Senior/Principal R&D Computer Scientist - Quantum Information Science, Hybrid

Sandia National Laboratories is the nation's premier science and engineering lab for national security and technology innovation, with teams of specialists focused on cutting-edge work in a broad array of areas. Some of the main reasons we love our jobs:

• Challenging work with amazing impact that contributes to security, peace, and freedom worldwide
• Extraordinary co-workers
• Some of the best tools, equipment, and research facilities in the world
• Career advancement and enrichment opportunities
• Flexible work arrangements for many positions include 9/80 (work 80 hours every two weeks, with every other Friday off) and 4/10 (work 4 ten-hour days each week) compressed workweeks, part-time work, and telecommuting (a mix of onsite work and working from home)
• Generous vacation, strong medical and other benefits, competitive 401k, learning opportunities, relocation assistance and amenities aimed at creating a solid work/life balance*

World-changing technologies. Life-changing careers. Learn more about Sandia at: http://www.sandia.gov

*These benefits vary by job classification.

We are seeking a staff scientist candidate with demonstrated publication record or relevant experience to join the Sandia Quantum Information Science (QIS) department and contribute to research areas that address meaningful problems and applications in the field of quantum computing. You will be part of a much broader QIS program at Sandia and within the DOE National Laboratories complex and will have an opportunity to engage with researchers and teams across the industry. In this role, you will lead research at the frontier of practical and theoretical quantum computer science, publish widely, advise junior researchers, deliver results to mission customers, and identify and solve compelling research problems.

On any given day, you may:

• Develop and implement new ML and AI methods for assessing and improving the performance of quantum computers
• Develop algorithms and applications for quantum computers informed by near-term and long-term needs
• Interact and collaborate with a diverse set of experimentalists and other theorists at Sandia, academic institutions, other national labs, and private companies
• Engage and/or lead in test and evaluation efforts with customers and sponsors
• Take ownership of technical projects, publish outstanding new developments in peer-reviewed scientific journals, and present your work at conferences
• Gain broad experience in and lead QIS programs across the US Government enterprise

The selected applicant can work a combination of onsite and offsite work. The selected applicant must live within a reasonable distance for commuting to one of the assigned work locations when necessary.

$135,700 - $270,900

*Salary range is estimated, and actual salary will be determined after consideration of the selected candidate's experience and qualifications, and application of any approved geographic salary differential.

• A Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline and five (5) years of directly relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of directly relevant education and engineering or scientific experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform independent research and development
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance

The ideal R&D S&E Computer Science candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will in addition possess the following:

• Graduate degree in Computer Science or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation)
• Demonstrated software development skills and familiarity with modern software development practices and tools (e.g., Agile)
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams, and a passion to improve and expand technical skills
  

Also, for this posting we are seeking individuals with the following experience:

• Ideally, a PhD in Computer Science, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, Chemistry, AI, or a related science or engineering field
• Demonstrated research experience in quantum computation and information science (including quantum algorithms, characterization of quantum hardware, design and modeling of qubits, quantum error correction, etc.)
• Experience in scientific software development in Python, including collaborative code development, code verification, and modern software quality practices
• Experience turning math into code
• Experience with ML code development, using ML software such as TensorFlow, and the application of ML to scientific research problems
• Record of research as demonstrated by publications in peer-reviewed journals, competitive conference proceedings, or high-impact program deliverables
• Experience using quantum computing testbeds and/or collaboration with experimental efforts developing quantum technologies
• Demonstrated experience developing or analyzing the performance of quantum architectures and quantum algorithms for fault-tolerant quantum computing
• Interest in impacting applications and customers in support of DOE missions

Sandia's Quantum Information Science department develops algorithms and tools that enable test and evaluation of experimental hardware, algorithms and software stack for near-term quantum computers, and sensing capabilities in support of mission applications. Department R&D focuses on noise characterization, benchmarking, simulation, error models, quantum control, quantum algorithms, and quantum sensing. The Department closely collaborates with researchers in related areas working on similar pursuits; closely collaborates with experimentalist groups at Sandia working on developing practical qubits in various technologies; has strong working relationships with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) offices and other U.S. government agencies interested in quantum information science (QIS); and collaborates, broadly, with academic and commercial colleagues in the external QIS research community.

Through the department, you will also have the opportunity to join the The QPL and QuAAC groups, which are multidisciplinary research and development groups within Sandia. The QPL develops and deploys cutting-edge techniques for assessing and improving the performance of quantum computing hardware, serving the needs of the U.S. government, industry, and academia. It also works closely with a wide range of partners in industry and academia to develop new performance assessment tools and apply them to newly developed quantum computing platforms. The QuAAC works on all aspects of quantum algorithms, including the design and analysis of new algorithms, establishing conditions for quantum advantage, and resource estimates for problems in science and engineering. It also collaborates broadly with scientists in academia, industry, and other national labs. Both groups are geographically dispersed but maintain a strong culture of collaboration and are committed to advancing the field of quantum computing. The QPL and QuAAC teams publish their research in scientific journals including Nature, Nature Physics, Nature Communications, Physical Review X, PRX Quantum, and Physical Review Letters.

This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of seven (7) calendar days, including the 'posting date'. Sandia reserves the right to extend the posting date at any time.

Sandia is required by DOE to conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Applicants for employment need to be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain a security clearance may be impacted.

Applicants offered employment with Sandia are subject to a federal background investigation to meet the requirements for access to classified information or matter if the duties of the position require a DOE security clearance. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause a clearance to be denied or terminated by DOE, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status and any other protected class under state or federal law.

If you have a Medical Portable Electronic Device (MedPED), such as a pacemaker, defibrillator, drug-releasing pump, hearing aids, or diagnostic equipment and other equipment for measuring, monitoring, and recording body functions such as heartbeat and brain waves, if employed by Sandia National Laboratories you may be required to comply with NNSA security requirements for MedPEDs.

If you have a MedPED and you are selected for an on-site interview at Sandia National Laboratories, there may be additional steps necessary to ensure compliance with NNSA security requirements prior to the interview date.