Senior Quantum Computing Scientist

What if you could work with remarkable people on extraordinary things? What if the end result was something a little bit special? What if your role was mission critical?

For nearly 70 years, AWE has been at the forefront of nuclear weapons research and development. We have a critical mission: to provide the warheads for the UK s ultimate deterrent - Trident. We also use our unique skills to provide wider UK government with counter-terrorism and nuclear threat reduction solutions.

It takes a special sort of person to work at AWE. What if that person was you?

AWE have an exciting opportunity for a Principal or Senior Quantum Computing Scientist to join our High-Performance Computing Group.

This role offers the opportunity to develop and apply your quantum computing skills to an area of national importance. AWE has a large and complex scientific computing capability, and we need to know where and when to adopt Quantum Computing (QC) approaches.

This is an exciting opportunity to participate and shape the growing Quantum Capability at AWE.

Location : Aldermaston, West Berkshire. We are located between Reading and Basingstoke, with onsite parking.

The successful applicant will need to be able to work from our Aldermaston site, but there is scope for a hybrid-working pattern.

Package :

• Senior QC Scientist: £46,130 to £55,000
  
• Principal QC Scientist: £59,960 to £75,000
  
• The above are dependent on your suitability, qualifications, and level of experience.
  

A relocation package may be available for this role - terms and conditions apply.

Closing Date: 12th June 2024

Interviews: We are expecting to schedule interviews for w/c 24th June 2024

The Role:

In this role you will become an AWE expert in one or more areas of QC, leading its development and the application of emerging quantum algorithms.

You will work with academics, supervising and steering collaborative work to develop those algorithms on both simulators and advanced hardware platforms.

For the Principal role you will have established relationships with other quantum computing experts and the ability to work within academia.

There is the potential for travel opportunities for collaboration and to attend conferences.

You will also engage with application teams such as nuclear and electron physics, material properties, fluid dynamics or other areas of solving PDEs to understand requirements and facilitate future adoption of the algorithms.

You will be responsible forassessing where and when (if at all) to adopt new quantum algorithms using relevant techniques evaluating quantum advantage. Working with the Quantum Technology (QT) teams you will champion and articulate the benefits of new QC to our applications teams leading their adoption.

The UK QT programme is large and complicated with stakeholders in academia, industry, and other laboratories. Across the QT teams we aim to link with all the key stakeholders, so in this role you will be expected work with many and in course look after one of the relationships.

Who Are We Looking For?

Candidates applying for this role should have:

• A PhD in a scientific or STEM discipline, or equivalent experience in a relevant role
  
• For the Principal role, extensive leadership experience.
  

We would be interested in hearing from candidates who can demonstrate knowledge, skills, or experience in some or all the following:

• Materials modelling (e.g., DFT, DMFT)
  
• Nuclear or Electron shell modelling
  
• Fermion-Qubit Mappings
  
• Fault-Tolerant Algorithms
  
• Application of analytical and numerical models
  
• Optimisation
  
• Collaborative working and good communication skills
  
• Stakeholder management
  
• Technical Leadership
  

In addition to the above, you would be expected to have a specialist knowledge in one or more of the following areas:

• Quantum mechanics
  
• Quantum Computing
  
• Quantum Information Theory
  
• Using Quantum Simulators
  

For the Principal role, you will be expected to demonstrate

• Leading larger teams of people
  
• National and international technical expertise
  
• National and international stakeholder relationships
  

What will you get from us?

As part of our People Promise, AWE (one of the best 25 big companies to work for in the UK ) has a range of benefits to suit you. These include:

• Time to recharge your batteries with 270 hours of annual leave (including Bank Holidays).
  
• 9-day working fortnight - our employees have every other Friday off work.
  
• Flexible working hours.
  
• Consideration for flexible working arrangements so that your work may fit in with your lifestyle. Just let us know on your application if you wish to work part time.
  
• Family friendly policies: Maternity Leave - 39 Weeks Full Pay and Paternity Leave - 4 Weeks Full Pay.
  
• Opportunities for Professional Career Development that include funding for the annual membership of a relevant professional body, access to mentors and training.
  
• Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services.
  
• A market leading contributory pension scheme (we will pay between 9% and 13% of your pensionable pay depending on your own contribution).
  
• Life Assurance.
  
• Discounts - access to savings on a wide range of everyday spending savings.
  
• Special Leave Policy including paid time off for volunteering, public service (including reserve forces) and caring for your family.
  

Important things you need to know:

• You must be a UK citizen who has been resident in the UK for the past 10 years.
  
• Interviews will be 90 minutes in length and will be held over Microsoft Teams. You will be required to prepare a 10-minute presentation in advance.
  
• Candidates must be willing and able to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role. This will be funded by AWE.
  

Agencies: Please note that we do not out-source our recruitment

Please note that you must be a British Citizen to apply for a role with us.

Our ambition is to create workplaces where we recognise and celebrate differences, encourage diverse contributions and our employees feel able to be themselves at work. We strive to create a genuine culture of openness and inclusion and encourage diverse applicants. Any inclusion information you provide us will be used to encourage and support you through the application process and will be held only for this purpose in accordance with GDPR.

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