Quantum Control Research Physicist

National Institute of Standards and Technology; Boulder (CO); On-site; USD 111,000 - 184,000; Full time

Job summary

NIST seeks a Principal Investigator to lead a program developing FPGA-based RFSoC quantum control for qubits and quantum sensors, including DDS without up- and down-conversion and multi-tone drift tracking with nanosecond response. The role involves advancing a scalable system and public dissemination of software, with demonstrations on superconducting qubits and detector arrays.

The associate researcher will join the Quantum Sensors Division in Boulder, CO, collaborating with NIST staff and

Qualifications

• A PhD in physics, electrical engineering, or a closely related field.
• At least five years post-PhD measuring superconducting qubits and sensors with microwave techniques.
• At least five years post-PhD developing FPGA-based readout and control systems for superconducting qubits or sensors.
• At least five years post-PhD developing scientific software in Python for instrument control and data taking.
• At least five years post-PhD with millikelvin cryogenic systems, including microwave signal chains from room temperature to the millikelvin stage.

Responsibilities

• Develop an RFSoC-based quantum control system as described in the overview.
• Demonstrate the quantum control system using superconducting qubits and sensor arrays provided by NIST.
• Assist staff with qubit operation and qubit-based experiments.
• Publish results and present at meetings and conferences.
• Publicly disseminate software and firmware when appropriate.

Skills

FPGA-based readout

Python for instrument control

Qubit operation expertise

Microwave techniques

Cryogenic systems understanding

Education

PhD in physics or electrical engineering

Tools

FPGA design tools

Cryogenic measurement setup

Job description

NIST seeks a Principal Investigator to lead a program to develop algorithms and firmware for RFSoC electronics to better control qubits and quantum sensors. The successful candidate is expected to develop, test, and gradually make publicly accessible a scalable FPGA-based RFSoC quantum control system to perform direct digital synthesis (DDS) without up- and down conversion, for multiplexed microwave drive and readout of quantum systems, including quantum sensors and qubits. Also, to develop a system where the electronics are able to track the frequency drift of a large group of resonators located densely in frequency space. The system should be able to modify its output to match those multi-tone drifts within a few hundreds of nanoseconds. When developed, the algorithm should predict the likely drift of the resonance in the coming few microseconds of time, and feed forward into the output signal before those drifts occur. With minor modification, the same quantum control system would be suitable for doing error budget analysis and error correction for a mid-sized superconducting qubit system.

Duties

• Develop an RFSoC-based quantum control system as described in the Overview section above.
• Demonstrate the quantum control system using superconducting qubits and arrays of quantum sensors provided by NIST including microwave kinetic inductance detectors and superconducting transition-edge sensors with microwave multiplexed readout.
• Assist NIST staff with qubit operation and the design and execution of qubit-based experiments.
• Produce high-quality publications based on research and present results at internal and external meetings and conferences.
• When appropriate, publicly disseminate software and firmware.

Required Skills, Expertise, and Qualifications

• A PhD in physics, electrical engineering, or a closely related field.
• At least five years of experience post PhD measuring superconducting qubits and superconducting sensors using microwave techniques.
• At least five years of experience post PhD developing FPGA-based readout and control systems for superconducting qubits or sensors.
• At least five years of experience post PhD developing scientific software in Python for instrument control and data taking.
• At least five years of experience post PhD with millikelvin cryogenic systems, including experience designing and characterizing microwave electrical signal chains that connect room temperature to the millikelvin stage.

Employment Terms

• At least three years of experience post PhD with either the design or fabrication of superconducting qubits.
• This opportunity is to be an associate researcher in the NIST Quantum Sensors Division, located in Boulder, Colorado. Funds to support relocation are not available.
• Associate researchers are NOT federal employees, but they work closely with NIST researchers.
• Project end date is February 29, 2028. Successful candidates may have options to renew and/or pursue longer-term federal employment.

Salary commensurate with experience; not to exceed $184,400/year.