--- title: 'Quantum Scientist — Materials & Chemistry at QuEra Computing, Inc.' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/quantum-scientist-materials-chemistry-quera-computing-inc-boston-n19w8vj74mcw' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-10-20' --- # Quantum Scientist — Materials & Chemistry at QuEra Computing, Inc. - **Company:** QuEra Computing, Inc. - **Location:** Boston, MA - **Posted:** 2026-10-13 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-20 - **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/queracomputinginc/jobs/5451728008 ## Job description Summary QuEra Computing is seeking a talented and innovative scientist with a strong background in quantum algorithms for materials and chemistry, quantum resource estimation, and quantum error correction. You will develop and adapt quantum algorithms for materials and chemistry problems, quantify their resource requirements on neutral-atom hardware, and identify co-design opportunities across algorithms, compilation, and error correction. You will work closely with external collaborators to translate their scientific goals into concrete quantum workloads on QuEra’s upcoming fault-tolerant neutral atom hardware. You will also collaborate with QuEra's software, QEC, and hardware teams to make sure that algorithmic approaches align with architectural capabilities and roadmaps. You will be expected to independently drive research efforts and turn your results into concrete guidance for project execution and hardware demonstrations. ## Responsibilities - Develop and adapt quantum algorithms for materials and chemistry problems, together with collaborators. - Lead resource estimation to assess what these problems require on neutral-atom hardware, both near-term and fault-tolerant. - Co-design algorithms, compilation, and error-correction strategies that make the most of QuEra's architecture. - Support emulation and hardware demonstrations together with QuEra's internal teams. - Represent QuEra in collaborative projects through technical reports, reviews, and publications. ## Qualifications - PhD in theoretical physics, chemistry, computer science, or a related field, or equivalent research experience - Extensive research experience, with a publication record in quantum algorithms or quantum simulation - Knowledge of quantum algorithms for materials and chemistry - Experience in quantum resource estimation - Knowledge of quantum error correction - Strong scientific programming skills - Ability to work independently and communicate clearly across disciplines and institutions ## Preferred Qualifications - Background in electronic-structure or classical many-body methods (e.g., DFT, DMRG, DMFT, QMC, embedding/downfolding) - Knowledge of logical micro-architecture design - Software engineering skills (maintainable, tested, version-controlled code) - Experience using AI tools for research and coding The approximate base salary range for this position is $130,400 - $211,900. 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 ## About QuEra Computing, Inc. ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: QuEra Computing builds and commercializes neutral-atom quantum computers, aiming to deliver fault-tolerant systems for scientific, industrial, and government applications. - **Entity Type**: Private (Series B) - **Headquarters**: Boston, Massachusetts, United States - **Founded**: 2018 - **Founders**: Mikhail Lukin (Chief Scientist, Harvard), Vladan Vuletić (CTO, MIT), and additional Harvard/MIT scientists ## Core Business - **Primary industry**: Quantum computing (hardware, software, and cloud services) - **Target customers**: High-performance computing (HPC) centers, public sector agencies, enterprise innovators, and research institutions – primarily B2B - **Mission**: *“A world where quantum computing is a trusted tool for solving high-value problems in science, industry, and society.”* [quera.com](https://www.quera.com/about) ## Products & Services - **Aquila**: A 256-qubit neutral-atom quantum computer that became the first publicly accessible neutral-atom system on Amazon Braket (launched 2023). Used for quantum simulation and research. - **Gemini**: QuEra’s first commercially available gate-based neutral-atom quantum computer, deployed on-premises (first system delivered to Japan in 2023). - **Quantum Innovation Platform**: A full-stack offering combining hardware, software, and co-design services to help partners develop quantum solutions for specific industries. - **Roadmap to Fault Tolerance**: QuEra plans to reach megaquop logical performance with hundreds of logical qubits by 2028, and gigaquop performance with ~1,000 logical qubits shortly after. [quera.com](https://www.quera.com/) ## Market Standing - **Valuation**: Not publicly disclosed; raised >$230M in Series B financing (backed by Google, SoftBank Vision Fund 2, Valor, and later expanded by NVIDIA’s NVentures). Total known funding: $17M seed (2021) + $230M+ Series B. - **Key Metric**: Total funding ~$247M+ (private company; revenue