Quantum Control Engineer

Jobtailor; Reading; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

OQC in Reading, United Kingdom, seeks a highly skilled quantum engineer to advance superconducting qubit control, calibrations and processor characterisation. You will push gate fidelity using pulse-level control and experimental validation, collaborating with product development, calibration and processor innovation teams.

The role requires a PhD or equivalent experience, strong Python and quantum software framework skills, and a track record in experimental design and data analysis.

Qualifications

• A PhD, or equivalent professional experience, in physics, quantum engineering, electrical engineering, applied mathematics or a related discipline.
• Experience measuring or modelling quantum systems.
• Experience developing scientific software for experiment control, numerical analysis or simulation.
• Strong scientific programming and data-analysis skills using Python or an equivalent language.
• A strong understanding of quantum mechanics and qubit control.
• Experience with numerical analysis, parameter estimation, experimental design and optimisation.
• The ability to diagnose complex, system-level performance issues across hardware and software boundaries.
• Clear and concise scientific communication, including confident technical presentation skills.
• A collaborative, ownership-driven approach with strong problem-solving and prioritisation skills.
• Experience working with superconducting qubits and microwave control systems.
• Experience developing, calibrating or experimentally characterising quantum processors.
• Hands-on experience optimising single- or two-qubit gates through pulse-level control.
• Familiarity with randomised benchmarking, gate set tomography or algorithmic benchmarking.
• Experience investigating crosstalk, drift, coherent errors or signal-chain distortion.
• Experience transferring experimental methods into repeatable engineering or operational workflows.
• Knowledge of machine learning or numerical optimisation techniques applied to physical systems.
• Familiarity with control electronics, waveform generation and microwave signal chains.
• Experience with quantum software frameworks such as Qiskit, PennyLane or Cirq.

Responsibilities

• Pushing the performance of quantum processors through advanced control theory, pulse optimisation and rigorous processor characterisation.
• Developing and validating techniques that improve gate fidelity and stability.
• Working across Advanced Product Development, Calibration Engineering, Processor Innovation, Compiler and software teams.
• Diagnosing complex performance challenges and translating successful techniques into repeatable workflows.
• Developing and experimentally validating high-fidelity single- and two-qubit operations.
• Designing, optimising and benchmarking pulse shapes using quantum control, numerical optimisation and experimental techniques.
• Characterising gate error mechanisms, including coherent error, leakage, crosstalk, drift and control-chain distortion.
• Building robust experimental pipelines, data-analysis workflows and performance benchmarks for quantum processors.
• Defining calibration requirements and partnering with Calibration Engineering and Calibration Operations.
• Evaluating new devices with Processor Innovation, providing feedback on gate performance and processor behaviour.
• Transferring new control techniques into OQC's production software stack.

Skills

Python

Quantum software development

Quantum mechanics

Data analysis

Experimental design

Machine learning

Education

PhD in Physics or Quantum Engineering

Tools

Qiskit

PennyLane

Cirq

Control electronics

Waveform generation

Job description

• Help push the performance of OQC's quantum processors through advanced control theory, pulse optimisation and rigorous processor characterisation.
• Develop and validate techniques that improve gate fidelity and stability.
• Work across Advanced Product Development, Calibration Engineering, Processor Innovation, Compiler and software teams.
• Diagnose complex performance challenges and translate successful techniques into repeatable, production-ready workflows.
• Develop and experimentally validate high-fidelity single- and two-qubit operations.
• Design, optimise and benchmark pulse shapes using quantum control, numerical optimisation and experimental techniques.
• Characterise gate error mechanisms, including coherent error, leakage, crosstalk, drift and control-chain distortion.
• Build robust experimental pipelines, data-analysis workflows and performance benchmarks for quantum processors.
• Define calibration requirements and partner with Calibration Engineering and Calibration Operations.
• Evaluate new devices with Processor Innovation, providing feedback on gate performance and processor behaviour.
• Transfer new control techniques into OQC's production software stack.

Requirements

• A PhD, or equivalent professional experience, in physics, quantum engineering, electrical engineering, applied mathematics or a related discipline.
• Experience measuring or modelling quantum systems.
• Experience developing scientific software for experiment control, numerical analysis or simulation.
• Strong scientific programming and data-analysis skills using Python or an equivalent language.
• A strong understanding of quantum mechanics and qubit control.
• Experience with numerical analysis, parameter estimation, experimental design and optimisation.
• The ability to diagnose complex, system-level performance issues across hardware and software boundaries.
• Clear and concise scientific communication, including confident technical presentation skills.
• A collaborative, ownership-driven approach with strong problem-solving and prioritisation skills.
• Experience working with superconducting qubits and microwave control systems.
• Experience developing, calibrating or experimentally characterising quantum processors.
• Hands-on experience optimising single- or two-qubit gates through pulse-level control.
• Familiarity with randomised benchmarking, gate set tomography or algorithmic benchmarking.
• Experience investigating crosstalk, drift, coherent errors or signal-chain distortion.
• Experience transferring experimental methods into repeatable engineering or operational workflows.
• Knowledge of machine learning or numerical optimisation techniques applied to physical systems.
• Familiarity with control electronics, waveform generation and microwave signal chains.
• Experience with quantum software frameworks such as Qiskit, PennyLane or Cirq.

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in quantum mechanics and qubit control, with strong capabilities in scientific programming and data analysis using Python. Proven ability to diagnose complex performance issues and develop repeatable workflows for quantum processors.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• PhD In Physics Or Quantum Engineering
• Quantum Software Development
• Scientific Programming In Python
• Experimental Characterisation Of Quantum Processors
• Pulse-Level Control Optimization

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• Quantum Mechanics
• Qubit Control
• Numerical Analysis
• Experimental Design
• Pulse Optimisation
• Gate Fidelity Improvement
• Data Analysis
• Performance Benchmarking
• Calibration Techniques
• Control Theory

Soft Skills

• Clear Scientific Communication
• Problem-Solving
• Collaboration
• Ownership-Driven Approach
• Prioritisation Skills

Industry Keywords

• Quantum Processors
• Superconducting Qubits
• Microwave Control Systems
• Randomised Benchmarking
• Gate Set Tomography
• Algorithmic Benchmarking

Tools & Technologies

• Qiskit
• PennyLane
• Cirq
• Control Electronics
• Waveform Generation
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