Quantum Innovation Sector Lead

Band E S2 £51,242 gross per annum

up to 3 x permanent positions

Full Time or Part Tim e(Minimum 0.8 FTE) (We understand the importance of work-life balance, and are happy to discuss the possibility of flexible working with applicants)

Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire, UK

Together, our scientists, technologists, engineers, and business support team explore the unknown and turn what they find into work that changes the world around us. Whether it’s sending probes into space or finding new ways to treat cancer, everyone here plays a vital role in making a positive difference to society.

Come and discover how much you can achieve when you’re surrounded by world‑leading experts, encouraged to constantly learn, and empowered to explore your curiosity.

The National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) is the UK’s national laboratory dedicated to accelerating the development and adoption of quantum computing.

Headquartered at the Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire, the NQCC works across government, industry, and academia to address the engineering challenges of scaling quantum computers and to build a quantum‑ready economy. Its mission is to enable the UK to solve complex societal and industrial challenges by harnessing the transformative potential of quantum computing.

The NQCC is a joint initiative of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). It sits alongside other departments within the STFC National Laboratories and is part of the wider National Quantum Technologies Programme (NQTP).

We are offering a permanent position with a whole host of benefits including: 30 days holiday (in addition to 10.5 bank holidays and privilege days), flexible working hours, an excellent defined average salary pension scheme, easily accessible public transport links/ free parking, excellent learning and development opportunities and a cycle to work scheme.

Link to more benefits: https://stfccareers.co.uk/rewards-and-benefits/

We are recruiting for the role of Quantum Innovation Sector Lead, requiring stakeholder engagement and collaboration‑building skills, coupled with technical expertise in quantum computing, quantum technologies or a related field. We are seeking self‑starters who are strategically minded, pro‑active and can readily apply their knowledge to understand technical and sector challenges.

You will work as part of the Innovation Team, alongside applications engineers, business development specialists and other sector experts, to deliver quantum readiness activities aligned to the key themes of: awareness, engagement, evaluation, action and advocacy. Utilising your technical and engagement skills, you will help to drive forward the NQCC’s innovation strategy, taking a lead on specific sector activities. You will work with the NQCC’s stakeholders in industry, academia and the public sector to build domain and sector knowledge. Using your technical knowledge, you will maintain a comprehensive understanding of the state‑of‑the‑art in quantum computing and its potential applications, sharing your knowledge to the benefit of the NQCC’s stakeholders, and building an understanding of end user requirements. Collaborating with applications engineers, algorithms developers and the wider technical team, you will help to drive the development of innovative solutions based on quantum computing. These activities meet the NQCC's goals of delivering scalable quantum computing capabilities in support of building a quantum ready UK economy.

Key projects will include quantum readiness for critical industry sectors, such as Financial Services, Pharmaceuticals, Advanced Materials, Energy, Healthcare, Security, Bio‑Chemistry, Aerospace, Transport and Telecommunications.

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• Contributing to the development and delivery of the NQCC’s innovation strategy for quantum computing to enable ‘quantum readiness’.
  
• Working with prospective end users of quantum computing in industry, academia and the public sector to understand user requirements, build domain knowledge and explore the potential of quantum computing in applications.
  
• Through external collaboration, facilitating the exploration and development of new products, processes, services and business opportunities based on quantum computing.
  
• Engaging with NQCC applications engineers, algorithms developers and the wider technical team to support the testing and development of innovative solutions for quantum computing.
  
• Managing and reporting on related projects, working with the NQCC’s programme team, as required.
  
• Building strong relationships with other research and technology organisations, government, industry, business, trade associations and standards and regulatory bodies.
  
• Helping to support and deliver key initiatives under the NQCC’s SparQ quantum readiness programme.
  
• Leading technology roadmapping activities for critical sectors, as required.
  
• Tracking and collating information on technical and commercial developments in quantum computing, and preparing analysis to identify trends.
  
• Delivering engagement activities to build stakeholder networks and identify new opportunities for collaboration.
  
• Supporting cross‑sector activities and assisting colleagues’ sector engagement plans.
  
• Presenting work at internal and external meetings both within the UK and internationally, and representing the NQCC at conferences, workshops, forums and in the media as appropriate.
  
• Making site visits to commercial and academic partners, as needed.
  

We offer significant development opportunities at the NQCC, but as a starting point you should be able to demonstrate some of the following:

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• Educated to Degree level or with equivalent experience in a field related to quantum computing, including physics, computer science or mathematics. (S)
  
• You will have demonstrable prior experience and/or a broad‑based knowledge of quantum computing, quantum technologies or a related field.(S&I)
  
• Experience of stakeholder management in a client‑facing or user engagement role, with a track record of building and maintaining strong stakeholder relationships. (S&I)
  
• Experience in a technical research or scientific business development environment. (S&I)
  
• Experience in creating and developing product roadmaps and exploitation plans and/or implementing technology solutions. (S&I)
  
• Proven ability to run, manage and report on technical projects, together with knowledge or experience of measuring and monitoring performance and impact. (S&I)
  
• Ability to organise and structure complex themes and material to convey and communicate with clarity. (S&I)
  
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team whilst demonstrating autonomy within area of responsibility. (S&I)