not publicly available) - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Google, SoftBank Vision Fund 2, Valor Equity Partners, NVIDIA (NVentures), and others. - **Growth Signals**: - Selected by Japan’s AIST for a ~$40M on-premises neutral-atom computer integrated with the NVIDIA-powered ABCI-Q supercomputer. - Chosen for DARPA’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI) Stages A and B. - Demonstrated a logical quantum processor with 48 logical qubits (2024 Physics World Breakthrough). - Published first experimental demonstration of magic state distillation for universal logical quantum computing. ## Competitive Advantages - **Neutral-atom technology**: Scalable to thousands of qubits using optical tweezers, offering a path to fault-tolerant quantum computing that is widely recognized as highly promising. - **Strong academic roots**: Built on pioneering research from Harvard University and MIT, with founders who are leading physicists in the field. - **Early ecosystem leadership**: First neutral-atom system on a public cloud (Amazon Braket), first commercially available gate-based neutral-atom system, and active partnerships with major HPC centers and governments. - **Fault-tolerance roadmap**: Clear technical milestones (megaquop by 2028, gigaquop shortly after) backed by published breakthroughs in error correction and logical qubits. ## Strategic Focus - **Scaling toward fault tolerance**: Executing a roadmap to deliver error-corrected logical quantum computers by 2028. - **Commercial expansion**: Deploying on-premises systems to HPC centers and government labs (e.g., AIST in Japan, DARPA). - **Ecosystem building**: Co-designing applications with enterprise and public-sector partners, and integrating with classical supercomputing infrastructure (e.g., NVIDIA GPU clusters). - **International presence**: Establishing QuEra Computing Japan to support the country’s national quantum strategy. ## Why Work Here - **Culture**: Described as “more science, less fiction” with a focus on real physics, precision engineering, and collaborative learning across disciplines. [quera.com/careers](https://www.quera.com/careers) - **Benefits**: Company-subsidized medical insurance with Health Reimbursement Account, 100% company-paid dental and vision, 401(k) with dollar-for-dollar match up to 5% (immediate vesting), flexible time off, paid holidays, sick leave, free parking, catered lunch-and-learns, stocked kitchens, and employee events. - **Work environment**: Based in Boston, MA. The engineering team develops classical control systems that operate neutral-atom quantum computers, moving quantum from lab experiments to production-grade systems. - **Team**: Leadership includes experienced executives (CEO Andy Ory, CFO Ed Durkin, CCO Yuval Boger) and world-class scientists (CTO Vladan Vuletić, Chief Scientist Mikhail Lukin). The company emphasizes internal cross-disciplinary collaboration and external partnerships. ## Sources 1. [quera.com](https://www.quera.com/) – Official website, roadmap, and product details. 2. [quera.com/careers](https://www.quera.com/careers) – Careers page with benefits and culture. 3. [quera.com/about](https://www.quera.com/about) – Company history, leadership, funding, and milestones. 4. [cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/quera-computing) – Company overview and financial data. 5. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/quera-computing-inc) – LinkedIn company page. ## Other roles at QuEra Computing, Inc. - [IT Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/it-specialist-quera-computing-inc-boston-jcejkxn2fetj) — Boston, MA - [QPU Build Co-Op – Optics & Data Analysis](https://feeny.ai/job/qpu-build-co-op-optics-data-analysis-quera-computing-inc-boston-1qfccc99xr8b) — Boston, MA - [Quantum Solutions Scientist](https://feeny.ai/job/quantum-solutions-scientist-quera-computing-inc-boston-39rq4e6fb8nf) — Boston, MA - [Quantum Innovation Postdoctoral Fellow - QEC](https://feeny.ai/job/quantum-innovation-postdoctoral-fellow-qec-quera-computing-inc-boston-gwy0700fq1c6) — Boston, MA - [Quantum Innovation Postdoctoral Fellow - Quantum Applications](https://feeny.ai/job/quantum-innovation-postdoctoral-fellow-quantum-applications-quera-computing-inc-bhtdgcj03aje) — Boston, MA - [QPU Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/qpu-software-engineer-quera-computing-inc-boston-59pes7w4jnnv) — Boston, MA - [Internship - Scientific Software and Compilation](https://feeny.ai/job/internship-scientific-software-and-compilation-quera-computing-inc-boston-68t9z8b63sn6) — Boston, MA - [Internship - Quantum Applications Research](https://feeny.ai/job/internship-quantum-applications-research-quera-computing-inc-boston-f78p5cneaa1e) — Boston, MA - [Internship - Quantum Error Correction Research](https://feeny.ai/job/internship-quantum-error-correction-research-quera-computing-inc-boston-v52t739b4hs1) — Boston, MA - [2026 MIT Fall Career Fair](https://feeny.ai/job/2026-mit-fall-career-fair-quera-computing-inc-boston-zh7q4pzwf5f0) — Boston, MA