Technical Project Manager

Cambridge, UK | Full-time | Permanent | Hybrid

Salary: £55,000 to £70,000 DOE

About us  

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.  

About the role 

Deltaflow is our FPGA-based QEC system for real-time quantum computing at utility scale. Delivering it takes several project teams working in parallel across hardware, verification, firmware, software and quality assurance, within an engineering team of 60+ people that will keep expanding through 2027. Alongside product delivery, we run collaborative projects with research consortia, government programmes and industry partners, some of which you will manage directly.

You will join our established Project Management Office (PMO), reporting to one of our Senior Programme Managers, and lead Deltaflow project teams through the full life cycle, from initiation to close. You will set the plan, keep teams moving against milestones, and give the wider business a clear, honest view of where delivery stands. You will also help shape PMO processes and own the day-to-day tools your teams rely on.

Our delivery model is hybrid: agile practices at team level, milestone-based planning and controls at programme level. The role suits someone comfortable moving between the two, with sound judgement on competing priorities and a working style that earns trust with engineers and senior leadership alike.

You will work alongside the engineers building Deltaflow, with genuine scope to build practical quantum knowledge on the job, even without a quantum background.

What success looks like after 12 months: Your teams are delivering predictably against programme milestones, with dependencies and risks surfaced early, and partner projects are running to schedule, with partners and funding bodies confident in Riverlane.

What you will do

Deltaflow project delivery:

• Run the full project cadence across three to four teams, from kick-off meetings and stand-ups to weekly status reporting, project closure and retrospectives, capturing lessons learned along the way
• Track release readiness against the programme roadmap, ensuring we meet key product milestones
• Identify and manage interdependencies across project teams and workstreams (hardware, verification, firmware, software, and quality assurance), and their impact on the wider programme plan
• Maintain the risk register and issue log, and implement risk responses
• Support the PMO in applying and improving project management processes, templates, and standards
• Maintain Jira boards, Miro spaces, dashboards and Confluence pages for your project teams, applying PMO standards for ticket quality and labelling

Partner projects:

• Run partner projects from initiating to closing, coordinating work packages and deliverables across Riverlane teams and external partners
• Ensure deliverables, including technical reports and test plans, meet acceptance criteria within the agreed schedule and scope
• Manage performance reporting to funding bodies and partners in line with the communications management plan
• Act as the primary point of contact for partners and funding bodies, maintaining strong working relationships

What we need

• A technical background, such as a degree in engineering, physics or computer science, or equivalent hands-on engineering experience
• 3+ years of project management experience in a deep-tech environment, managing multiple engineering projects or teams in parallel
• The ability to engage with engineers across our teams on specifications, interfaces and test plans, to understand trade-offs and spot delivery risks
• Experience of hybrid delivery, combining agile practices with milestone-based planning and risk management
• Experience delivering projects with external partners, including milestones, formal deliverables and reporting
• Strong prioritisation skills, balancing competing demands and holding teams and partners to commitments within the agreed governance framework
• Clear and concise communication, with the ability to translate engineering detail into clear status updates for senior stakeholders
• Working knowledge of Jira, Miro and Confluence

Even better if you have…  

• Have configured Jira, including workflows, boards, dashboards, and JQL
• Use AI tools to support project management
• Have worked on government-funded R&D or consortium projects
• Have a background in hardware, firmware, or embedded systems
• Have exposure to quantum computing or semiconductors
• Hold a PMP, Prince2, PMI-ACP, or equivalent certification

What can you expect from us  

• A comprehensive benefits package that includes an annual bonus plan, private medical insurance, life insurance, and a contributory pension scheme  

• Equity, so that our team can share in the long-term success of Riverlane  

• 28 days annual leave, plus bank holidays and enhanced family leave  

• A diverse work environment that brings together experts in many fields (including software and hardware development, quantum information theory, physics and maths) and over 20 different nationalities  

• A learning environment that encourages individual, team and company growth and development, including a regular programme of learning events and training and conference budgets 

How to apply  

Please upload a CV and covering letter by clicking 'Apply'. Your covering letter should explain why you are applying for the job and what skills and experience you can bring to the role. 

We review CVs as we receive them and interview as soon as we have applications that look like a good match. We do not use closing dates. So, please apply as soon as possible to avoid missing out on this role. 

If you have any queries, please contact [email protected]. 

Everyone is welcome at Riverlane. We are an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from eligible and suitably qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender reassignment, religion or belief, sexual orientation, marital or civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity/paternity. 

Women and other underrepresented groups may be less likely to apply for a role unless they meet all or nearly all of the requirements.  If this applies to you, we still encourage you to apply - you may be a great fit, even if you don’t meet every single qualification. We’d love to hear from you. 

If you need any adjustments made to the application or selection process so you can do your best, please let us know. We will be happy to help. 

GDPR notice: Riverlane collects and processes personal data in accordance with applicable data protection laws. If you are a European Job Applicant see the privacy notice for further details.