Senior Computational Quantum Physicist

Nord Quantique; Sherbrooke; On-site; CAD 213,000 - 256,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary range: $150,000 – $180,000

Vacation: 5 weeks per year

Group insurance (including dental care

Virtual care

Lifestyle spending account

Relocation compensation package

Job summary

Nord Quantique in Sherbrooke, QC, is seeking a Senior Computational Quantum Physicist to lead scalable bosonic simulation methods for quantum error correction. You will define technical roadmaps, apply tensor networks, and collaborate across theory and software teams.

The role focuses on high‑fidelity simulations, GKP states, and rare‑event sampling, with mentorship and cross‑disciplinary collaboration as core elements of the job.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent in a related field with strong computational focus.
• 3+ years of post‑grad experience in quantum research or industry.
• Experience with high‑performance scientific computing and numerical methods.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and implementation of scalable simulation algorithms for bosonic quantum systems.
• Establish the technical roadmap for evolving simulation capabilities.
• Extend simulations to larger numbers of modes, higher photon numbers, and demanding regimes.
• Develop representations exploiting GKP states and multimode bosonic codes.
• Build efficient simulation methods for pure-state trajectories and open‑system evolution.
• Develop rare‑event sampling methods for estimating logical‑error rates.
• Define benchmarks, convergence tests, and validation strategies for new methods.
• Own and evolve the architecture and scientific quality of the simulation codebase.
• Mentor team members and promote best practices for computational research.
• Communicate results and trade‑offs clearly to scientific, software, and leadership audiences.

Skills

Strong programming skills

Collaborative mindset

Autonomy

Excellent communication skills

Leadership of research projects

Education

PhD in physics, applied mathematics, computer science, or related field

3+ years post-graduate experience in quantum industry or academia

Tools

JAX

NumPy/SciPy

Julia

Job description

(permanent position, 40 hour per week)

Contact: [phone], [e-mail]

About Nord Quantique

At Nord Quantique, we strive to build impactful technology by relentlessly pushing our understanding of quantum science. We are an interdisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, innovators, builders, and enthusiasts on a mission to make quantum computing a reality. Our quantum processors are designed to reduce errors in quantum computation to facilitate long-term scaling toward fully‑fledged quantum computers. We believe it is our responsibility to deliver this transformative technology for the greater good of society.

Located at the heart of the beautiful Eastern Townships region in the province of Quebec, Canada, we develop our technology in the vibrant quantum ecosystem of Sherbrooke. Leaning on more than a decade of vertical integration of quantum hardware, we are leveraging a comprehensive pool of quantum technology and micro‑electronic infrastructure to deploy our quantum‑computing technology.

Our current needs

Our Theory and Simulations team develops the models and numerical tools that connect device physics, quantum‑control protocols, error correction, and logical performance. These capabilities guide the design of our hardware and are central to evaluating and improving our quantum‑computing architecture.

We are seeking a Senior Computational Quantum Physicist to lead the development of the next generation of simulation methods for bosonic quantum error correction.

Your mission will be to develop scalable, rigorously validated simulation backends that enable higher‑energy multimode simulations and reliable estimation of ultra‑low logical error rates.

Meeting these goals will require new representations and algorithms rather than incremental optimization alone. Promising directions include tensor networks, rare‑event sampling, and logical‑level or near‑Clifford simulation methods.

You will help define the technical roadmap, develop and validate new numerical approaches, and shape the architecture of the simulation codebase. You will work closely with other theorists as well as our compiler team.

We expect to hire candidates with complementary expertise. You are not expected to specialize in every area described below, but should bring deep expertise in at least one and be able to collaborate effectively across the others.

Specialization tracks

Strong candidates will typically bring depth in one or more of the following areas:

Tensor‑network and compressed bosonic simulation

Develop scalable methods for simulating multimode bosonic systems using tensor networks and related compression techniques. Explore their application to larger systems, higher‑energy regimes, and both pure‑ and mixed‑state dynamics, while establishing their accuracy, computational advantages, and regimes of applicability.

Logical‑level and effective‑model simulation

Develop efficient models in which the full bosonic state is replaced by an encoded logical qubit together with a controlled number of residual, gauge, or leakage degrees of freedom.

Possible approaches include Zak‑basis subsystem decompositions, effective logical‑channel models, and extended‑stabilizer simulation methods such as Pauli+. Determine which bosonic effects, correlations, and non‑Pauli processes must be retained, establish the regimes in which each effective model remains valid, and benchmark these models systematically against full bosonic simulations.

Advanced Monte Carlo methods

Develop variance‑reduction and rare‑event sampling techniques for logical‑error‑rate estimation. Relevant approaches may include importance sampling, biased trajectory ensembles, splitting methods, sequential Monte Carlo, Markov chain Monte Carlo, and related techniques.

