Quantum Algorithm Engineer — AMER

Job Description

Job Title: Quantum Algorithm Engineer, AMER. Location: Yorktown Heights, NY, Cambridge, MA, or Chicago, IL, USA

Responsibilities:

• Drive research in quantum information science, quantum algorithms, and applications, with a focus on superconducting quantum hardware and rigorous verification and validation.
• Design and adapt quantum algorithms for applications including high-energy physics, chemistry, materials science, and optimization.
• Benchmark, analyze, and optimize quantum algorithm execution on dedicated and cloud-based quantum systems.
• Develop system-level performance models and analyze quantum hardware performance.
• Apply advanced error suppression and mitigation techniques to improve quantum computation results;
• Lead high-visibility technology demonstrations showcasing IBM Quantum capabilities to strategic partners and the scientific community.
• Partner with IBM Quantum Network clients to define and execute research roadmaps and achieve peer-reviewed scientific milestones.
• Contribute to high-impact research and scientific publications with clients and research partners.
• Identify software gaps and advocate for user needs across academic and enterprise quantum computing communities.
• Deliver technical lectures, workshops, and presentations to audiences ranging from beginners to expert researchers and developers.
• Collaborate with software development and product teams to test new capabilities and provide feedback on internal prototypes.
• Engineer robust, production-ready software across the IBM Quantum software stack;
• Develop educational resources that make advanced quantum computing techniques accessible to researchers from different backgrounds.
• Collaborate with internal research teams and external stakeholders on strategic, multi-team projects.
• Maintain expert knowledge of the latest developments in quantum computing and related fields.

Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Physics, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• At least 3 years of hands-on quantum computing experience, including running near-term algorithms on real quantum hardware.
• Experience in academic 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 across software, middleware, and hardware.
• Experience analyzing, modeling, and tuning quantum hardware performance, including transpilation, error suppression, and error mitigation.
• Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Ability to operate strategically, set direction, influence stakeholders, and turn ambiguous goals into actionable plans.
• Strong communication, writing, collaboration, and presentation skills.

Preferred:

• Doctorate degree preferred.
• Understanding of quantum system benchmarking techniques and trade-offs between different hardware architectures.
• Experience working with real quantum processors and system-level performance modeling.
• Strong fundamentals in quantum algorithms across multiple application domains, particularly algorithms suitable for near-term quantum processors.
• Experience with external or interdisciplinary research collaborations.
• HPC programming experience and understanding of quantum-classical computing integration.
• Software development experience with GitHub, documentation, debugging, data structures, design patterns, software testing, CI/CD, agile frameworks, or open-source projects;
• Strong programming skills in C, C++, or Rust.
• Experience collaborating with product and sales teams.
• Experience in customer-facing or client support roles.

Benefits and Compensation:

• Projected salary range of $200,000 to $250,000 per year.
• Healthcare benefits including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, and mental health and well-being coverage.
• Financial programs including 401(k), cash balance pension plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, financial counseling, and life insurance.
• Short-term and long-term disability coverage.
• Performance-based salary incentive opportunities where applicable.
• 12 paid holidays.
• Minimum 56 hours of sick time.
• 120 hours of vacation;
• Up to 12 weeks of parental bonding leave, subject to IBM policy.
• Additional paid family and care leave where required by law.
• Training, educational resources, and industry-recognized certification opportunities through IBM's AI-driven learning platform.
• Employee resource groups, volunteer opportunities, and retail product and service discounts.

Other Information:

• Work arrangement: Hybrid.
• Travel: Up to 40%, or approximately 2 days per week, depending on project requirements. Employees are home on weekends based on project requirements.
• Employment type: Regular.
• Position type: Professional;
• Shift: General daytime.
• IBM will not provide visa sponsorship for this position now or in the future. Candidates must be able to work in the United States without current or future visa sponsorship.
• IBM is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants in accordance with applicable employment laws.