Embedded Software Engineer - Innovation Transfer

OQC; Reading; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

OQC in Reading invites an Embedded Software Engineer to turn experimental concepts into robust firmware for the quantum computing platform. You will work across embedded software, FPGA and compiler teams to move capabilities from prototype to production, improving performance, reliability and scalability of the full stack.

Join a world-class team delivering low-latency software, high‑quality tests and strong cross‑disciplinary collaboration as we push the boundaries of quantum control and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in a technical field.
• Strong Python development skills.
• Proficiency in modern, performance-focused C++, including memory management and metaprogramming; Rust is a plus.
• Experience in memory-constrained environments and compute-intensive workloads.
• Understanding of CI and test-first development practices.
• Strong communication across diverse teams; curious about quantum computing.

Responsibilities

• Develop high-performance device drivers in modern C/C++, with Python bindings for testing and interfaces.
• Build automated test protocols for quantum hardware drivers and embedded software.
• Translate quantum goals into firmware requirements, test cases and CI gates.
• Collaborate with FPGA and Compiler teams to refine system architecture for new capabilities.
• Provide hardware-in-the-loop testing environments for new features.
• Design, review and document embedded software components from ideas to records.
• Diagnose and resolve software issues in experimental hardware with multidisciplinary teams.

Skills

Python

Modern C++

Rust

CI/CD

Linux runtimes

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or Electrical/Engineering or related field

Tools

CMake

Meson

pybind11

Job description

At OQC, we aren’t just theorising about the future; we’re building it. Born from a philosophy of bold innovation, we’ve successfully transitioned quantum computing from an academic dream into a commercial reality. The most exciting thing is that we’re just getting started and we’ve recently closed our £260 million Series C funding round – the largest fundraise ever completed by a quantum computing company in Europe.

The Purpose

Join the team building the software interfaces that connect custom control hardware to scalable quantum computers. You’ll develop low-latency, production-grade embedded software that enables reliable access to—and precise control of—superconducting quantum processors.

The Role

As an Embedded Software Engineer within Innovation Transfer, you’ll turn experimental concepts and scientific requirements into robust embedded software for OQC’s quantum computing platform. Working across embedded software, FPGA, compiler and quantum engineering teams, you’ll help move new capabilities from prototype to production while improving the performance, reliability and scalability of the full technology stack.

What You\'ll Be Working On

• Develop high-performance device drivers in modern C/C++, with Python bindings for higher-level testing and system interfaces.
• Build automated test protocols for quantum hardware drivers and embedded software, covering functional, security, timing, latency and performance requirements.
• Translate quantum-level goals from scientific teams into clear firmware requirements, test cases and CI/CD quality gates.
• Collaborate with FPGA and Compiler teams to refine system architecture and technical specifications for new low-level capabilities.
• Provision and operate hardware-in-the-loop testing environments for new features and existing systems.
• Design, review and document embedded software components, turning early-stage ideas into practical architectural design records.
• Diagnose and resolve software issues in experimental hardware while partnering with multidisciplinary engineering teams to accelerate full-stack quantum computer development.

What We\'re Looking For

• A Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent experience, in Computer Science, Electronic Engineering or a related numerical discipline.
• Strong Python development skills.
• Proficiency in modern, performance-focused C++, including safe memory management, constant expressions, metaprogramming and Linux runtimes; equivalent proficiency in Rust will also be considered.
• Experience developing software for constrained-memory environments and compute-intensive workloads.
• Understanding of continuous integration and test-first development practices.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively across diverse scientific and engineering teams.
• Curiosity about quantum computing, quantum control systems and quantum error correction.

The \'Nice-to-Haves\'

• An understanding of how FPGAs contribute to embedded systems, alongside familiarity with Verilog or VHDL.
• Production-level Python experience, including package and project management tools such as uv, static typing, API design and code-quality practices.
• Production-level C++ experience, including build systems such as CMake or Meson and interoperability tools such as pybind11.
• Familiarity with quantum computing control systems.
• Experience developing and modernising established or brownfield codebases.

Why Join OQC

You will join a world-class team at the forefront of the next computational era. We offer a culture of bold innovation, the chance to work with unique lab infrastructure, and the opportunity to see your work redefine the limits of computation.

Learn more about our benefits and positive work culture here: https://oqc.tech/company/careers-at-oqc/