Software Engineering Team Lead

Qabird; Delft; On-site; EUR 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Hybrid working flexibility

Participation in stock appreciation scheme

30 days of annual leave

14% pension contribution

Job summary

A leading quantum technology firm in Delft is seeking a Software Engineering Team Lead to spearhead the development of its Qblox Cluster, a modular platform for qubit systems. The ideal candidate has over 7 years of experience in software engineering, including 2 years in a leadership role. Responsibilities include mentoring engineers, driving software development, and collaborating across teams. Offering competitive compensation, hybrid work flexibility, and ample growth opportunities.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in software engineering, with at least 2 years as a team lead.
• Deep Python expertise and a solid grasp of software design fundamentals.
• Experience in providing feedback and mentoring junior engineers.

Responsibilities

• Mentor a high‑performing team of engineers and guide architectural decisions.
• Drive software development for experimentalists using Python.
• Build efficient workflows that help engineers accelerate their work.
• Collaborate closely with physicists, FPGA designers, and hardware engineers.

Skills

Python expertise

Software design fundamentals

Leadership experience

Compiler design knowledge

Experience with Qiskit, NumPy, SciPy

Job description

About the Role

At Qblox, we don’t just build software; we build the engine that drives the Quantum Revolution. We are looking for a Software Engineering Team Lead to spearhead the development of the Qblox Cluster—our modular control platform that orchestrates 100+ qubit systems with nanosecond precision.

As we scale toward 1,000+ qubits and beyond, the complexity of our software stack grows exponentially. You will lead the team responsible for this orchestration, sitting at the intersection of high‑level Python interfaces and low‑latency quantum assembly (Q1ASM).

What You’ll Actually Do

• Lead with Technical Credibility: You’ll mentor a high‑performing team of engineers, but you won't just be a “people manager.” You’ll be the architectural guide, making sound decisions under the real‑world constraints of time, resources, and quantum uncertainty.
• Scale the “Brain”: Drive the development of the software that allows experimentalists to write experiments in Python and compile them down to our proprietary hardware.
• Process Pragmatist: You’ll have the autonomy to shape how the team works. We hate red tape—you’ll be responsible for building workflows that actually help engineers move faster, not create overhead.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration: You’ll work closely with physicists, FPGA designers, and hardware engineers to ensure our software and hardware are a seamless, high‑performance unit.

Why Qblox?

We offer a tech space that is genuinely rare. This isn't another SaaS product; it's a chance to build expertise in a field that is only just beginning to take off, working alongside some of the sharpest minds in the sector.

• Autonomy & Impact: You’ll have plenty of say in how the team grows and how the work gets done. No layers of middle management.
• Flexibility: Hybrid working and three weeks a year you can work from abroad, so you can visit home or just change the scenery.
• Skin in the Game: Competitive compensation and participation in our employee stock appreciation scheme (SARs).
• Growth: 30 days of annual leave, a generous pension scheme (14% contribution), and a modern, open office in the heart of the Delft quantum ecosystem.

Enough about us, what about you?

In order to really enjoy this role, we expect you will have a background encompassing the following:

• The Track Record: 7+ years in software engineering, with at least 2 years of experience leading a team (either formally or as a strong tech lead).
• Python Mastery: You have deep Python expertise and a solid grasp of software design fundamentals (SOLID, design patterns). You know when to apply them—and more importantly, when to keep things simple.
• A “People‑First” Mindset: You enjoy seeing others succeed. You’ve run effective 1-on-1s, provided tough but fair feedback, and helped junior engineers level up.
• Architectural Vision: You can navigate the trade‑offs of compiler design, ASTs, or intermediate representations (IRs). If you have experience with LLVM or MLIR, that’s a huge plus.
• Scientific Curiosity: You don’t need a PhD in Physics, but you should be excited to learn. Experience with the quantum/scientific Python ecosystem (Qiskit, NumPy, SciPy) is a great head start.