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Discipline: GDS Enablement Services – Growth & Innovation
Role title: Quantum – Senior Associate
Position Summary:
The Quantum Senior Associate will play a hands-on delivery role across Quantum Technology initiatives, with stronger ownership for solution design, technical execution, stakeholder communication and delivery quality than an Associate role. The role requires practical experience in quantum-safe security and/or quantum computing, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear business and delivery outcomes.
The role is expected to have a primary focus on quantum safety, including post-quantum cryptography readiness, and a secondary focus on quantum computing use cases such as optimization, machine learning and simulation.
Key responsibilities
- Support the development of quantum safety and quantum computing solutions, prototypes and demonstrations.
- Contribute to post-quantum cryptography readiness assessments, including data gathering, analysis and documentation.
- Develop and evaluate quantum algorithms and workflows for selected optimization, machine learning and simulation use cases.
- Build and maintain software tools, accelerators and proof-of-concept assets using established engineering practices.
- Prepare technical documentation, assessment reports and presentation materials for internal and external stakeholders.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams including cybersecurity, AI/ML, platform engineering and product teams.
- Participate in testing, validation and benchmarking activities to assess solution performance and applicability.
- Stay current on developments in quantum computing, post-quantum cryptography and related emerging technologies.
Quantum Specialist Responsibilities:
- Quantum Cyber / Safety:
- Support quantum risk assessments and identify areas that may require future cryptographic modernization.
- Assist in prototyping and benchmarking post-quantum cryptography algorithms within applications and services.
- Contribute to analysis of quantum-safe and hybrid cryptographic approaches and document findings.
- Support development of crypto-inventory and discovery capabilities to identify legacy cryptography dependencies.
- Execute testing of hybrid key exchange mechanisms and document performance observations.
- Assist with implementation and validation of crypto-agility patterns, certificate updates and key management enhancements.
- Contribute to creation and maintenance of migration guides, standards documentation and operational runbooks.
- Quantum Compute & Algorithms:
- Develop and evaluate quantum algorithms using industry-standard quantum development platforms.
- Support experimentation and testing to assess the practicality of quantum use cases.
- Build proof-of-concept solutions for optimization, simulation and emerging Quantum + AI use cases.
- Perform basic resource estimation and analysis of quantum circuits and algorithm performance.
- Compare classical and quantum approaches and document observations and recommendations.
- Maintain reproducible experimentation environments using Python, Jupyter notebooks, containers and source control tools.
- Knowledge and Skills Requirements:
- Foundational understanding of quantum computing concepts, including qubits, gates, quantum circuits and current hardware limitations.
- •Basic understanding of post-quantum cryptography concepts, key encapsulation mechanisms, digital signatures and emerging standards.
- Familiarity with cryptographic concepts such as public-key cryptography, certificates and secure communication protocols.
- Experience with at least one quantum development platform such as Qiskit, PennyLane, Cirq, Azure Quantum or AWS Braket.
- Proficiency in Python programming and familiarity with commonly used scientific and data analysis libraries.
- Working knowledge of software development fundamentals, including version control and testing practices.
- Ability to design and execute experiments, analyse results and communicate findings effectively.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively in global, cross-functional teams.
- Interest in emerging technologies and willingness to continuously learn new concepts and tools.
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, Cybersecurity, Electrical Engineering or a related discipline.
- 2–5+ years of relevant experience in one or more of the following areas:
- Software development or engineering
- Applied cryptography or cybersecurity
- Data science, machine learning or advanced analytics
- Quantum computing research or development
- High-performance or scientific computing
- Experience developing prototypes, proof-of-concepts or technical solutions using modern programming languages and frameworks.
- Familiarity with Python and scientific computing libraries such as NumPy, SciPy, pandas or similar tools.
- Exposure to quantum computing concepts, quantum software development kits or post-quantum cryptography is preferred but not mandatory.
- Understanding of cybersecurity and cryptography fundamentals is desirable.
- Experience working in agile, research or innovation-focused environments is advantageous.
- Ability to independently complete assigned deliverables while collaborating effectively with senior team members.
- Publications, hackathons, certifications, research projects or open-source contributions related to quantum technologies are beneficial but not required.
- Willingness to work with global teams and support overlap with US East Coast hours when needed.
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