Senior Navigation Scientist - Quantum Sensing

Airbus Ventures; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity potential

Flexible work

Global offices

Job summary

Q-CTRL is seeking a Senior Navigation Scientist to advance navigation in GPS-denied environments by exploiting data from quantum sensors. You will develop robust navigation algorithms, sensor fusion, and modeling for maritime and aeronautical contexts, and lead field trials on real platforms.

You will document software in Python, publish results, and collaborate with quantum sensing researchers and external partners to shape future navigation capabilities.

Qualifications

• PhD (or equivalent) in physics, engineering or related field.
• Experience in navigation theory and numerical navigation modelling.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration with R&D scientists and engineers.
• Desire to contribute to a world-leading quantum technology team.

Responsibilities

• Develop new navigation algorithms and sensor fusion strategies for unaided dead reckoning and map-matching.
• Plan, participate in, and analyse data from field trials on maritime and airborne platforms.
• Translate quantum sensor performance into practical navigation capabilities for end-users.
• Develop, document, and review high-quality Python software.
• Present results to internal and external stakeholders and contribute to publications.

Skills

Navigation theory

Numerical navigation modelling

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Communication of results

Sensor fusion

Bayesian methods

Sequential Monte Carlo

Field trials

Education

PhD in physics or engineering

Tools

Python

Git

Job description

About the team

Q-CTRL's Quantum Sensing Research team performs basic and applied research in quantum sensing and quantum-enabled navigation. It is a highly dynamic team comprising approximately 30 specialists in theoretical and experimental atomic physics, cold-atom interferometry, navigation modeling, and modern Bayesian estimation and signal processing techniques.

The Quantum Sensing Research and Quantum Sensing R&D teams work closely together, translating novel quantum sensing research into a useful capability and product. We are focussed on pushing the boundary of what is possible in quantum sensing and ensuring our R&D has real-world impact.

About the role

We are seeking a new Senior Navigation Scientist to help improve navigation performance in GPS-denied or contested environments by making the best use of information provided by Q-CTRL's quantum sensors. You will work closely with experts in quantum sensing to deliver novel navigation capabilities that solve pressing challenges in maritime and aeronautical positioning and navigation. A key focus of the role will be developing robust navigation algorithms that extract the maximum value from our highly sensitive quantum sensors, including methods to suppress magnetic and vibrational noise generated by the host platform. The algorithms, signal processing, automation, and data analytics you develop will inform the design, build, and operation of our quantum sensors for a given navigation end-user or application.

What you'll be doing:

• Be part of an established and growing team focused on quantum sensing for a variety of industry sectors such as aerospace, defence, geophysical exploration and Earth observation
• Develop new navigation algorithms, sensor fusion strategies, and modeling capability for different navigation scenarios, including those involving unaided dead reckoning and position fixing via gravitational and magnetic map-matching
• Plan, participate in, and analyse data from field trials on maritime and airborne platforms to test, validate, and refine our navigation technology in real-world conditions
• Translate quantum sensor performance into capabilities that solve pressing challenges for current and prospective navigation end-users and customers (and similarly, identify quantum sensor requirements and concepts of operation for a given navigation application)
• Develop, document, and review high-quality software using Python
• Share your insights and results with the broader Quantum Sensing Division, company, external stakeholders and customers through verbal presentations and written outlets (e.g. academic publications, technical reports, blog posts)
• Liaise as needed with our academic and industry partners in order to perform the above duties and support new business and product development.

Ideally you'll have:

• A PhD (or equivalent industry experience) in physics, engineering, or a closely related discipline
• Experience in navigation theory and numerical navigation modelling (e.g. navigation system modelling, navigation signal processing, navigation fusion for alternative navigation systems, quantum sensing for navigation)
• Experience working in an interdisciplinary context with R&D scientists and engineers
• A strong desire to work with a world leading team and a company that is fundamentally building the future of the quantum technology industry

It would be fantastic if you have these skills/experience but not essential:

• Experience communicating technical results to a wide and varied audience
• Experience in modern signal processing methods (e.g. Bayesian methods, particle filtering, sequential Monte Carlo methods)
• Robotics experience relevant to navigation, such as SLAM, factor-graph estimation, or sensor integration and field trials on autonomous platforms
• Experience with machine learning approaches to state estimation, such as deep state-space models, hybrid model-based/learned filters or sequence models
• Familiarity with the Python programming language for scientific computing
• Familiarity with quantum and/or atomic physics at an undergraduate level
• Experience with version control e.g. Git

About Q-CTRL

Q-CTRL is the global leader in AI-powered quantum control infrastructure software. We build the tools that make quantum technology useful, solving the hardest challenges in quantum computing and quantum sensing to deliver real-world impact.

Founded in 2017, we operate globally with offices in Sydney, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Huntsville, Berlin, and Oxford. Our teams bring together technical and multi-disciplinary expertise across the product lifecycle, and we’re hiring talent to help scale every part of the business. We work quickly to turn cutting-edge science into deployable technology.

In 2024 we raised US$113 million in Series B funding, the largest aggregate investment for a quantum software company. Six months later we delivered the first commercial quantum advantage with Ironstone Opal, our field-validated quantum navigation solution for defense and industry.

At Q-CTRL, we prioritize outcomes over hours. We offer flexibility, equity potential, and competitive benefits that reflect our high-performance culture. If you're ready to help shape the future of quantum, we'd love to hear from you!

Please be advised that our communications will only come from the @q-ctrl.comdomain. All our active job postings are available on ourcompany website.

To recruitment agencies, we do not accept unsolicited branded profiles and are not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.