Software Engineer, Quantum Open Source

Job Description

Job Title: Software Engineer, Quantum Open Source, Quantum AI. Location: Goleta, California, Los Angeles, California, Mountain View, California, Seattle, Washington,

‍Google is hiring a Software Engineer for its Quantum AI team to develop and maintain open-source tools that accelerate quantum computing research; The engineer will work on software frameworks and simulators to support practical quantum algorithm development, contributing to the growth of global open-source ecosystems.

Key projects include:

• Cirq – Python framework for writing and running quantum programs
• qsim – High-performance quantum simulator in C++
• OpenFermion – Python library for quantum chemistry algorithms
• Qualtran – Python framework for fault-tolerant quantum algorithm analysis
• Stim – Fast stabilizer circuit simulator in C++ and Python

This role involves improving code quality, designing new features, optimizing performance, and supporting the open-source community.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain open-source software for quantum computing research
• Collect requirements from researchers and transition research code to production-quality open-source frameworks
• Design and implement new features that aid quantum algorithm development and experimentation
• Maintain and grow open-source ecosystems, including Cirq and related libraries
• Participate in open-source community activities: issue triage, code reviews, and meetings
• Enhance testing frameworks, tooling, and user documentation;
• Optimize performance and maintainability of code by diagnosing bottlenecks and refactoring
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support Google’s long-term quantum computing roadmap

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical field or equivalent practical experience
• Minimum 3 years of software development experience, or 1 year with an advanced degree
• At least 2 years of experience programming in Python;
• Experience contributing to an open-source project

Preferred:

• Experience maintaining large open-source projects, ideally research or technical frameworks
• Knowledge in areas such as linear algebra, quantum simulation/chemistry, numerical algorithms, machine learning, or distributed systems
• Experience with Rust or C++ in Linux-based development environments
• Familiarity with quantum computing concepts and eagerness to continue learning
• Proficiency with libraries such as Cirq, Stim, TensorFlow, NumPy, SciPy, Pandas, or Protocol Buffers
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English

Benefits and Compensation:

• Base salary range: $147,000 – $211,000 per year (depending on location, experience, and qualifications)
• Additional compensation may include bonus, equity, and benefits

Comprehensive US benefits package:

• Health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match
• 20 days of vacation per year (accruing at 6.15 hours per pay period for the first five years)
• 40 hours of sick leave per year where applicable; 5 discretionary days per event
• Maternity leave: 28–30 weeks (Short-Term Disability + Baby Bonding);
• Baby bonding leave: 18 weeks
• 13 paid company holidays per year

Other Information:

• Applicants in Los Angeles County will be considered under the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance and the California Fair Chance Act
• Applicants may indicate their preferred work location from:
  • Goleta, CA
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • Mountain View, CA
  • Seattle, WA
• Salary ranges reflect base salary only and do not include bonus, equity, or benefits. Recruiters will provide location-specific details during the hiring process