Lead Physicist – Apollo Integration and Verification - 790

Quantinuum; Broomfield (CO); On-site; USD 164,000 - 205,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Flexible work schedule

Health, dental, vision insurance

401(k) match

Equity

12 paid holidays

Generous vacation and sick time

Parental leave

Employee discounts

Job summary

Quantinuum in Broomfield, CO seeks a Lead Physicist for Apollo Integration and Verification to shape the design of next-generation trapped-ion quantum systems. You will guide hardware decisions, improve usability, and define software orchestration for efficient operation of commercial quantum computers. This role blends experimental science with system design.

Applicants should have a PhD and 8+ years of directly relevant experience, with U.S. work eligibility.

Qualifications

• PhD completed prior to start date.
• 8+ years of directly applicable experience (PhD inclusive).
• U.S. person as defined by contract (citizenship, permanent resident, green card holder, or approved asylum/refugee status).
• National security constraint on PRC/Russia nationals unless U.S. citizen.

Responsibilities

• Apply extensive operational experience with trapped-ion quantum computers to influence the design of next-generation commercial systems.
• Shape system-level design decisions that improve reliability, usability, serviceability, manufacturability, and overall system performance.
• Define requirements for system monitoring, diagnostics, automation, and software orchestration to enable efficient operation and maintenance of complex quantum computing hardware.
• Collaborate with software, controls, electrical, mechanical, and quantum hardware engineers to translate operational experience into robust product designs.
• Operate and characterize prototype and production quantum computing systems, designing experiments to evaluate performance and identify opportunities for design improvements.
• Analyze experimental data to understand system behavior, identify performance limitations, and guide future hardware and software development.
• Review hardware designs, software implementations, and engineering documentation to ensure new capabilities improve performance and efficiency.
• Support system bring-up, first-article builds, customer deployments, and transition of new technologies into manufacturing and operations.
• Communicate significant technical results through internal design reviews, technical publications, conference presentations, and customer interactions.

Skills

Quantum hardware experience

Experience with trapped-ion systems

Education

PhD in Physics or related field

Job description

Lead Physicist - Apollo Integration and Verification – Broomfield, CO

You will help shape the design of next‑generation trapped‑ion quantum computing systems by applying deep operational expertise to the development of reliable, scalable, and production‑ready products. Working alongside scientists and engineers across multiple disciplines, you will influence how our quantum computers are designed, controlled, and operated. Your hands‑on experience operating complex quantum systems will guide hardware design decisions, improve system usability, and define the software orchestration and monitoring capabilities required to efficiently operate, diagnose, and maintain commercial quantum computers. This role combines experimental science with system design and offers the opportunity to directly influence the evolution of Quantinuum’s future hardware platforms.

Key Responsibilities

• Apply extensive operational experience with trapped‑ion quantum computers to influence the design of next‑generation commercial systems.
• Shape system‑level design decisions that improve reliability, usability, serviceability, manufacturability, and overall system performance.
• Define requirements for system monitoring, diagnostics, automation, and software orchestration to enable efficient operation and maintenance of complex quantum computing hardware.
• Collaborate closely with software, controls, electrical, mechanical, and quantum hardware engineers to translate operational experience into robust product designs.
• Operate and characterize prototype and production quantum computing systems, designing experiments to evaluate performance and identify opportunities for design improvements.
• Analyze experimental data to understand system behavior, identify performance limitations, and guide future hardware and software development.
• Review hardware designs, software implementations, and engineering documentation to ensure new capabilities improve system performance and operational efficiency.
• Support system bring‑up, first‑article builds, customer deployments, and the transition of new technologies into manufacturing and operations.
• Communicate significant technical results through internal design reviews, technical publications, conference presentations, and interactions with customers and collaborators.

YOU MUST HAVE

• PhD completed prior to start date.
• 8+ years of directly applicable experience (PhD inclusive).
• Due to contractual requirements, must be a U.S. person defined as a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, green card holder, or workers granted asylum or refugee status.
• Due to national security requirements imposed by the U.S. Government, candidates must not be a People’s Republic of China national or Russian national unless the candidate is also a U.S. citizen.

WE VALUE

• Completed Ph.D. in Physics or related field with background in cold atom physics.
• Experience building trapped‑ion or cold atom hardware systems.
• Experience working with quantum computing hardware, including experimental control systems for data collection, signal processing, and data analysis.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with published results within their field of research.
• Strong organizational and leadership skills, and effectiveness in working with customers and partners.

All applicants for placement in safety‑sensitive positions will be required to submit to a pre‑employment drug test.

Benefits

• A competitive salary and innovative, game‑changing work.
• Flexible work schedule.
• Employer‑subsidized health, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) match and student loan repayment benefit.
• Equity, 401(k) retirement savings plan, 12 paid holidays, generous vacation, and sick time.
• Paid parental leave.
• Employee discounts.

Quantinuum is an equal‑opportunity employer. You will be considered without regard to age, race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, nationality, sex, or veteran status. Workplace discrimination is illegal.

Compensation & Benefits

The pay range for this role is $164,000 - $205,000 annually. Actual compensation within this range may vary based on the candidate’s skills, educational background, professional experience, and unique qualifications for the role.