Group Leader, Quantum HPC Group

Quantum Software; Oak Ridge (TN); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) seeks a Group Leader for the Quantum HPC (QHPC) Group within the NCCS. The role provides R&D leadership to advance quantum computing alongside HPC resources, shaping strategy and mentoring staff in a diverse, safe environment.

The Group Leader will coordinate with ORNL leadership, drive collaborative projects with external partners, and push the state-of-the-art in quantum computing research and applications on hybrid systems.

Qualifications

• Requires a Ph.D. in quantum computing science or related field.
• Minimum 6 years relevant experience and demonstrated leadership of R&D teams.
• Experience in quantum computing, HPC, and scalable data analytics or deep learning.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a cohesive research strategy for the group.
• Lead quantum computing research and collaborate with national labs and industry partners.
• Advance safety, diversity, and performance within the group and ORNL policies.

Skills

Leadership

R&D leadership

Quantum computing

HPC

Strategic planning

Mentoring

Communication

Education

Ph.D. in quantum computing science or related field

Job description

Requisition Id17088

Overview

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is seeking a Group Leader for the Quantum HPC (QHPC) Group within the Science Engagement section in the National Center for Computational Sciences (NCCS). NCCS Provides state-of-the-art computational and data science infrastructure coupled with dedicated scientific and technical professionals tackling large-scale science and technology problems across a broad range of domains for accelerating scientific discovery and engineering advances. NCCS hosts the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility (OLCF) which is a DOE National User Facility. OLCF operates Frontier, the nation’s first exascale supercomputer.

The QHPC group is part of a larger quantum science community at ORNL, focusing on the integration of quantum resources with classical HPC infrastructure. The research involves both the hardware and software integration of quantum devices into the NCCS ecosystem and science applications carried out on hybrid systems. The OLCF has been offering the Quantum Computing User Program (QCUP) to the computational community for over seven years, building capabilities within the laboratory and expertise in the user community. As the fault-tolerant capabilities of the QC ecosystem grow, the ability to offer scientific relevance in combination with HPC comes sharply into focus and the QHPC group will help drive this transformation. The vision of the group is to be a world leader in innovation at the intersection of frontline science applications and state-of-the-art quantum computing technology, thus accelerating the transition to quantum advantage. Partnerships with the rapidly evolving quantum industry will be key to success.

ORNL leads the Quantum Science Center (QSC), one of five National Quantum Information Science Research Centers. ORNL staff conduct research on various aspects of Quantum Computing – from compilers and algorithms for scientific applications that will run on Quantum Computers to experimental validation of the science and benchmarking on Quantum Computers on-premise at ORNL and with QSC collaborators and partners. The QHCP group contributes to QSC and situates these developments in the HPC ecosystem. In particular, staff in the QHPC group lead the Open QSE initiative that brings several national and international partners together to create an open Quantum Computing software ecosystem.

Purpose

The QHPC Group Leader will provide Research and Development (R&D) leadership to the group that strategically advances the laboratory and DOE’s research portfolio in the field.

The Group Leader leads a group of quantum computing researchers with the primary goal of pursuing global scientific leadership in the quantum computing field, nurtures ORNL’s culture among group members, and continues to build and scale up individual excellence and impact in R&D. The Group Leader reports to and works closely with the Science Engagement Section Head to implement the group’s scientific vision; develops group members to enable their career advancement; establishes capabilities that enable programs to excel at the forefront of science and technology; performs independent and collaborative R&D to advance the fields quantum computing science; sets, implements, and models standards for performance of work consistent with Environment, Safety, Security, Health, and Quality (ESH&Q) requirements and business rules; and ensures a diverse and inclusive work environment where every employee feels safe, heard, and appreciated—a workplace that sets an example for the broader community.

Research

We seek a scientist from the broad field of quantum computing who is a recognized leader in their scientific discipline. The Group Leader will initiate, lead and perform independent R&D on an ongoing basis. The Group Leader will also partner with scientific domain experts and help them obtain optimal results from the ORNL’s quantum/HPC computational resources and systems.

Major Duties/Responsibilities

Leadership

• Develop a vision and implement a cohesive group research strategy to ensure the success of new and ongoing research projects to position the group for future success.
• Work closely with the NCCS leadership computing user community as partners in projects to exploit the classical and quantum resources of the NCCS effectively and efficiently. This includes partnering with large user program projects in moving data and programs into and out of the NCCS computational environment, developing, porting, and scaling applications and algorithms for NCCS computers, tuning applications for high performance, and scheduling applications to execute at scale to meet the scientific capability needs of the users.
• Assist in capability planning exercises and in defining requirements for, and assisting in the development of system software, libraries and tools that meet the quantum computing communities’ needs.
• Participate in quantum-computing community-wide efforts to design new methodologies, workflows, tools, and other contributions that will advance the state of the art in computational science.
• Lead appropriate quantum science research proposals with ORNL and external collaborators that allow for the conduct of scientific research that will be reported on in journals, technical manuals, and conferences.
• Develop and implement plans to exploit new opportunities and/or expand existing efforts.
• Assist staff in setting performance goals consistent with the group’s strategy and members’ long-term career goals. Provide feedback to address performance issues in a timely manner.
• Provide relevant input to assist the R&D Section Head with staff development while providing direct and impactful guidance to staff on a regular basis.
• Attract a quality, diverse pool of top candidates and hire staff members who are committed to world-class R&D and aspire to be the best in their field.
• Lead by example by exercising the principles in ORNL’s "Research Code of Conduct" as a guide for proposing, performing, and communicating research.
• Coach and mentor staff regarding Battelle’s "Safe Conduct of Research" principles
• Lead ESH&Q by example and ensure all work is carried out safely, securely, and in compliance with ORNL policies, standards, and procedures.
• Exemplify a commitment to "One ORNL" by modeling lab expectations for excellence in research, operations, and community engagement, and by working cooperatively to leverage capabilities across the lab.

