Scientific Software Engineer – Machine Programming
QuEra Computing, Inc.
About the role
Summary
This role helps the scientists who build and operate QuEra's neutral-atom quantum computers program those machines effectively. You will maintain the domain-specific language and compiler stack, built on the open-source Kirin toolchain, that experimental physicists use every day to run their experiments.
You will work closely with physicists and control stack engineers. You'll help machine teams turn new experiments into working programs, keep the toolchain reliable as our hardware evolves, and drive its integration with our control system. The role suits an engineer who enjoys building tools and also helping others succeed with them.
Responsibilities
Maintain the domain-specific language and its compilation stack: triage issues, fix bugs, review pull requests, manage releases and keep CI, tests and dependencies healthy.
Act as the point of contact for machine and testbed teams programming their experiments. Help them build new experiments, port legacy programs and diagnose compilation or runtime problems.
Work with control stack engineers on integrating compiled programs with our control system. This includes defining and evolving the program representation passed between the compiler and the control system, keeping the two in sync across releases, and debugging problems that span both.
Turn user problems into minimal reproducible reports, regression tests and focused fixes, and work with the compiler team on larger language or IR changes.
Find and fix performance problems in program compilation and execution, such as compile time, program size and timing correctness.
Write and maintain user-facing documentation, tutorials, example programs and agent skills that make it easier for physicists to write correct programs.
Work with the hardware control team to support new channel types, control hardware and machine configurations.
Collect feedback from machine users and turn it into a prioritized roadmap for usability improvements.
Qualifications
Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Physics, Electrical Engineering or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
Strong Python skills, including type hints, packaging and testing (pytest).
Enjoys building tools for, and working closely with, scientists who are not professional software developers. Clear written and verbal communication.
Experience working across team boundaries: agreeing on interfaces, coordinating changes between components and debugging problems that span several systems.
Experience debugging unfamiliar code and reducing complex failures to minimal reproductions.
Familiarity with the full software lifecycle: version control, code review, testing, CI/CD, logging, profiling, debugging and documentation.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with compilers, domain-specific languages or SSA-based intermediate representations (experience with Kirin, MLIR or LLVM is a plus).
Background in experimental physics, especially AMO or atomic physics lab control (AWGs, AOMs/AODs, DDS, timing systems, cameras).
Experience with real-time or embedded control systems, FPGAs, or experiment-control frameworks such as ARTIQ or Labscript.
Experience with real-time scheduling or execution systems, such as runtime schedulers, streaming or instruction-dispatch systems.
Experience with C++ or Rust.
Contributions to open-source libraries.
Experience using AI coding agents in a development workflow.
The approximate base salary range for this position is $102,400 - $166,400.
We consistently monitor external market data and update base salary ranges accordingly. We determine base compensation decisions on several factors, including as geographic placement, role-specific knowledge, skills, and/or experience. In addition to our base salary offerings, we also provide equity grants for all new hires.
QuEra is committed to cultivating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We highly value diversity in our current and future employees and do not discriminate (including in our hiring and promotion practices) based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
#LI-NB1
Responsibilities
- Maintain and improve the domain-specific language and compiler stack, including tests, CI, dependencies, and releases
- Help machine and testbed teams build experiments and troubleshoot compilation or runtime issues
- Integrate compiled programs with the hardware control system and coordinate changes across teams
- Reproduce user issues, create regression tests, and resolve compiler and execution performance problems
- Create documentation, tutorials, examples, and usability improvements for physicist users
- Support new control channels, hardware, and machine configurations
Qualifications
- Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, physics, electrical engineering, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience
- Strong Python skills, including type hints, packaging, and pytest
- Clear written and verbal communication and ability to work closely with scientists
- Experience coordinating interfaces across teams and debugging unfamiliar, multi-system code
- Familiarity with software lifecycle practices including version control, code review, testing, CI/CD, profiling, and documentation
- Preferred: experience with compilers, domain-specific languages, or SSA-based intermediate representations
- Preferred: experimental physics or lab control, embedded or real-time systems, C++ or Rust, open-source contributions, or AI coding agents
Benefits
- Equity grants for all new hires
Skills mentioned
About QuEra Computing, Inc.
Quantum computing is moving from "one day" to "day one." QuEra Computing is leading that transition. Founded in 2018 on breakthrough research from Harvard and MIT, QuEra builds neutral-atom quantum computers using a unique multi-zone architecture. The result: reconfigurable qubit connectivity, room-temperature operation, and a scalable path to fault-tolerant quantum computing, with dozens logical qubits already demonstrated. QuEra systems are operational today. The company delivered a 260-qubit quantum computer to Japan's AIST integrated with one of the world's most powerful supercomputers, earned selection for DARPA's Quantum Benchmarks Initiative, and offers its Aquila quantum computer on Amazon Braket. Its Gemini gate-based system extends these capabilities for enterprise and research applications. Backed by $230M from Google, NVIDIA, SoftBank, and others, QuEra partners with Dell Technologies, NVIDIA, Deloitte, and a 29-member Quantum Alliance. Headquartered in Boston with operations in Japan and the UK. Visit quera.com to learn more.
H-1B sponsorship history
Historical employer filing data was found for QuEra Computing, Inc.. The employer record includes 10 historical certified applications. This is employer-level history, not a guarantee that this role currently offers sponsorship.