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Quantum Engineer - QPU Design
Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC)Reading, England, United Kingdom
Not disclosed
Salary
Not disclosed by employer
£46,100
Going rate
Skilled Worker going rate
This role may qualify for a Skilled Worker visa
SOC 2129 is an eligible occupation, but we classified this role with low confidence (55% match). If the code is right — and Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC) is a licensed sponsor — it should qualify, but double-check the occupation eligibility rules against the actual role.
About the role
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 ambition into a commercial reality. The most exciting thing is that we're just getting started.
The Purpose
Help design the next generation of OQC's superconducting quantum processors.
As a Quantum Engineer specialising in QPU design, you'll develop and simulate novel processor architectures, circuit layouts and superconducting components. Your work will help improve gate performance, readout fidelity and the scalability of OQC's quantum processors, directly contributing to our future technology roadmap.
The Role
Working within our Quantum Science & Exploratory Research team, you'll collaborate with senior researchers to take ownership of scientific and engineering projects across the full development lifecycle—from initial design and simulation through to implementation, data analysis and technical recommendations.
You'll combine electromagnetic modelling, superconducting circuit theory, scientific software development and analysis of experimental data. You'll also help maintain OQC's QPU design toolchain, improve our simulation methods and translate complex scientific findings into practical design decisions.
This role may involve occasional domestic and international travel for conferences and collaborative research programmes.
What You'll Be Working On
The Purpose
Help design the next generation of OQC's superconducting quantum processors.
As a Quantum Engineer specialising in QPU design, you'll develop and simulate novel processor architectures, circuit layouts and superconducting components. Your work will help improve gate performance, readout fidelity and the scalability of OQC's quantum processors, directly contributing to our future technology roadmap.
The Role
Working within our Quantum Science & Exploratory Research team, you'll collaborate with senior researchers to take ownership of scientific and engineering projects across the full development lifecycle—from initial design and simulation through to implementation, data analysis and technical recommendations.
You'll combine electromagnetic modelling, superconducting circuit theory, scientific software development and analysis of experimental data. You'll also help maintain OQC's QPU design toolchain, improve our simulation methods and translate complex scientific findings into practical design decisions.
This role may involve occasional domestic and international travel for conferences and collaborative research programmes.
What You'll Be Working On
- Design and simulate novel superconducting quantum processors, optimising architectures, circuit layouts and device performance.
- Develop QPU designs that support low-error quantum gates, fast high-fidelity readout and increasingly scalable processor architectures.
- Build and improve advanced design methodologies for superconducting circuits using electromagnetic and circuit-level simulation.
- Maintain OQC's QPU design and simulation codebase, contributing through collaborative development, pull requests and code reviews.
- A PhD, or equivalent multi-year commercial or R&D experience, involving the measurement, design or operation of quantum systems.
- Experience designing superconducting quantum processors, including circuit layout and electromagnetic simulation using tools such as HFSS, Sonnet, COMSOL or equivalent.
- Strong knowledge of microwave engineering and superconducting circuit theory.
- Experience in at least one relevant quantum or superconducting-device field, such as:
- Superconducting qubits
- Trapped ions, photonics, neutral atoms or solid-state spin systems
- Superconducting resonators or SQUIDs
- Microwave kinetic-inductance detectors
- Nano-electromechanical resonators or surface-acoustic-wave devices
- Strong Python skills, or experience with a comparable language, for automation, scientific analysis and data processing.
- The ability to distil complex scientific information and communicate findings clearly to technical stakeholders.
- Strong planning and organisational skills, with the ability to take ownership of research activities and deliver detailed, accurate work.
- A creative, curious and adaptable approach to solving complex scientific and engineering problems.
- Advanced electromagnetic-simulation experience applied specifically to superconducting qubit design.
- Experience with qubit parameter-extraction methods such as black-box quantisation, energy-participation-ratio analysis or circuit analysis.
You'll join a multidisciplinary team working at the forefront of superconducting quantum processor development. This is an opportunity to influence the physical architecture of future quantum computers, working across advanced simulation, scientific software and experimental data.
You'll have genuine ownership of technically challenging research, access to specialist quantum engineering expertise and the opportunity to see your designs contribute directly to OQC's next generation of processors.
This description is the source posting as it read when we added it. We are not affiliated with Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC), so check their own site for the current details.
Where this offer sits in the market
SOC 2129 · UK · ONS ASHE 2025 · ~167k in sampleP25 £38kP75 £59k
£31kmedian £46kgoing rate £46k£73k
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Does this job guarantee visa sponsorship?
Not necessarily. Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC) holds a sponsor licence, but sponsorship for a specific hire is always the employer's decision. Be upfront in your application that you'll require it.
What salary is needed for this role to be eligible?
The offer must clear both the general threshold and the SOC 2129 going rate of £46,100. New-entrant and shortage discounts can lower it.