Summary:   

QuEra is looking for a Production Machine Lead for QuEra’s Gemini-class digital quantum computer at the AIST facility in Japan. The product that this role is supporting is two-fold: the system itself, and the results that users get by programming it. In this role, you will be responsible for:  

• Initial installations and setup of the machine in AIST, Japan.
• Overall operations of the system, to be optimized for performance reliability, uptime and running costs;  
• Continuous development and integration of capabilities and features across the hardware and software stacks, as defined by customer needs, market opportunities, and technological developments at QuEra;  
• Supporting users in their projects and needs and maximize the utility of the quantum computer for them.  

All of these responsibilities will be executed in collaboration with the teams in the US headquarter. During the onboarding process, the person is expected to spend time in the headquarter (Boston, United States) to learn and make relationships with the members.   
  

Responsibilities:  

• System development: you will be responsible for the integration and testing of capabilities and features across the hardware and software stacks, ranging from software pipelines and operational workflows. In particular, in the initial installment of the machine, the person is expected to collaborate with the rest of QuEra team to set up the machine in AIST and make it functional as a gate-based quantum computer.   

• Operations: you will guide the operations team in the process of optimizing the operations for performance reliability, uptime and running costs, while supporting the team in troubleshooting the machine in cases of outages and performance degradations. As part of this work, you will drive calibration design, telemetry and automation.  

• Customer success management: you will interact with QuEra’s customers – a mix of the owner of the production machine (AIST), end users and quantum software/service providers – to help them understand their needs, and translate those needs into goals and priorities for system development and operations.  

• Scientific and application development support: you will collaborate with select customers to enable high-impact projects to succeed by using QuEra’s quantum computer. Sometimes, this means running the machine in special configurations, or developing features in the stack to support the projects. This work will often involve a close interaction with QuEra’s Algorithms and Applications team.  

Qualifications:   

• A Ph.D. in experimental AMO physics, with hands-on experience in building or operating a neutral atom or a trapped ion system.  

• Success in research, as evidenced by peer-reviewed publications and/or scientific talks and other contributions.   

• Strong communication skills and strong interest in working with a variety of customers and end users to understand their needs and translate them into technical requirements and roadmaps.   

• Software skills, including programming languages and a basic understanding of software architectures.  

• Experience in mentoring or training scientists or engineers.  

• A willingness to provide on-call support for machine operations.