Software Engineering Intern - Quantum Information Science 2027

International Business Machines Corporation; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 39,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

IBM Research in Chicago is offering an internship in the Quantum Information Software group. You will collaborate with researchers and software engineers to translate fault-tolerant quantum computing advances into production-quality software, contributing to compilers, infrastructure, and open-source quantum tooling.

The role emphasizes Rust and Python development, strong software engineering fundamentals, and coursework in quantum information or related areas.

Qualifications

• Experience developing software in Rust and Python.
• Strong software engineering fundamentals, including software design, testing, debugging, and version control.
• Coursework or experience in quantum information, quantum computing, quantum algorithms, or a related area.

Responsibilities

• Contributing to quantum compilation architectures for fault-tolerant quantum programs
• Building and extending software infrastructure for representing, analyzing, and transforming large-scale quantum programs
• Designing and implementing compiler passes for the analysis and optimization of quantum circuits
• Contributing to new execution models and software abstractions for next-generation quantum workloads
• Developing and evaluating tools and techniques for noise learning and scalable execution of error-mitigated workloads
• Implementing and benchmarking state-of-the-art compilation and optimization techniques from the research literature
• Contributing to open-source quantum software projects and tooling

Skills

Rust

Python

Software engineering

Version control

Quantum information

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Master's Degree

Tools

NumPy

JAX

PyTorch

XLA

TensorFlow

Qiskit

Job description

Introduction

At IBM Research, we are the innovation engine of IBM that explores what's next in computing. Working in Research means joining a brilliant team of scientists and developers working to advance high-performance computing, AI, quantum, and cloud. With a culture built on curiosity, creativity, and collaboration, IBM Research offers the opportunity to grow your career while contributing to breakthroughs that transform industries and change the world.

Your role and responsibilities

As an intern in the Quantum Information Software group at IBM, you will work with researchers and software engineers to turn advances in fault-tolerant quantum computing into production-quality software.

Your role may include:

• Contributing to quantum compilation architectures for fault-tolerant quantum programs
• Building and extending software infrastructure for representing, analyzing, and transforming large-scale quantum programs
• Designing and implementing compiler passes for the analysis and optimization of quantum circuits
• Contributing to new execution models and software abstractions for next-generation quantum workloads
• Developing and evaluating tools and techniques for noise learning and scalable execution of error-mitigated workloads
• Implementing and benchmarking state-of-the-art compilation and optimization techniques from the research literature
• Contributing to open-source quantum software projects and tooling

Required education

Bachelor's Degree

Preferred education

Master's Degree

Required technical and professional expertise

• Experience developing software in Rust and Python
• Strong software engineering fundamentals, including software design, testing, debugging, and version control
• Coursework or experience in quantum information, quantum computing, quantum algorithms, or a related area

Any of the following would be considered a plus:

• Familiarity with quantum compiler architectures, intermediate representations (IRs), and program optimization techniques
• Experience with scientific computing frameworks such as NumPy, JAX, PyTorch, XLA, or TensorFlow
• Strong hands-on experience with Qiskit or a comparable quantum SDK

ABOUT BUSINESS UNIT

IBM Research is the organic growth engine of IBM and an innovation engine for our customers and partners. As part of this mission, IBM Research anticipates and examines what's next in computing to ultimately create and integrate the technologies the world relies upon to solve big challenges and unlock new opportunities. We create and pioneer new markets for IBM, our partners and customers as exemplified in our ongoing quest to reach practical and large-scale quantum computing. Across IBM Research, we realize the power and potential to accelerate discovery with our partners and clients by combining the power of high performance computing, AI, and Quantum, all integrated through the hybrid cloud.

YOUR LIFE @ IBM

In a world where technology never stands still, we understand that, dedication to our clients success, innovation that matters, and trust and personal responsibility in all our relationships, lives in what we do as IBMers as we strive to be the catalyst that makes the world work better.

Being an IBMer means you’ll be able to learn and develop yourself and your career, you’ll be encouraged to be courageous and experiment everyday, all whilst having continuous trust and support in an environment where everyone can thrive whatever their personal or professional background.

Our IBMers are growth minded, always staying curious, open to feedback and learning new information and skills to constantly transform themselves and our company. They are trusted to provide on-going feedback to help other IBMers grow, as well as collaborate with colleagues keeping in mind a team focused approach to include different perspectives to drive exceptional outcomes for our customers. The courage our IBMers have to make critical decisions everyday is essential to IBM becoming the catalyst for progress, always embracing challenges with resources they have to hand, a can-do attitude and always striving for an outcome focused approach within everything that they do.

ABOUT IBM

IBM's greatest invention is the IBMer. We believe that through the application of intelligence, reason and science, we can improve business, society and the human condition, bringing the power of an open hybrid cloud and AI strategy to life for our clients and partners around the world. Restlessly reinventing since 1911, we are not only one of the largest corporate organizations in the world, we're also one of the biggest technology and consulting employers, with many of the Fortune 500 companies relying on the IBM Cloud to run their business. At IBM, we pride ourselves on being an early adopter of artificial intelligence, quantum computing and blockchain. Now it's time for you to join us on our journey to being a responsible technology innovator and a force for good in the world.

IBM is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, pregnancy, disability, neurodivergence, age, or other characteristics protected by the applicable law. IBM is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.

OTHER RELEVANT JOB DETAILS

Supplemental 1 employees may be eligible for up to 8 paid holidays, minimum of 56 hours paid sick time and the IBM Employee Stock Purchase Plan. IBM offers paid family medical leave and disability benefits to eligible employees where required by applicable law.

This position was posted on the date cited in the key job details section and is anticipated to remain posted for 15 days from this date or less if not needed to fill the role.

We consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable law.

IBM will not be providing visa sponsorship for this position now or in the future. Therefore, in order to be considered for this position, you must have the ability to work without a need for current or future visa sponsorship.

The compensation range and benefits for this position are based on a full-time schedule for a full calendar year. The salary will vary depending on your job-related skills, experience and location. Pay increment and frequency of pay will be in accordance with employment classification and applicable laws. For part time roles, your compensation and benefits will be adjusted to reflect your hours. Benefits may be pro-rated for those who start working during the calendar year.