Lead Quantum Scientist, Government Programs (QEC)

College Park, MD, US | Full-time | Permanent | Hybrid

Salary: $145,000 to $240,000 DOE

The salary range for this role is broad, as we are able to consider varying levels of experience. Any offer made will carefully take into account level of experience (including relevant industry experience), transferable relevant skills and previous relevant achievements.
About the role

As a Lead Quantum Scientist, Government Programs, you will take technical ownership of some of Riverlane's most strategically important research programs - collaborations with national laboratories, government agencies and major research institutions. These partnerships sit at the core of accelerating the path to utility-scale quantum computing, and require scientific depth, reliable delivery, and the ability to work credibly with sophisticated technical stakeholders.

This is a hands-on role as much as a leadership one. You will run and shape the research yourself, act as the named technical lead or investigator on programs, own delivery against agreed milestones, and serve as the senior technical point of contact for your sponsors and partners. You will also work directly with quantum hardware partners - helping them design, run and interpret QEC experiments using Riverlane's software and hardware products, and feeding what you learn back into our research and product roadmap.

You will operate across Riverlane's highly collaborative Research and Engineering organization, working alongside mathematicians, physicists, computer scientists, and hardware and software engineers. As the Maryland team grows, there will be opportunities to mentor and to build a small research group around your programs.
What you will do

Your work will vary, but typical activities may include:

• Lead the technical delivery of government-funded QEC research programs, owning milestones, deliverables and technical reporting
• Act as Riverlane's senior technical interface to government agencies, national labs and research partners
• Conceive and conduct original research in quantum error correction and related areas, working hands-on where appropriate
• Work with partners across the US with varied qubit architectures to design and execute quantum computing experiments, using Riverlane's DeltaKit software and tools
• Investigate experimental results, diagnose issues, and work with internal research and product teams to resolve them
• Lead technical contributions to competitive funding proposals and oral evaluations
• Publish high-quality research and present results at leading journals, conferences and technical forums
• Help establish Riverlane's presence in Maryland, building relationships across the local quantum research ecosystem
• Mentor researchers and contribute to Riverlane's research culture and technical excellence

What we need

• A PhD in physics, mathematics, computer science, engineering, or a related technical field (or equivalent professional experience)
• Substantial research experience in quantum computing, gained in academia or industry
• Experience taking technical ownership of a project or workstream and delivering on time against agreed milestones
• Experience working with external stakeholders, ideally government agencies, national labs or research consortia
• Experience designing, running and analyzing experiments or simulations using research-grade tools
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to discuss complex ideas clearly with a variety of audiences
• The ability to work effectively in a collaborative, interdisciplinary team, and independently where needed
• Willingness to travel within the US, including to partner and national laboratory sites, and occasionally to the UK
• Must be able to obtain a US government security clearance if required

Even better if you have

• Experience as a named investigator or technical lead on government-funded research programs
• Experience leading collaborations with national labs, major research facilities, or government-funded consortia
• Deep expertise in one or more QEC-relevant areas such as fault-tolerant architectures, decoding algorithms, noise characterization, or system-level performance analysis
• Experience integrating quantum or HPC research with real hardware systems, simulators, or large-scale testbeds
• Exposure to multiple qubit architectures and an understanding of their respective QEC considerations
• A track record of securing external funding through competitive grants or program-level proposals
• A strong network across the US quantum computing research landscape
• Experience mentoring, coaching or supervising early-career researchers or research engineers

What can you expect from us

• A comprehensive benefits package that includes an annual bonus plan, private medical insurance, life insurance, and 401K contributions
• Equity, so that our team can share in the long-term success of Riverlane
• Generous paid time off and enhanced family leave
• A diverse work environment that brings together experts in many fields (including software and hardware development, quantum information theory, physics and math) and over 20 different nationalities
• A learning environment that encourages individual, team and company growth and development, including a regular program of learning events and training and conference budgets

How to apply

Please upload your resume and covering letter by clicking 'Apply'. Your covering letter should explain why you are applying for the job and what skills and experience you can bring to the role.

We review CVs as we receive them and interview as soon as we have applications that look like a good match. We do not use closing dates. So, please apply as soon as possible to avoid missing out on this role.