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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Chief Computer Scientist 5 - Quantum Computing - **Company:** Pacific Northwest National Laboratory - **Location:** Hartford, CT, United States - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $173,400.0 - **Contract:** Temporary contract - **Skills:** Compilers, Computer Simulation, Fault Tolerance, Quantum Computing, Information Technology, Modeling and Simulation - **Published:** August 14, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.juju.com/job/00000000gn0b3r ## About the Role + BS/BA and 9+ years of relevant experience -OR- + MS/MA and 7+ years of relevant experience -OR- + PhD with 5+ years of relevant experience Preferred Qualifications: + PhD in Computer Science, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related discipline + Extensive experience with demonstrated impact and recognition in quantum computing systems, architectures, or software + Established expertise in quantum computer simulation, compilation, or system-level modeling for noisy or fault-tolerant systems + Strong applied knowledge of quantum error correction and fault-tolerant architectures + Prior experience working within DOE-funded programs, national laboratories, or comparable research environments + Proven leadership in defining scientific and technical objectives with influence across programs + Successful capture, planning, and execution of complex interdisciplinary projects + Sustained record of high-quality publications, software contributions, or technical leadership + Ability to secure and sustain funding that supports staff, project teams, and long-term research directions Hazardous Working Conditions/Environment Not Applicable Additional Information This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance. A security clearance background investigation includes review of your employment, education, financial, and criminal history, as well as interviews with you and your personal references, neighbors, and co-workers to determine trustworthiness, reliability, and loyalty to the United States. The investigation also examines your foreign connections, drug and alcohol use, foreign influence, and overall conduct. Requirements: + U.S. Citizenship + Background Investigation: Applicants selected will be subject to a Federal background investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified matter in accordance with 10 CFR 710, Appendix B. + Drug Testing: All Security Clearance positions are Testing Designated Positions, which means that the applicant selected for hire is subject to pre-employment drug testing, and post-employment random drug testing. In addition, applicants must be able to demonstrate non-use of illegal drugs, including marijuana, for the 12 consecutive months preceding completion of the requisite Questionnaire for National Security Positions (QNSP). Note: Applicants will be considered ineligible for security clearance processing by the U.S. Department of Energy if non-use of illegal drugs, including marijuana, for 12 months cannot be demonstrated. ## Description Pacific Northwest National Laboratory seeks a **Chief Scientist in Quantum Computing** to provide senior scientific leadership in quantum computing architectures, compilation, large-scale simulation, and fault-tolerant scalability, supporting PNNL's contributions to the **Quantum Science Center** (QSC) and PNNL's Internal Research Investment QuAADS. This position is focused on end-to-end, system-level research across the quantum computing stack and hybrid quantum HPC systems. The successful candidate will help align architectures, compilers, error models, simulation, and hybrid quantum-classical execution to determine how fault-tolerant quantum computing can be realized in practice for scientific workloads. A key responsibility of this role is guiding and extending PNNL's existing quantum software and simulation capabilities, including large-scale, noise-aware simulation on leadership-class HPC systems. This is a senior technical leadership role with substantial engagement in research, modeling, and software direction. The Chief Scientist will provide scientific leadership in the design and evaluation of quantum computing architectures and fault-tolerant systems, with a focus on system-level feasibility and scalability. The role includes guiding and coordinating research across the full quantum computing stack, spanning architectures, compilers, quantum simulation, and hybrid quantum-classical execution models, and ensuring that these components are developed in a coordinated and technically consistent manner. Focus areas for this role include research on large-scale, noise-aware quantum simulation, advancing and applying quantum modeling and simulation tools to study architectural scalability, compilation strategies, and fault-tolerance trade-offs under realistic physical and operational assumptions. In addition, the Chief Scientist will coordinate and provide research leadership while collaborating closely with existing teams working on hybrid algorithms, scientific applications, and experimental validation efforts. The role includes publishing results in peer-reviewed venues, presenting findings in technical reviews and workshops, and contributing to the development of reusable research software and modeling tools. The Chief Scientist will also mentor senior staff, scientists, and postdoctoral researchers in research methods, technical rigor, and scientific communication, helping to sustain PNNL's research excellence in quantum computing. ## Related Videos - [Quantum Computing - How Does It Work, How Will it Affect Us and When?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100293-quantum-computing-how-does-it-work-how-will-it-affect-us-and-when) - [Quantum Computing - The tiny and the big challenges](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/934-quantum-computing-the-tiny-and-the-big-challenges) - [System Resilience: Surviving the Software Storm](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/874-system-resilience-surviving-the-software-storm) - [Just-in-time Compilation in JVM](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/240-just-in-time-compilation-in-jvm) - [The Quantum Computing Future](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1145-the-quantum-computing-future) - [Quantum computing for developers: Solving optimization problems with Qiskit](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/777-quantum-computing-for-developers-solving-optimization-problems-with-qiskit) ## Related Articles - [7 Cloud Computing Trends Coming in 2025 for Developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/412-7-cloud-computing-trends-coming-in-2025-for-developers) - [How We Built a Worry-Free System That Runs for 10+ Years – And What We’d Do Again](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/751-how-we-built-a-worry-free-system-that-runs-for-10-years-and-what-we-d-do-again) - [The Fastest-Growing Tech Sectors to Look Out for in 2025](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/373-the-fastest-growing-tech-sectors-to-look-out-for-in-2025) - [Top 6 Hackathons for Developers in 2023](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/263-top-6-hackathons-for-developers-in-2023) - [Dev Digest 134 - Where pixels sing?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/477-dev-digest-134-where-pixels-sing) - [Should senior developers refuse interview coding challenges?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/29-should-senior-developers-refuse-interview-coding-challenges)