Principal Quantum Optimization Scientist & Product Lead

Overview

We are seeking a globally respected, PhD-level quantum-computing leader to define and lead our quantum strategy, optimization algorithms roadmap, and product vision. This is a senior technical and product leadership role for someone who can translate advanced quantum research into commercially relevant, hybrid quantum-classical solutions.

The ideal candidate has deep expertise in quantum optimization, quantum annealing, gate-based quantum computing, hybrid algorithms, and multi-platform quantum hardware. They bring credibility through top-tier academic training, leading quantum-industry experience, and a recognized record of publications, patents, or technical leadership.

Responsibilities

• Define the company’s quantum optimization strategy, technical roadmap, and product direction.

• Lead the creation of hybrid quantum-classical algorithms for real-world optimization problems.

• Develop and improve QUBO, Ising, constrained-optimization, scheduling, routing, resource-allocation, portfolio, supply-chain, grid, and industrial optimization solutions.

• Evaluate the right approach for each problem: classical, quantum-inspired, quantum annealing, gate-based, or hybrid.

• Benchmark algorithms across quantum hardware platforms, simulators, and cloud quantum services.

• Lead technical decisions involving quantum noise, error mitigation, error correction, compilation, circuit optimization, and hardware-aware algorithm design.

• Partner with AI, software, cloud, and data teams to build reusable quantum products, APIs, accelerators, and customer-ready solutions.

• Represent the company with customers, strategic partners, research institutions, hardware providers, investors, and the global quantum community.

• Mentor and help grow a high-caliber quantum research and engineering team.

Required Qualifications

• PhD in Quantum Computing, Physics, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Electrical Engineering, Operations Research, or a related field.

• 5+ years of experience in quantum computing, quantum algorithms, optimization, or advanced deep-tech research.

• Strong hands-on experience with quantum optimization, including QUBO and Ising formulations.

• Experience with quantum annealing, QAOA, variational algorithms, or other hybrid quantum-classical approaches.

• Strong foundation in classical optimization, such as mixed-integer programming, constraint programming, metaheuristics, or mathematical optimization.

• Experience with quantum software frameworks and platforms such as Qiskit, PennyLane, Cirq, D-Wave Ocean, Amazon Braket, Azure Quantum, or equivalent.

• Experience working with multiple quantum hardware modalities or providers, including annealing, superconducting, trapped-ion, neutral-atom, photonic, or equivalent platforms.

• Understanding of NISQ hardware constraints, noise, decoherence, error mitigation, and quantum error-correction principles.

• Strong Python skills; C++, Julia, Rust, or high-performance computing experience is a plus.

• Ability to lead research, technical product direction, customer-facing technical discussions, and multidisciplinary engineering teams.

Preferred Profile

• PhD from a top-tier global research institution—such as MIT, UC Berkeley, Stanford, Caltech, Princeton, Harvard, Carnegie Mellon, Oxford, Cambridge, ETH Zurich, University of Toronto, Waterloo—or equivalent demonstrated distinction.

• Experience at respected quantum organizations, major cloud providers, national laboratories, advanced research institutions, or deep-tech companies, such as IBM Quantum, Google Quantum AI, Microsoft Azure Quantum, AWS/Amazon Braket, D-Wave, IonQ, Quantinuum, Rigetti, Xanadu, Pasqal, QuEra, Atom Computing, NVIDIA, or comparable organizations.

• Recognized professional standing through high-quality peer-reviewed publications, patents, open-source contributions, invited talks, conference presentations, research collaborations, advisory roles, or industry leadership.

• Experience productizing quantum or quantum-inspired optimization solutions for enterprise use cases.

• Background in energy and grid optimization, logistics, supply chain, financial optimization, manufacturing, drug discovery, or other high-value optimization domains.

• Experience with GPU computing, HPC, cloud platforms, AI/ML, or quantum-inspired optimization.

What You Will Deliver

• A credible, commercially focused quantum product strategy and technology roadmap.

• Hybrid quantum-classical optimization capabilities designed for measurable business value.

• Reusable algorithm libraries, benchmarking frameworks, solver-selection methods, and customer-facing accelerators.

• Quantum proof-of-concepts and production-oriented offerings for enterprise and public-sector customers.

• Strong technical credibility for the company across the global quantum ecosystem.