{"id":736418,"url":"https://alion.io/job/zapataquantum-quantum-algorithm-scientist-us","title":"Quantum Algorithm Scientist (US)","company":{"id":686391,"name":"Zapata Quantum","domain":"zapataquantum.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/zapataquantum","size_band":"51-200","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Rippling","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":75,"open_postings":3,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":1,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":null,"computed_at":"2026-10-17T05:46:00Z"}},"role":"Quantum","role_family":"Quantum","seniority":null,"employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"explicit","locations":[],"countries":[],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"AI Agents","optional":true},{"name":"Machine Learning","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-04-23T05:18:30Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-04-23","last_verified_at":"2026-10-17T13:44:15Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":177,"trust":{"level":"stale","repost_count":0,"flags":["stale"],"days_open":176},"description":"About Zapata Quantum\nZapata Quantum is shaping the future of quantum computing: setting the standards for what’s viable, valuable, and worth building. The Company powers quantum applications across cryptography, pharmaceuticals, finance, materials discovery, defense, and beyond, translating cutting-edge research into real-world impact.\nZapata is the only organization to have contributed across every technical area of DARPA’s Quantum Benchmarking program, giving it a uniquely comprehensive view of what it takes to make quantum computing work in practice. Now restructured and sharply focused, Zapata Quantum stands alone as the only publicly traded, pure-play quantum software company fully dedicated to unlocking quantum’s commercial potential.\nWe’re rebuilding at a pivotal moment for the industry-bringing together a team that will help define how quantum delivers value in the real world, with the opportunity for meaningful ownership as we shape the commercial path forward.\nAbout the role\nWe are seeking a Quantum Algorithm Scientist to design, analyze, and benchmark quantum algorithms that deliver real-world advantage. The role sits at the intersection of theory and practice-translating problems from domains such as cryptography, chemistry, finance, materials discovery, and defense into concrete quantum circuits, and rigorously evaluating their resource requirements on both near-term and fault-tolerant hardware.\nThis position offers a high level of individual ownership and is well-suited to scientists who are comfortable working independently within a small, focused team. You will partner with quantum software engineers and domain experts to push the state of the art, with opportunities to publish, contribute to open-source quantum frameworks, and shape deliverables for government and commercial programs. This position is classified as exempt under applicable wage and hour laws.\nWhat you'll do\nDesign, analyze, and optimize quantum algorithms for applications in cryptography, chemistry, finance, materials science, and defense\nPerform end-to-end resource estimation for quantum workloads on both near-term (NISQ) and fault-tolerant hardware architectures\nDevelop and benchmark novel circuit compilation, error mitigation, and algorithmic primitives \nTranslate customer and domain-specific problems into well-posed quantum computational tasks\nContribute to technical reports, peer-reviewed publications, and government program deliverables\nWork directly with customers to scope, develop, and deliver proof-of-concept engagements that demonstrate quantum value for their use cases\nPartner with internal software engineers to improve the quality, correctness, and performance of product deliverables\nIndependently analyze complex scientific problems and communicate results clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences\nQualifications\nPhD in Physics, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, or a related field\nDeep understanding of quantum computing fundamentals, including the circuit model, quantum error correction, and complexity theory\nBroad familiarity with many types of quantum algorithms and primitives (e.g., QPE, VQE, QAOA, Hamiltonian simulation, amplitude amplification, block encoding)\nStrong mathematical foundations in linear algebra, probability, and numerical methods\nTrack record of peer-reviewed publications, preprints, or equivalent technical output\nProficiency in some area of quantum-related programming (e.g., circuit simulation, compilation, resource estimation, or scientific computing)\nAbility to work independently, scope open-ended problems, and manage deliverables with minimal oversight\nFamiliarity with modern AI tools and a drive to use them to make research and development systems more efficient\nPreferred Experience\nDemonstrated 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