Trapped Ions Hardware Technology Development Manager

Salary: £49,708–£55,231 per annum
Location: Based Harwell Campus, Oxford
Closing date: 21 March 2021

Background

As part of the UK’s National Quantum Technologies Programme, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is leading a programme to establish a National Quantum Computing Centre, which includes a commitment of £93m over five years, dedicated to drive development in the field of Quantum Computing and to place the UK at the forefront of the field. The Centre is a joint initiative of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).

A purpose-built National Quantum Computing Centre will be built and operated by UKRI at the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) campus in Oxfordshire. The Centre will be open and operational by December 2022. Until then, the NQCC’s activities are taking place in other facilities on the Harwell Campus or at partnering institutions. The NQCC will sit alongside other departments within the STFC National Laboratories and will be part of the broader National Quantum Technologies Programme (NQTP).

The primary purpose of the NQCC is to fill a key gap in the research and innovation landscape addressing the challenge of scaling quantum computing. However, this technology is immature and extensive development work is needed to scale the fundamental science to provide usable computing systems.

The NQCC’s initial five years will focus on developing a Noisy Intermediate Scale Quantum (NISQ) machine to demonstrate the technology as well as software, algorithm and applications development. The longer-term aim is to scale the technology towards an error and noise free fault tolerant machine capability with benchmarking and verification demonstrated in collaboration with UK and international partners. The NQCC will give assured and direct access to early prototype machines to developers and promote the formation of a strong UK-based quantum computing supply chain.

The role

We are recruiting for an exciting brand new role for an experienced Trapped Ions Hardware Development Manager with extensive systems engineering skills, management and team leadership experience coupled with technical expertise in a relevant aspect of quantum computing to support the delivery of the NQCC core objectives.

The Trapped Ions Hardware Development Manager will work alongside the Operations and Research Directors to lead a variety of challenging science and engineering projects, utilizing and enhancing your skills in qubit hardware and systems architecture, design and implementation, to develop scalable, flexible and robust quantum computing assets that can be deployed to meet the goals of the NQCC enabling the delivery of scalable quantum computing capabilities against the technology roadmap.

Key projects will include hardware stabilization, high-performance logical qubit development, scalable qubit architecture design, error mitigation and benchmarking and verification protocols.

The role will include:

• Defining high-performance physical and logical trapped ion qubit design and architectures.
• Developing scaling strategies and designs.
• Understanding materials performance and device characteristics to drive improved long term qubit performance.
• Input into software and control architecture to enable a variety of hardware platforms and applications to be developed.
• Working closely with colleagues across the Centre to implement the architecture and deploy services.
• Defining work plans for specific NQCC projects.
• Making site visits to commercial and academic partners.
• Publishing non-confidential results.
• Mentoring members of the Technology team to promote best practice software development across the NQCC.
• Line managing up to 10 staff members.

Skills and experience required

Essential:

• Significant knowledge of trapped ion qubit device and control architectures and a high level of technical expertise in quantum computing.
• Educated to PhD level or equivalent in a physics, computer science or engineering related discipline or significant relevant experience. In particular we are looking for demonstrable experience in several of the following:
  – Trapped Ion device development, RF electronics and RF electronic circuit design, RF control, Laser control, Qubit design and development, Trapped Ion device scaling, Opto-electronics, Optical systems, Cryogenic systems, Device benchmarking and verification.
• Familiar with a range of professional tools and methods related to programme delivery.
• Experience in development and test of trapped ion qubit devices.
• Knowledge of scaling, control and quantum computing hardware methodologies.

Desirable:

• Experience of project delivery within an ISO9001 quality management system.
• Understanding of high performance computing and/or relevant related technologies.
• Experience using and developing Product Lifecycle Management systems.
• Appreciation of Risk Analysis.
• Appreciation of Health, Safety and Environment.
• Familiarity with UKRI policies and procedures.

You would need to be available to travel/work within the UK and overseas, when required.