Senior Quantum Applications Scientist at Nord Quantique, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada. A senior-level full time position in the Research team, listed under software engineering.
Our current needs
We are seeking a Senior Quantum Applications Scientist to join our growing Applications team. In this role, you will help drive the evaluation of practical quantum utility on Nord Quantique’s error-corrected bosonic computing platform. You will work across quantum algorithms, resource estimation, benchmarking, and application development, helping bridge the gap between hardware capabilities and real-world computational challenges. Working closely with the Applications Team Lead, you will support strategic initiatives involving industrial, academic, and government partners, helping identify high-value application opportunities and translate user needs into meaningful technical objectives, benchmarking efforts, and technology requirements. Your work will span quantum algorithm development, resource estimation, utility evaluation, and technical project leadership. You will collaborate closely with hardware, software, and experimental teams to assess how Nord Quantique’s technology can deliver practical value and help inform future technology roadmaps. As a senior member of the team, you will also play an important role in external engagement by supporting technical discussions with partners, customers, and collaborators. Success in this role requires the ability to communicate complex quantum computing concepts clearly, build trusted relationships with stakeholders, and help guide collaborative projects from initial exploration through execution and delivery.
Sought expertise and knowledge
- Demonstrated expertise in quantum algorithms, quantum applications, or quantum computing systems.
- Strong understanding of quantum computing architectures and their practical capabilities, limitations, and potential application domains.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with technical and non-technical audiences, including industrial, academic, and government partners.
Responsibilities
- Lead and contribute to internal projects focused on quantum applications in domains such as chemistry, materials science, energy, optimization, and scientific computing.
- Develop, adapt, and evaluate quantum algorithms for Nord Quantique’s bosonic computing platform.
- Define and execute benchmarking and utility evaluation studies to assess the practical value of quantum computing applications.
- Perform resource estimation and hardware-aware application analyses for both near-term and fault-tolerant quantum computing systems.
- Support strategic initiatives and externally funded programs involving industrial, academic, and government partners.
- Lead selected external collaborations and partnerships from technical definition through execution and reporting.
- Collaborate with experimental teams to validate applications and benchmark performance on hardware.
- Maintaining up-to-date technical skills and knowledge of latest developments in quantum computing and related fields.
- Simulate quantum circuits under realistic noise models using internal tools for performance and resource evaluation.
- Contribute to internal tooling for simulation, algorithm analysis, resource estimation, and performance benchmarking.
Requirements
- PhD or MSc in Physics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
- Experience evaluating the performance and utility of quantum computing systems through benchmarking, simulation, resource estimation, or related methodologies.
- Experience leading complex technical projects and collaborations involving multiple stakeholders.
- 5+ years of relevant experience in industry, academia, or national laboratories, including demonstrated ownership of complex technical projects, collaborations, and technical deliverables.
- Experience developing scientific software and quantum computing workflows, including the use of modern quantum software frameworks and collaborative software development practices.
- Utility evaluation, benchmarking, and resource estimation for quantum computing applications, including comparison against classical approaches.
- Fault-tolerant quantum computing and utility-oriented quantum algorithms, including quantum resource estimation, Hamiltonian simulation, quantum phase estimation, ground-state preparation, quantum linear algebra, and optimization.
- Quantum simulation of fermionic, bosonic, and spin systems, including applications in chemistry, materials science, energy, condensed matter physics, and scientific computing.
- Industry-facing technical collaborations, externally funded research programs, or multi-partner projects involving industrial, academic, or government stakeholders.
- Experience translating real-world computational challenges into meaningful quantum computing evaluation frameworks, benchmarks, and application studies.