Director, Technology Partnerships

Job Description

Job Title: Senior Director, Technology Partnerships. Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA

Responsibilities:

• Develop and lead PsiQuantum’s technology partnerships strategy across Chicago and the broader regional ecosystem.
• Build relationships with universities, national laboratories, research consortia, and other science and technology organizations.
• Serve as PsiQuantum’s principal technical point of contact and spokesperson for external regional stakeholders.
• Deliver technical presentations and participate in public and private forums.
• Lead PsiQuantum’s scientific and technical engagement with the regional ecosystem.
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with universities and national laboratories;
• Develop collaborative research programs and facilitate access to specialized technical expertise and capabilities aligned with PsiQuantum’s priorities.
• Work with PsiQuantum’s technical and organizational leaders to evaluate potential collaborations.
• Establish internal sponsorship, define responsibilities and resource requirements, and transition approved activities into execution.
• Maintain responsibility for the overall institutional relationship with external partners.
• Coordinate with the Senior Director, Federal Scientific Partnerships, on developing and capturing federal funding opportunities involving regional partners.
• Participate in joint funding proposals and represent PsiQuantum in multi-party submissions;
• Serve as a trusted private-sector sounding board for regional colleges and universities regarding the technical skills required by the quantum computing industry.
• Coordinate with the talent acquisition team to use university and national laboratory relationships to support internships, recruiting, and long-term talent pipeline development.

Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in a relevant technical field.
• At least 10 years of applicable professional experience, such as scientific research, advanced technology development, technology partnerships, technology commercialization, or a similar field.
• Strong technical fluency and credibility with researchers, faculty, senior institutional leaders, government stakeholders, and private-sector executives.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to translate complex technical subjects for scientific, government, business, and public audiences.
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic, and sometimes ambiguous environment.
• Ability to travel as required.

Preferred:

• Familiarity with the research, education, and innovation ecosystem in Chicago, Illinois, and the Midwest.
• Existing relationships with universities, national laboratories, research consortia, and other science and technology organizations in the region.
• Experience developing multi-institutional research collaborations, joint proposals, or funded technical projects.
• Understanding of fault-tolerant quantum computing, computational science, integrated photonics, or related advanced technologies.
• Experience working across private-sector, academic, national laboratory, and government environments.

Benefits and Compensation:

• Estimated annual base salary for Chicago, Illinois: $207,100 to $243,300 USD.
• Full-time employees are eligible for equity and benefits.
• Competitive health coverage for employees and dependents.
• 401(k) with company match;
• Equity grants.
• Financial wellness tools and planning resources.
• Wellness benefits.
• Family support programs.
• Life and disability insurance.
• Paid leave programs.
• Company-designated paid holidays.
• Discretionary time off (DTO).
• End-of-year company shutdown.
• Some benefits have eligibility requirements and may vary according to role or employment status.
• Many benefits are subsidized or fully paid by the company.

Other Information:

• This position is part of PsiQuantum’s work supporting its U.S. quantum computing project in Chicago and engagement with the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park ecosystem.
• PsiQuantum is building fault-tolerant, million-qubit quantum computers using a silicon photonics-based architecture.
• PsiQuantum works with universities, national laboratories, research organizations, government stakeholders, and industry partners.
• PsiQuantum is an equal opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate based on protected characteristics.
• PsiQuantum does not accept unsolicited resumes from employment agencies;
• Candidates should be cautious of recruitment scams. PsiQuantum states that it will only contact candidates using an official PsiQuantum email address and will never request bank account information during the interview process.
• The application requires a cover letter containing the word "purple."
• Applicants are asked to provide education, work authorization, sponsorship, LinkedIn, and other application information.