Quantum Algorithm Engineer — AMER

About the role

As a Quantum Algorithm Engineer at IBM Quantum, you will sit at the intersection of high-impact research, algorithm engineering, and strategic ecosystem growth. You will drive research in quantum information science and applications, focusing on leveraging superconducting hardware and HPC integration to achieve demonstrable quantum advantage across domains such as high-energy physics, chemistry, materials science, and optimization. This role blends scientific rigor with engineering excellence, requiring you to 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 bridge theoretical breakthroughs and real-world utility for the global scientific community. You will lead high-visibility technology demonstrations, partner with strategic clients in the IBM Quantum Network to execute research roadmaps, and ensure peer-reviewed results through advanced techniques like error suppression and mitigation. Additionally, you will advocate for users by identifying software gaps and delivering technical workshops that translate complex quantum advancements into actionable insights for academic and enterprise developers.

Responsibilities

• 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 showcasing 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 diverse 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 dedicated and cloud-based systems, accelerating the path toward quantum advantage.
• Scientific Value Realization: Partner with strategic clients to define and execute research roadmaps, ensuring high-impact scientific milestones and peer-reviewed results using IBM Quantum’s 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 for audiences ranging from academic researchers to enterprise developers.
• Strategic Software Evolution: Collaborate with software development and product teams to test new capabilities, provide expert feedback on internal prototypes, and identify 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.
• Educational Content Strategy: Design and develop sophisticated educational resources that bridge the gap for researchers from diverse backgrounds, making 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.
• Knowledge Leadership: Maintain industry-leading mastery of the latest developments in quantum computing to ensure IBM remains at the cutting edge.

Requirements

• PhD in Physics, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience in quantum computing, running near-term algorithms on quantum hardware.
• Experience in academic and/or industry research, with a track record of scientific publications.
• Excellent programming skills in Python, Qiskit, and the IBM Quantum software stack.
• Deep understanding of quantum computing architecture, including software, middleware, and hardware.
• Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills to identify, diagnose, and address challenges in quantum hardware performance, including transpilation, error suppression, and mitigation techniques.
• Project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to operate at a strategic level, including setting direction, influencing stakeholders, and translating ambiguous goals into actionable plans.

Preferred Qualifications

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