Senior Scientist, Quantum Sensing (Magnetometry)
Q-CTRL
Sydney, NSW, Australia
Posted on Jan 14, 2025
About us
Founded in 2017, Q-CTRL has grown to become the global leader in quantum control infrastructure software. As a product-led company, we bring together diverse teams such as product, design, engineering and research to help achieve our mission of making quantum technology useful. We believe that working in deep tech domains like quantum provides an opportunity to upskill whilst applying existing knowledge and practices to new markets.
As one of the fastest growing companies in the quantum sector, we’ve had a number of key milestones:
- In October 2024, we announced our record breaking expansion of our Series B funding round to USD $113M, with $59M USD of new capital.
- In November 2023, we announced an industry-first partnership with IBM Quantum Services, natively integrating our performance management software with all IBM quantum computers. Building off of this relationship, in September 2024 we started offering two services via IBM’s new Qiskit Functions Catalog as an inaugural partner.
- Designed and moved our Global HQ offices and lab space into the first purpose-built (and award winning) commercial and research facility for a quantum technology company in Australia.
- Grew our global presence in Los Angeles and Berlin, and expansion into the UK, recently opening up a new office in Oxford.
- Continued to deliver real world outcomes across the quantum sectors, with our work with Australian Defence on software-ruggedized quantum sensing for navigation without GPS, as featured in the New York Times.
From educating the workforce on how quantum computing works, and building the next generation of quantum sensors, to delivering massive performance gains for end-users, it all starts with hiring the right talent. If you want to help us build the Quantum future, read on.
About the role
We are seeking a Senior Scientist to develop quantum magnetometers that are performant, autonomous, and which can operate reliably in harsh fielded environments. You will work closely with experts in quantum sensing to design, develop, test, and characterise new state-of-the-art magnetometers and auxiliary hardware that will solve pressing challenges in aeronautical positioning and navigation, geophysical surveying, and magnetic anomaly detection. A key focus of the role will be to develop mitigation strategies for the adverse effects that prohibit optimal sensor operation in such scenarios.
What you'll be doing:
- Be part of an established and growing team focused on quantum sensing for a variety of industry sectors such as aerospace, defence, geophysical exploration and Earth observation.
- In collaboration with the Magnetometry and Automation teams, develop state-of-the-art quantum magnetometry and auxiliary hardware based on cutting-edge hardware that is compatible with miniaturisation, flight qualification, and field deployment in harsh environments.
- Design, develop, test, and characterise sensor design modifications to improve fielded sensor performance.
- Work closely with technical leadership in organising and executing our internal hardware and capability development programmes (e.g. organising and executing field trials of our hardware).
- Liaise as needed with our academic and industry partners in order to perform the aforementioned duties and support new business and product development.
- Share your insights and our results with the broader Quantum Sensing division, company, external stakeholders, and customers through verbal presentations and written outlets (e.g. academic publications, technical reports, blog posts).
- Other duties within the Employee’s skills and experience, and/or with reasonable training.
Ideally you'll have:
- A PhD (or equivalent industry experience) in atomic, molecular, and optical physics or a closely related discipline.
- Experience working with hardware akin to that found in quantum sensors (e.g. lasers, optics, electro-optical systems, alkali metals).
- Experience in atomic sensor design, construction, operation, and characterisation.
- Proficiency in Python programming for numerical simulations, data logging, and analysis.
- Experience communicating technical results to a wide and varied audience.
It would be fantastic if you have these skills/experience but not essential:
- Experience with quantum magnetometers using alkali vapour cells (e.g. FID, NMOR, SERF, etc).
- Experience deploying quantum sensors in field trials.
- Experience working in an interdisciplinary context with R&D scientists and engineers.
Why Q-CTRL?
Flexibility: We embrace workplace flexibility so you worry more about your global impact vs a rigid work schedule.
Attractive salary: You’ll get to live the start-up life without start-up wages.
Equity: We want people to have a sense of ownership in what they do and offer the potential for equity share and annual bonuses.
Resources: We are well funded by the world’s best technology investors, letting us chase our ambitions with minimal constraints.
Parental support: We offer paid parental leave to support you and your loved ones!
Diversity: We’re an equal employment opportunity employer. We value diversity, inclusion and providing equal opportunities to all, actively supporting initiatives like the ‘Global Women in Quantum’ program among others.
Unique culture: You’ll be surrounded by some of the world’s leading physicists, engineers, product, marketing and design people (to name a few!) with a strong desire to learn and transfer knowledge.
Meaningful values: You’ll work with an incredibly supportive team who work consistently to deliver our core values to be real, be trusted, be just and to be revered.
Personal development: We provide you with a personal development and wellness budget.
Impactful work: Last but not least! You’ll have the opportunity to work in the world’s leading field of technology and truly make an impact that matters!
Q-CTRL is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that values the strength diversity brings to the workplace. We are committed to being inclusive in the way we hire. We strongly encourage you to apply even if you do not meet all of the requirements mentioned in the job posting.
Please be advised that our communications will only come from the @q-ctrl.com domain. All our active job postings are available on our company website.
To recruitment agencies, we do not accept unsolicited branded profiles and are not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.
