Quantum Engineer - QPU Design

OQC; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

OQC in Reading, UK seeks a Quantum Engineer specializing in QPU design to help design next‑gen superconducting quantum processors. You will simulate architectures, circuit layouts and components, and contribute to the QPU design toolchain and data analysis.

You will collaborate with senior researchers across the full development lifecycle, from initial design to implementation and reporting, applying electromagnetic modelling and circuit theory to practical design decisions.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent multi-year R&D experience involving measurement, design or operation of quantum systems.
• Experience designing superconducting quantum processors, including circuit layout and electromagnetic simulation.
• Strong knowledge of microwave engineering and superconducting circuit theory.
• Experience in at least one quantum or superconducting-device field (qubits, resonators, SQUIDs, etc.).
• Strong Python skills for automation, analysis and data processing.
• Ability to distil complex scientific information and communicate to technical stakeholders.
• Strong planning and organisational skills with ownership of research activities.

Responsibilities

• Design and simulate novel superconducting quantum processors, optimising architectures and devices.
• Develop QPU designs supporting low-error gates, fast readout and scalable architectures.
• Build and improve design methodologies for superconducting circuits using EM and circuit simulations.
• Maintain QPU design and simulation codebase with collaborative development and reviews.
• Analyse design and experimental data to identify limits and provide technical recommendations.
• Own research projects from experimental or simulation design through analysis and reporting.
• Contribute to the roadmap and share knowledge across the team and with collaborators.

Skills

Python

Communication

Project planning

Ownership of research

Education

PhD or equivalent multi-year R&D experience

Tools

HFSS

Sonnet

COMSOL

Job description

Quantum Engineer – QPU Design

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 ambition into a commercial reality. The most exciting thing is that we’re just getting started.

The Purpose

Help design the next generation of OQC’s superconducting quantum processors.

As a Quantum Engineer specialising in QPU design, you’ll develop and simulate novel processor architectures, circuit layouts and superconducting components. Your work will help improve gate performance, readout fidelity and the scalability of OQC’s quantum processors, directly contributing to our future technology roadmap.

The Role

Working within our Quantum Science & Exploratory Research team, you’ll collaborate with senior researchers to take ownership of scientific and engineering projects across the full development lifecycle—from initial design and simulation through to implementation, data analysis and technical recommendations.

You’ll combine electromagnetic modelling, superconducting circuit theory, scientific software development and analysis of experimental data. You’ll also help maintain OQC’s QPU design toolchain, improve our simulation methods and translate complex scientific findings into practical design decisions.

This role may involve occasional domestic and international travel for conferences and collaborative research programmes.

What You’ll Be Working On

• Design and simulate novel superconducting quantum processors, optimising architectures, circuit layouts and device performance.
• Develop QPU designs that support low-error quantum gates, fast high-fidelity readout and increasingly scalable processor architectures.
• Build and improve advanced design methodologies for superconducting circuits using electromagnetic and circuit-level simulation.
• Maintain OQC’s QPU design and simulation codebase, contributing through collaborative development, pull requests and code reviews.
• Analyse design and experimental data to identify processor limitations and translate findings into clear technical recommendations.
• Own scientific research projects from experimental or simulation design through to analysis, documentation and reporting.
• Contribute to the QSER roadmap, share technical knowledge across the team and represent OQC through conferences, collaborations and scientific publications.

What We’re Looking For

• A PhD, or equivalent multi-year commercial or R&D experience, involving the measurement, design or operation of quantum systems.
• Experience designing superconducting quantum processors, including circuit layout and electromagnetic simulation using tools such as HFSS, Sonnet, COMSOL or equivalent.
• Strong knowledge of microwave engineering and superconducting circuit theory.
• Experience in at least one relevant quantum or superconducting-device field, such as:
  • Superconducting qubits
  • Trapped ions, photonics, neutral atoms or solid-state spin systems
  • Superconducting resonators or SQUIDs
  • Microwave kinetic-inductance detectors
  • Nano-electromechanical resonators or surface-acoustic-wave devices
• Strong Python skills, or experience with a comparable language, for automation, scientific analysis and data processing.
• The ability to distil complex scientific information and communicate findings clearly to technical stakeholders.
• Strong planning and organisational skills, with the ability to take ownership of research activities and deliver detailed, accurate work.
• A creative, curious and adaptable approach to solving complex scientific and engineering problems.

The ‘Nice-to-Haves’

• Advanced electromagnetic-simulation experience applied specifically to superconducting qubit design.
• Experience with qubit parameter-extraction methods such as black-box quantisation, energy-participation-ratio analysis or circuit analysis.
• Knowledge of numerical or computational optimisation methods applied to QPU design.
• Experience comparing experimental measurements with Hamiltonian models, circuit simulations or electromagnetic simulations.
• Experience developing or improving scientific design and simulation software.
• A track record of publishing scientific research or presenting technical results, particularly within superconducting circuits or quantum processor design.
• Experience supporting or mentoring junior researchers and sharing technical knowledge across multidisciplinary teams.

Why Join OQC

You’ll join a multidisciplinary team working at the forefront of superconducting quantum processor development. This is an opportunity to influence the physical architecture of future quantum computers, working across advanced simulation, scientific software and experimental data.

You’ll have genuine ownership of technically challenging research, access to specialist quantum engineering expertise and the opportunity to see your designs contribute directly to OQC’s next generation of processors.