"Quantum","seniority":"senior","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Reading, United Kingdom"],"countries":["GB"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":58000,"max_usd":91000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":145},"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"NumPy","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false},{"name":"QuTiP","optional":false},{"name":"SciPy","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-07-31T00:00:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-07-31","last_verified_at":"2026-11-06T01:54:52Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":98,"trust":{"level":"stale","repost_count":0,"flags":["stale"],"days_open":97},"description":"At OQC, we aren’t just theorising about the future; we’re building it. Born from a philosophy of bold innovation, we’ve transitioned quantum computing from an academic ambition into a commercial reality - and we’re just getting started.\nThe Purpose\nAdvance the performance of OQC’s superconducting quantum processors by connecting quantum theory, simulation and experimental evidence.\nAs a Senior Quantum Engineer specialising in Processor Research, you’ll investigate the physics behind qubit behaviour, develop calibration and characterisation techniques, and improve single and two-qubit gate performance. Your work will help uncover error sources, validate physical models and establish the performance limitations of quantum hardware.\nThe Role\nYou’ll combine quantum modelling, scientific computing and experimental analysis to understand how quantum systems behave under realistic conditions. From Hamiltonian-based simulations to modelling decoherence, dissipation and noise, you’ll connect theoretical predictions with physical measurements to guide improvements in quantum control.\nWorking closely with hardware, control electronics and software teams, you’ll independently investigate technical challenges, develop hypotheses and implement solutions. You’ll also bring project leadership and scientific judgement to the team, influencing technical direction, contributing to experimental strategy and providing guidance and mentorship to other engineers.\nAlongside investigating current performance challenges, you’ll contribute to longer-term research and development in quantum control, modelling and device characterisation.\nWhat You’ll Be Working On\nDevelop and optimise calibration and characterisation techniques for superconducting qubits, investigating and improving single- and two-qubit gate performance.\nDevelop Hamiltonian-based simulations to understand quantum dynamics, driven interactions and time evolution under realistic experimental conditions.\nModel and analyse open quantum systems, incorporating decoherence, dissipation and noise mechanisms.\nDesign experiments to identify error sources, validate physical models and establish hardware performance limitations, analysing measurements to connect observed behaviour with underlying physical processes.\nCollaborate with hardware, control electronics and software teams to develop robust quantum control solutions.\nContribute to longer-term research and development initiatives in quantum control, modelling and device characterisation.\nProvide technical guidance and mentorship to other engineers, contributing to experimental strategy and influencing the team’s technical direction.\nWhat We’re Looking For\nA PhD in Physics, Quantum Information, Quantum Technologies or a closely related field.\nA good understanding of quantum mechanics, including gate implementations, unitary operations and quantum circuit representations.\nProficiency in Python and scientific computing tools such as NumPy, SciPy or QuTiP.\nStrong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to connect theoretical predictions to physical measurements.\nExperience designing, performing or interpreting experiments involving quantum or coherent physical systems.\nThe ability to independently investigate technical challenges, develop hypotheses and implement solutions.\nClear technical communication and the ability to collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams.\nStrong project leadership skills and the ability to influence the technical direction of a team.\nThe ‘Nice-to-Haves’\nAdditional experience in academic research or industry.\nHands-on experience with superconducting qubits, circuit QED or other quantum computing platforms.\nAn understanding of transmon physics, coupled quantum systems and microwave-driven quantum gates.\nExperience with noise modelling, gate calibration and benchmarking.\nExperience with microwave electronics, RF instrumentation, pulse shaping or experimental control systems.\nKnowledge of optimal control techniques or numerical pulse optimisation.\nWhy Join OQC\nYou will join a world-class team at the forefront of the next computational era. We offer a culture of bold innovation, the chance to work with unique lab infrastructure, and the opportunity to see your work redefine the limits of computation.\nThis role brings together scientific investigation and technical influence: understanding the physics that limits processor performance, developing approaches to improve it and helping other engineers advance their work.\nLearn more about our benefits and positive work culture on the OQC careers page.","description_format":"text","description_chars":4611,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":null,"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Quantum Science & Computing","Quantum Computing Hardware"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-07-31T00:00:00Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":23,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":1,"p_active":0.647,"p_room":0.35,"age_days":97,"expected_fill_days":30,"reasons":["conf:0","velocity","win:tail"],"computed_at":"2026-11-05T05:54:30Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/oxford-quantum-circuits-senior-quantum-engineer-qser","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/oxford-quantum-circuits-senior-quantum-engineer-qser.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-11-06T03:32:58Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":5890,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-11-07T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":2118546},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=2118546"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Foxford-quantum-circuits-senior-quantum-engineer-qser"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Foxford-quantum-circuits-senior-quantum-engineer-qser"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Foxford-quantum-circuits-senior-quantum-engineer-qser"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/oxford-quantum-circuits-senior-quantum-engineer-qser\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Foxford-quantum-circuits-senior-quantum-engineer-qser"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":136141}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"oqc.tech","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":136141},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. 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