Position SummaryThe Quantum Technology Subject Matter Expert (SME) provides independent, objective technical advice to the DoD TRMC program office on the readiness, relevance, testability, and transition potential of quantum technologies. The SME evaluates emerging capabilities against defense test and evaluation (T&E) needs; translates complex quantum science into decision-quality information; and helps the Government identify practical investments, demonstrations, partnerships, infrastructure, workforce needs, risks, and transition pathways. The position supports quantum computing, quantum sensing, quantum communications/networking, quantum timing, and related enabling technologies, including post-quantum cybersecurity considerations.
Key Responsibilities- Serve as the program office's principal technical advisor for quantum information science and technology (QIST), with emphasis on DoD T&E applications and mission outcomes.
- Assess the technical maturity, performance claims, limitations, dependencies, security considerations, and operational relevance of proposed quantum technologies.
- Develop and maintain a quantum technology roadmap that identifies near-, mid-, and long-term opportunities, decision points, enabling investments, and transition criteria.
- Translate operational and test-community needs into technical use cases, evaluation questions, performance measures, test objectives, and candidate demonstration concepts.
- Advise on test methodologies, instrumentation, modeling and simulation, verification and validation, data requirements, environmental constraints, and measures of performance/effectiveness for quantum-enabled systems.
- Conduct technical reviews, literature and market scans, vendor and laboratory assessments, and comparative analyses of Government, industry, academic, and allied efforts.
- Identify gaps in T&E infrastructure, ranges, laboratories, reference standards, data environments, cybersecurity, and workforce capabilities required to evaluate quantum technologies.
- Support planning and technical oversight of studies, prototypes, experiments, demonstrations, and pilot efforts; review technical approaches, schedules, risks, and deliverables.
- Evaluate proposals, white papers, statements of work, technical reports, test plans, and acquisition documentation; provide clear findings and actionable recommendations.
- Coordinate technical exchanges with DoD Components, Services, laboratories, test centers, program executive offices, academia, industry, and other Federal stakeholders, as authorized.
- Prepare and deliver executive briefings, decision memoranda, technical reports, meeting materials, and responses to senior-leader inquiries.
- Track technical, schedule, cost, supply-chain, classification, export-control, intellectual-property, and transition risks and recommend mitigation actions.
- Promote technically rigorous, vendor-neutral decisions and clearly distinguish demonstrated performance from projected or marketing claims.
- Protect controlled unclassified information and classified information and comply with applicable cybersecurity, records-management, and security requirements.
Core Technical Areas- Quantum computing and hybrid quantum-classical approaches, including algorithms, benchmarking, error characterization, simulation, and potential defense applications.
- Quantum sensing, metrology, precision timing, navigation, imaging, and detection technologies.
- Quantum communications and networking, including entanglement distribution, quantum key distribution, network architectures, and interoperability considerations.
- Quantum device and system test challenges, including calibration, repeatability, environmental effects, noise, uncertainty, standards, and traceability.
- Post-quantum cryptography and quantum-related cyber risk as they affect T&E environments and transition planning.
Required Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in Physics, Quantum Science/Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, or a closely related field, plus at least 8 years of relevant experience; or a Master's degree plus at least 6 years; or a Ph.D. plus at least 3 years; or an equivalent combination of education and directly relevant experience.
- Demonstrated expertise in quantum information science and technology, with depth in at least one of the following: quantum computing, quantum sensing/metrology, quantum communications/networking, or quantum-enabled cybersecurity.
- Experience evaluating emerging technologies, conducting technical research or engineering analysis, and producing defensible findings and recommendations.
- Ability to connect scientific concepts to defense missions, acquisition decisions, and test and evaluation requirements.
- Experience working across interdisciplinary scientific, engineering, acquisition, operational, and executive stakeholder groups.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex technical concepts to non-specialist and senior-leader audiences.
- U.S. citizenship and eligibility to obtain and maintain a Top Secret U.S. Government security clearance.
- Preferred Qualifications
- Advanced degree (Master's or Ph.D.) in a quantum-related scientific or engineering discipline.
- Experience supporting DoD, a Military Service, a Federal research organization, a national laboratory, an FFRDC/UARC, or a defense acquisition or T&E organization.
- Knowledge of DoD acquisition, science and technology, experimentation, developmental test, operational test, and technology-transition processes.
- Hands-on experience developing or evaluating test plans, benchmarks, demonstrations, prototypes, laboratory systems, or modeling and simulation environments.
- Familiarity with quantum software and simulation tools such as Qiskit, Cirq, PennyLane, CUDA-Q/cuQuantum, or comparable platforms; proficiency in Python and/or C++ is desirable.
- Evidence of technical leadership through publications, patents, conference presentations, standards participation, program leadership, or high-impact research contributions.
Work Environment and Travel
The role may require periodic travel to DoD installations, test centers, laboratories, conferences, industry engagements, and technical demonstrations.
Top Secret (SCI) eligible.
