Principal Scientist Neutral Atom QPU

QpiAI; Bengaluru Urban; On-site; INR 3,800,000 - 6,500,000; Full time

Job summary

QPIAI India Pvt. Ltd. is seeking a Lead Neutral Atom QPU Designer to architect and optimize quantum hardware using neutral atoms as qubits. You will lead a team, design experiments, and collaborate with superconducting QPU groups to enable data-centre integration.

The role requires a PhD in AMO/Physics with hands-on experience in vacuum systems, lasers, optical tweezers, and Python for control and analysis. You will translate theory into scalable hardware and drive fault-tolerant architectures.

Qualifications

• PhD in AMO/Physics or related field.
• Hands-on experience building neutral-atom experiments (UHV, lasers, optics).
• Strong programming in Python for hardware control, simulation, and data analysis.

Responsibilities

• Build and lead a team of neutral atom QPU designers.
• Design, prototype, and test trapping, cooling, and manipulating neutral atoms.
• Collaborate with superconducting QPU teams to integrate neutral atom QPUs into data-centre environments.
• Develop error-tailored architectures to scale qubits and implement high-fidelity gates.

Skills

Team leadership

Quantum hardware design

Atomic physics

Python control

Vacuum systems

Education

PhD in AMO Physics

Tools

Ultra-high vacuum systems

Laser systems

Optical tweezers

Quantum control hardware

Job description

QPIAI India Pvt. Ltd. is a next-generation technology company focused on Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing, and advanced IT innovation. At QPIAI, we believe that great ideas grow in the right environment. Our culture is built on flexibility, collaboration, and continuous learning, supported by a strong commitment to employee well-being and work–life balance. We provide a workplace that encourages creativity, fosters professional growth, and empowers people to take ownership of impactful projects.

We are proud to be a company where innovation meets opportunity—where passionate professionals come together to solve complex challenges and shape the future of technology. If you are driven by curiosity, inspired by cutting-edge technologies, and eager to contribute to a global tech journey, QPIAI is the place to grow, lead, and make a meaningful impact.

About the Role:

A Neutral Atom Quantum Processing Unit (QPU) Designer is a specialized research scientist or hardware engineer responsible for designing, building, and optimizing quantum hardware that uses individual neutral atoms (often rubidium, cesium, or ytterbium) as qubits. They work at the intersection of atomic physics, quantum optics, and engineering to create scalable, error-corrected quantum systems. This is a leadership role, where you will be directly reporting to the CEO and strategize the data centre strategy with neutral atom QPUs integrated to Superconducting QPUs and classical compute

Core Responsibilities:

• Team building and infra setup: To build a team of neutral atom QPU designers and build infrastructure for neutral atom QPU
• Cross-functional interaction: To lead interaction with the Superconducting QPU design team to enable integration of the neutral atom Quantum computing system with the superconducting QPU in a data centre environment
• Hardware Design & Implementation: Designing, prototyping, and testing experimental setups for trapping, cooling, and manipulating neutral atoms using laser beams (optical tweezers) and vacuum apparatuses.
• Qubit Control: Developing high-fidelity control techniques, such as Rydberg excitation, to enable quantum gates and entanglement between atom qubits.
• System Architecture: Developing "error-tailored" architectures to improve the scalability of neutral atom processors, aiming to scale from hundreds to thousands of physical qubits.
• Error Modeling: Conducting experiments to understand, characterize, and mitigate noise and errors (e.g., atom loss, laser noise) in neutral-atom physical operations. [
• Translating Theory to Practice: Translating theoretical concepts in quantum computing, such as surface codes, into practical, physical experimental setups.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• Education: PhD in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Atomic/Molecular/Optical (AMO) Physics, or a related field.
• Technical Experience: Hands-on experience building neutral atom experiments, including experience with ultra-high vacuum (UHV) systems, lasers, and optics.
• Programming: Strong capabilities in Python for hardware control, simulation, and data analysis (e.g., NumPy, SciPy).
• Scientific Contribution: A track record of peer‑reviewed publications or contributions to the field of quantum technology.

Context within Industry:

• Goal: To move neutral atom computing from scientific prototypes to commercial-grade, fault‑tolerant quantum computers.
• Collaboration: Working closely with quantum algorithm teams to improve gate fidelity and with software teams to optimize hardware-level instructions (pulse sequences).