Neutral Atom Systems Architect

The successful candidate will join a highly collaborative environment and should be able to draw on their experience to strengthen system-level and strategic thinking within the technical team at Nu Quantum. This role requires deep expertise in neutral-atom quantum computing, with a particular emphasis on hardware architecture and of high-performance neutral-atom quantum processing units. Working closely with our AMO theorists, networking team, QEC researchers and systems engineers, the successful candidate will help define how Atom’s neutral-atom quantum processors interface with NuQ’s quantum networking hardware, from modelling high-fidelity networking protocols under realistic conditions through to the requirements of fault-tolerant distributed quantum computing.

The role will involve coordinating and collaborating with peers across the organisation and external partners, helping shape the technical direction of neutral-atom networking platforms and guiding projects towards performant Distributed Quantum Computing testbeds.

Responsibilities

• System Architecture & Specs: Own the definition, decomposition, and maintenance of the Network System Architecture and all System/Subsystem Specifications (QPI, QNU, Cavity Systems, etc.) for Neutral Atoms. You define what the system must do to create a clean, well-documented specification for the engineering team.
• Own the technical vision for neutral-atom hardware architecture, and the company’s go-to expert for qubit control, optical systems, gate optimisation and overall system performance.
• Provide technical leadership building on your technical expertise to assist with system architecture, hardware design concepts, hardware specification targets, technical decision-making and project scoping.
• Working with AMO theorists to model high-fidelity remote entanglement generation and networking protocols under realistic experimental constraints.
• Collaborating with the Quantum Error Correction team to define architectural requirements for distributed fault-tolerant quantum computing.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Work closely with the Product Management team to ensure specifications meet commercial product definitions, and with the Engineering team to convey clear concepts of operation for the Networking Hardware.
• Act as the technical partner for Product Managers, evaluating competing quantum networking approaches, providing system-level analysis to inform product strategy and technology roadmaps.
• Align with Heads of Departments and Group Leads to help them identify critical skill gaps and hire and scale a world-class engineering team.
• Meeting with the Project Management Office and Finance teams to coordinate initial project scoping, resource allocation and tooling.
• Embodying our company values, championing scientific integrity and fostering a collaborative working environment.

Furthermore, there will be opportunities for you to represent the company at scientific conferences and industry events.

Requirements

Your Skills, Qualifications, and Experience

• Postgraduate qualification (PhD preferred) in Physics, with applications to neutral-atom quantum computing.
• Deep technical expertise in neutral-atom quantum computing, incl. design and operation of neutral-atom quantum processing units.
• Strong understanding of laser physics, optical engineering and experimental techniques required for neutral-atom systems, including optical trapping, beam delivery and laser stabilisation.
• Expertise in high-fidelity neutral-atom qubit gates, including Rydberg-mediated entangling gates, error mechanisms and performance optimisation.
• Strong understanding of quantum control, calibration and system-level optimisation across hardware and software interfaces.
• Experience modelling open quantum systems using tools such as QuTiP, Mathematica, MATLAB, Python or equivalent.
• Experience leading technical projects and taking responsibility for technical delivery, architectural decisions and budget planning (for example as a Technical Lead in industry, Group Leader in academia, or equivalent).
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal).
• Strong data management skills and experience working within multidisciplinary teams.

Other (Desirable but not required)

• Knowledge of photonic interfaces between neutral atoms and quantum networks.
• Understanding of distributed quantum computing architectures and quantum networking protocols.
• Knowledge of Quantum Error Correction and fault-tolerant quantum computing architectures.
• Industry experience.