High‑performance scientific software

Design and maintain a modular simulation platform that can support multiple physical representations and numerical backends through a consistent Python interface. Improve performance using established high‑performance numerical libraries, accelerator‑aware frameworks, parallelism, compilation, batching, and efficient data structures. Work with the compiler team to define robust interfaces between compiled quantum programs, physical noise models, simulation backends, and analysis workflows.

Working in close collaboration with the Theory and Simulations Team, the candidate will (depending on your area of expertise)

• Lead the design and implementation of scalable simulation algorithms for bosonic quantum systems and quantum error‑correcting codes.
• Establish the technical roadmap for the evolution of simulation capabilities.
• Extend simulations to larger numbers of modes, higher photon numbers, and more demanding logical‑error‑rate regimes.
• Develop new computational representations that exploit the structure of GKP states and multimode bosonic codes.
• Build efficient simulation methods for both pure‑state quantum trajectories and open‑system density‑matrix evolution.
• Develop and validate rare‑event sampling methods for estimating logical error rates that are inaccessible through direct Monte Carlo sampling.
• Develop effective and logical‑level models, and rigorously benchmark them against higher‑fidelity bosonic simulations.
• Define numerical benchmarks, convergence tests, uncertainty estimates, and validation strategies for new simulation methods.
• Own and evolve the architecture and scientific quality of the simulation codebase.
• Ensure that new backends integrate cleanly behind shared Python interfaces and can interface with the company’s compiler and broader software stack.
• Make informed choices among JAX and other high‑performance numerical or tensor‑network frameworks.
• Translate research prototypes into reliable, maintainable, and well‑tested scientific software.
• Mentor team members, provide technical reviews, and help establish best practices for computational research.
• Communicate results and technical trade‑offs clearly to scientific, software, and leadership audiences.

Education and experience requirements

• A PhD in physics, applied mathematics, computer science, or a related field, or equivalent research experience.
• 3+ years of post‑graduate experience in quantum industry or academia
• Deep expertise in at least one of the specialization areas described above.
• A strong background in quantum mechanics, numerical physics, scientific computing, or quantum information.
• A demonstrated ability to formulate difficult computational problems and develop new numerical methods to solve them.
• Experience validating approximate numerical methods and identifying their regimes of applicability.
• Experience with high‑performance numerical frameworks such as JAX, NumPy/SciPy, Julia, or comparable tools.
• Strong programming skills and experience developing structured, tested, and maintainable scientific software.
• Experience taking leadership of a research or scientific‑software project.
• The ability to provide technical leadership, mentor colleagues, and make sound architectural decisions under research uncertainty.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to collaborate across scientific and engineering disciplines.

Additional assets

Experience in any of the following would be valuable:

• Bosonic quantum error correction, GKP codes, or continuous‑variable quantum information
• Open quantum systems, stochastic Schrödinger equations, or quantum‑trajectory methods
• Compiler interfaces, intermediate representations

Sought profile

• Strong ability to adapt in a rapidly evolving environment.
• Collaborative mindset and willingness to actively contribute to collective success.
• Thoroughness, attention to detail, and a systematic approach to problem‑solving.
• Excellent ability to prioritize work and effectively coordinate multiple activities or projects simultaneously.
• Scientific curiosity and a strong interest in complex, interdisciplinary challenges.
• Autonomy and initiative in achieving research and development objectives.
• Excellent communication skills with stakeholders from diverse technical disciplines.

Nord Quantique is committed to the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion in its training, workplaces, and activities. We encourage applications from diverse backgrounds and traditionally marginalized groups.

Working at Nord Quantique

At Nord Quantique, you will be part of something special: working in a highly dynamic environment at the forefront of quantum technology development while benefiting from a vibrant ecosystem located at the heart of the Quantum Innovation Zone of the picturesque city of Sherbrooke. Our interdisciplinary team is laser‑focused on solving grand challenges and making quantum computing a reality.

Moving to Nord Quantique

Nord Quantique offers extensive moving support, including help with immigration paperwork, with finding a place to live, with access to childcare and schools, even helping your partner to find a new job. We offer a relocation compensation package and competitive salaries.

Salary: $150,000 – $180,000

Vacation: 5 weeks per year

Benefits: Group insurance (including dental care), virtual care, lifestyle spending account (all available after 3 months of service)

Working language: English and/or French

Workplace: Espace Quantique 1, 1950 rue Roy, Sherbrooke, QC, J1K 1B7 or Ax.c, Place Victoria, 800 Rue du Square‑Victoria, Montreal, Quebec, H3C 0B4.