Director of Quantum Error Correction (QEC)

At OQC, we aren’t just theorising about the future; we’re building it. Born from a philosophy of bold innovation, we’ve successfully transitioned quantum computing from an academic dream into a commercial reality. The most exciting thing is that we’re just getting started and we’ve recently closed our £260 million Series C funding round – the largest fundraise ever completed by a quantum computing company in Europe. The Purpose As Director of Quantum Error Correction (QEC), you will lead the scientific strategy that enables fault-tolerant quantum computing. Working within our Quantum Science & Exploratory Research (QSER) department, you'll build and inspire world-class research teams, shaping the architectures, algorithms and hardware co-design that will define the next generation of quantum computing. The Role You will lead multidisciplinary teams of QEC Theorists, Architecture Researchers and Quantum Engineers. You'll set the strategic direction for Quantum Error Correction at OQC, ensuring our research translates into practical demonstrations that maximise the performance and scalability of our superconducting quantum hardware. What You'll Be Working On • Build, develop and lead a world-class Quantum Error Correction organisation spanning theory, architecture, numerical modelling, hardware co-design and implementation. • Drive OQC's QEC strategy by developing cutting-edge error correction and mitigation techniques that reduce logical qubit overheads and strengthen our hardware roadmap. • Translate long-term company objectives into ambitious, executable research programmes delivered across multiple technical teams. • Partner closely with hardware, software and engineering teams to ensure theoretical advances are grounded in experimental reality and accelerate product development. • Represent OQC as a recognised technical leader, presenting research breakthroughs and logical systems milestones to international conferences, customers and strategic partners. • Own the planning and management of QEC budgets, including simulation infrastructure, software tooling and external technology partnerships. • Mentor and develop technical leaders, fostering a collaborative, high-performance research culture while removing obstacles and maintaining delivery momentum. What We're Looking For • Significant industrial and/or academic experience developing Quantum Error Correction technologies, including bosonic, surface or LDPC codes, logical architectures, decoders or large-scale numerical simulations. • Proven leadership experience building and managing high-performing technical or scientific teams, including the development of senior researchers and technical managers. • Experience delivering complex research programmes within multidisciplinary environments spanning quantum hardware, software and experimental physics. • Demonstrated ability to develop long-term technical strategy, manage competing priorities and translate vision into execution. • Strong collaboration and communication skills, with experience influencing executive stakeholders and cross-functional engineering organisations. • Experience managing technical budgets, external collaborations and strategic research partnerships. • PhD in Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering or another relevant scientific discipline, with a strong focus on Quantum Information Theory or a related field. The 'Nice-to-Haves' • Commercial experience developing quantum computing technologies. • Experience designing or implementing quantum or cryogenic systems. • Knowledge of superconducting qubit architectures or cryogenic engineering. • Experience owning end-to-end technical project delivery in fast-paced R&D environments. • Strong roadmapping, external partnership management and technical presentation experience. • Experience coordinating multiple large technical teams delivering complex scientific programmes. Why Join OQC You will join a world-class team at the forefront of the next computational era. We offer a culture of bold innovation, the chance to work with unique lab infrastructure, and the opportunity to see your work redefine the limits of computation. Learn more about our benefits and positive work culture here: https://oqc.tech/company/careers-at-oqc/