Quantum Algorithm Engineer — AMER

IBM; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

IBM Quantum seeks a Quantum Algorithm Engineer to drive research in quantum information science and practical applications. You will design and optimize algorithms, model system performance, and implement production-ready software across the IBM Quantum stack for diverse domains.

You will lead high-visibility demonstrations with strategic clients, collaborate with internal teams, and contribute to workshops that translate complex quantum advances for researchers and enterprise developers.

Qualifications

• 3+ years hands-on experience in quantum computing.
• Experience in academic and/or industry research with publications.
• Excellent Python programming with Qiskit and IBM software stack.
• Strong understanding of quantum computing architecture, software, and hardware.
• Proven ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Drive research in quantum information science and applications.
• Design and optimize quantum algorithms and perform performance modeling.
• Develop production-ready software across the IBM Quantum stack.
• Lead high-visibility technology demonstrations with strategic clients.
• Educate and run workshops translating quantum advances for researchers and developers.

Skills

Python

Qiskit

IBM Quantum stack

Project management

Quantum algorithms

HPC

C/C++/Rust

Education

Doctorate Degree

Tools

GitHub

CI/CD

Job description

Introduction

At IBM Quantum, our mission is to bring useful quantum computing to the world. We deliver the industry’s most performant quantum systems and empower a global community to pioneer early use cases via Qiskit and the IBM software stack. Today, the IBM Quantum Network brings together over 275 Fortune 500 companies, national laboratories, academic institutions, and startups, all focused on a singular goal: extracting tangible value from quantum computers. As we execute an ambitious roadmap to demonstrate quantum advantage by the end of 2026 and deliver the first fault-tolerant systems by 2029, we are looking for the innovators who will help us define this next era of computation.

Introduction

At IBM Quantum, our mission is to bring useful quantum computing to the world. We deliver the industry’s most performant quantum systems and empower a global community to pioneer early use cases via Qiskit and the IBM software stack. Today, the IBM Quantum Network brings together over 275 Fortune 500 companies, national laboratories, academic institutions, and startups, all focused on a singular goal: extracting tangible value from quantum computers. As we execute an ambitious roadmap to demonstrate quantum advantage by the end of 2026 and deliver the first fault-tolerant systems by 2029, we are looking for the innovators who will help us define this next era of computation.

Your Role And Responsibilities

As a Quantum Algorithm Engineer, you will sit at the intersection of high-impact research, algorithm engineering, and strategic ecosystem growth. You will be responsible for driving research in quantum information science and applications, with a dedicated focus on leveraging superconducting hardware and HPC integration to achieve demonstrable quantum advantage across a diverse range of domains such as high-energy physics, chemistry, materials science, and optimization. This role requires a blend of scientific rigor and engineering excellence, as you will design and optimize quantum algorithms, perform system-level performance modeling, and implement production-ready software that facilitates reliable R&D across the IBM Quantum stack. Your work will be pivotal in bridging the gap between theoretical breakthroughs and real-world utility for the global scientific community. You will lead high-visibility technology demonstrations and partner with strategic clients in the IBM Quantum Network to execute research roadmaps — ensuring they achieve peer-reviewed results through cutting-edge techniques such as advanced error suppression and mitigation. Simultaneously, you will serve as a primary advocate for the user, identifying critical software gaps and delivering technical workshops that translate complex quantum advancements into actionable insights for both academic and enterprise developers. By collaborating with internal research units and external stakeholders, you will influence the strategic evolution of our software and hardware capabilities. You will provide expert feedback on internal prototypes and engineer sophisticated educational resources that lower the barrier to entry for researchers from diverse backgrounds.

We are seeking an expert who can navigate the complexities of near-term quantum processors while showcasing the communication skills necessary to manage multi-team projects and maintain IBM’s position at the cutting edge of the field.

• Advance Quantum Research: Drive research in quantum information science, algorithms, and applications, with a focus on leveraging superconducting hardware and rigorous verification/validation to achieve quantum advantage.
• Impactful Scientific Output: Contribute to high-­impact research in top-­tier journals alongside clients and partners.
• Technology Demonstrations: Lead the creation of high-­visibility technology demonstrations that showcase state‑of‑the‑art capabilities to strategic partners and the broader scientific community.
• Multi-Field Application: Design and adapt quantum algorithms to solve complex challenges across a diverse range of domains, demonstrating versatility and scalability of the IBM Quantum stack.
• Algorithm & Performance Optimization: Partner with the IBM Quantum Network to benchmark, analyze and optimize execution on both dedicated and cloud-based systems, directly accelerating the path toward quantum advantage.
• Scientific Value Realization: Partner with strategic clients to define and execute research roadmaps, ensuring they achieve high-­impact scientific milestones and peer-reviewed results using IBM Quantum’s state‑of‑the‑art hardware and software.
• Ecosystem & User Advocacy: Serve as the voice of the user, identifying critical software gaps and delivering expert‑level technical lectures and workshops to audiences ranging from academic researchers to enterprise developers, and from beginners to experts.
• Strategic Software Evolution: Collaborate with software development and product teams to test new capabilities, providing expert feedback on internal prototypes and identifying client‑driven opportunities for new tools.
• Production‑Quality Implementation: Engineer and implement robust, production-ready software across the IBM Quantum stack to facilitate reliable research and development across different application domains.
• Educational Content Strategy: Design and develop sophisticated educational resources that bridge the gap for researchers from diverse backgrounds, making the latest quantum advancements accessible and actionable.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Liaise with internal research units and external stakeholders to define strategic goals and execute complex, multi‑team projects effectively.
• Knowledge Leadership: Maintain an industry‑leading mastery of the latest developments in quantum computing and related fields to ensure IBM remains at the cutting edge.

Preferred Education

Doctorate Degree

Required Technical And Professional Expertise

• M.Sc. in Physics, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or equivalent experience; with 3+ years of hands‑on experience in quantum computing, running near‑term algorithms in quantum hardware.
• Experience in academic and/or industry research, and a track record of scientific publications.
• Excellent programming skills in Python, Qiskit, and the IBM Quantum software stack; and a deep understanding of quantum computing architecture, both in software, middleware and hardware.
• Strong problem‑solving and troubleshooting skills to identify, diagnose and address challenges, with proven experience analyzing, modeling and tuning quantum hardware performance, including (but not limited to) transpilation, error suppression and mitigation techniques.
• Project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines; and demonstrated ability to operate at a strategic level, including setting direction, influencing stakeholders, and translating ambiguous goals into actionable plans.

Preferred Technical And Professional Experience

• Understanding of quantum system benchmarking techniques and trade‑offs across different hardware architectures; including proven experience with real quantum processors, and system‑level performance modeling.
• Strong fundamentals in quantum algorithms across different application domains, particularly those that are feasible for near term implementation; and experience in external/interdisciplinary research collaborations.
• HPC programming experience and understanding of the integration between quantum and classical compute capabilities.
• Software development skills (e.g. GitHub, documentation, debugging, data structures, design patters, software testing, CI/CD, agile frameworks, open source); and strong programming skills in C, C++, or Rust are a plus.
• Demonstrated experience collaborating across team such as product and sales teams, and in customer‑facing and/or client support roles.