Service

• Serve as immediate supervisor for staff members in group.
• Encourage staff to "think and dream big," take appropriate risks in their work, and develop skills that will enable them to pursue new ideas, scientific passions, and research programs.
• Advance the reputation of the group members and standing of the group as a whole through establishing collaborations, Professional Society leadership and involvement, and organization of technical events.
• Support group members by consistently reviewing technical products such as proposals, publications, and artifacts to ensure high quality and consistency with ORNL standards.
• Build strong teams across ORNL.
• Connect staff to your scientific network and professional societies.
• Lead regular scientific/technical group and/or section meetings and be visible in the labs and workplace.
• Assume front-line responsibility for safety in the group’s laboratory; mentor and empower the Laboratory Space Managers to create a strong safety culture.
• Effectively communicate the importance of protecting proprietary or sensitive information and complying with ORNL cybersecurity policies and guidelines.

Accountabilities

• To group staff, for the quality and safety of their work environment and opportunity for professional growth.
• To R&D section head, for world-leading science and technology directions, safe effective, and compliant operations, ownership of assigned staff, facilities, and equipment, and the quality of products and services.
• To customer, for the quality of products and service

Authorities

• Develop a vision and implement a strategy to pursue world-leading science and technology directions for the R&D group.
• Hold staff accountable for performance
• Act to ensure safe and effective operations
• Hire staff
• Certify the technical quality of the group’s products and services

Basic Qualifications

• Requires a Ph.D. in quantum computing science, or related fields, with a minimum of 6 years relevant experience.
• Qualified candidates should have demonstrated experience in leading R&D teams
• Demonstrated R&D experience in quantum computing, or a relevant scientific domain and knowledge of high performance and quantum computing and scalable data analytics and/or deep learning

Preferred Qualifications

• Qualified candidates should have demonstrated management experience
• History of engagement with Department of Energy and national laboratory complex, particularly leadership class computing
• Exceptional communication, planning, collaboration, and customer service skills.

Special Requirements

• Security, Credentialing and Eligibility Requirements: For employment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), a Real ID compliant form of identification will be required. Additionally, ORNL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as mandated by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, which requires a favorable post-employment background investigation.

To obtain this credential, new employees must successfully complete and pass a Federal Tier 1 background check investigation. This investigation includes a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last year. This includes marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws.

For foreign national candidates:

If you have not resided in the U.S. for three consecutive years, you are not eligible for the PIV credential and instead will need to obtain a favorable Local Site Specific Only (LSSO) risk determination to maintain employment. Once you meet the three-year residency requirement, you will be required to obtain a PIV credential to maintain employment.

About ORNL

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an impressive 80-year legacy of addressing the nation’s most pressing challenges. Our team is made up of over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals! Our goal is to create an environment where a variety of perspectives and backgrounds are valued, ensuring ORNL is known as a top choice for employment. These principles are essential for supporting our broader mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation.

ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain individuals who demonstrate exceptional work behaviors. The laboratory provides a range of employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to support the well-being of you and your family. Employee amenities such as on-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also available for added convenience.

Other benefits include the following: Prescription Drug Plan, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, 401(k) Retirement Plan, Contributory Pension Plan, Life Insurance, Disability Benefits, Generous Vacation and Holidays, Parental Leave, Legal Insurance with Identity Theft Protection, Employee Assistance Plan, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Wellness Programs, Educational Assistance, Relocation Assistance, and Employee Discounts.

This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply.UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.

QUANTUM ROLE CONTEXT | Appended by Quantum.Jobs v2

Role context

This research management role exists to direct technical teams operating at the intersection of high-performance computing and quantum technologies. Positioned between organizational executive leadership and domain-specific research staff, the function provides strategic oversight, operational management, and interdisciplinary coordination. It aligns technical initiatives across institutional divisions, ensuring that complex software, hardware, and algorithmic projects integrate effectively into established computing infrastructures. By managing team operations, safety protocols, and resource allocations, individuals in this position facilitate sustainable scientific discovery and bridge technical user communities with core R&D operations.

Quantum ecosystem relevance

The position supports the quantum ecosystem by advancing the operational and algorithmic integration of quantum co-processors with classical supercomputing infrastructure. As quantum hardware matures, hybrid environments are necessary to evaluate early quantum workflows alongside established high-performance systems. Leaders in this domain coordinate open software ecosystem efforts, drive algorithm benchmarking across specialized research centers, and manage user access programs. This operational framework enables external research partners to test scientific applications, establishing scalable methodologies required for eventual fault-tolerant quantum utility across diverse computational fields.

Capability signals

• Strategic oversight of complex research initiatives across classical and quantum computing domains
• Technical management of multidisciplinary teams within large-scale computational facility environments
• Expertise in hybrid algorithm development, software toolchains, and computational benchmarking strategies
• Experience establishing collaborative research frameworks with national and international partner organizations