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 us

Riverlane’s mission is to master quantum error correction (QEC) and unlock a new age of human progress. From advances in material and climate science, to complex chemistry simulation for new drug design, quantum computers will help humanity solve some of its most important challenges. But without QEC, the industry’s defining technical challenge, such breakthroughs can never be achieved. Riverlane is the world leader in QEC technology. QEC is a complex problem that requires a range of skills, talent and passion.

Having raised more than $125M in funding to date to accelerate our cutting-edge R&D in quantum error correction (QEC), Riverlane partners with many of the world’s leading quantum hardware providers and government agencies to make fault-tolerant quantum computing a reality. We’re making remarkable progress and growing fast.

About our new Maryland office

We are opening an office in Maryland to work more closely with the US government agencies, national laboratories and research institutions that are shaping the future of quantum computing. This role is one of our founding hires there. You will help establish Riverlane's presence in one of the densest concentrations of quantum research in the world, and have a direct hand in how we build the team, the partnerships and the programs that follow.

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