Portfolio Technical Lead - Neutral Atom QC

Infleqtion is a global quantum technology company solving the world’s most challenging problems. The company harnesses quantum mechanics to build and integrate quantum computers, sensors, and networks. From fundamental physics to leading edge commercial products, Infleqtion enables “quantum everywhere” through our ecosystem of devices and platforms.  

LOCATION   

Infleqtion has offices in the USA, United Kingdom and Australia. This is a full-time position split between our Kidlington, Oxford office and the National Quantum Computing Centre, Harwell. Our flexible working policy enables all full-time employees to work up to 2 days a week from home if work permits. 

POSITION SUMMARY 

The Portfolio Technical Lead (PTL) plays a substantial strategic role when determining, with other Infleqtion strategic leaders, what technologies and prototypes are transitioned from research to products. 

This role is responsible for managing the Neutral Atom Quantum Computing technical team to deliver excellence in R&D outcomes and being a key contributor to bringing our technology to deliverable solutions. Primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to, overseeing a technical performance portfolio of projects to meet or exceed deliverable commitments, identifying and executing on internal research and development efforts, managing technical personnel who are assigned to your technical area, and road-mapping technical capabilities into business and product objectives.  

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES 

Project Supervision 

• Oversee the technical performance of a portfolio of neutral atom QC projects into a cohesive, road-mapped set of capabilities in coordination with a global set of company stakeholders   

• Set the technical performance thresholds and expectations for each project’s success, often working with internal and external stakeholders to communicate the feasibility of desired outcomes 

• Cultivate relationships with funding agencies and transition partners to strengthen and grow the portfolio’s contract R&D pipeline 

• Coordinate technical performance with Portfolio Managers to assure cohesive overall project and portfolio success 

• Assemble, brief, and deliver technical status, milestone reports, and design reviews to both internal and external stakeholders 

• Designate and implement safety requirements and precautions to assure human and equipment protection in laboratory settings 

• Identify and recommend contract pursuits that align with the technical roadmap, collaborating with the business development team 

• Identify and recommend candidate technologies and prototypes for further product development and commercialization 

• Pursue strategic intellectual property and patent opportunities  

• Guide on-time proposal development and contract updates by closely working with programmatic teams (proposal, contracts, management, and legal personnel) to define work breakdown structures, technical volumes, work plans, statements of work (SOWs), and quality assurance plans, submitting high-quality, competitive foundations for our next projects 

• Support risk analysis and mitigation planning  

• Team Mentorship  

• Guide project-level technical leaders toward successful outcomes, operating within the scope of a contract/plan 

• Manage the careers for a set of key contributors aligned within your technical area, including performance reviews/feedback and working with HR to implement personnel-centric objectives 

• Capable of handling changing circumstances and ambiguity, and guiding others through this. 

• Can deal with complex problems by distinguishing between critical and irrelevant information. 

• Assign project responsibilities to your direct reports and recommend assignments for matrixed personnel to assure portfolio success 

Stakeholder Engagement 

• Act as a primary technical point of contact for established external relationships, including companies, partners, sub-contractors, and suppliers 

• Ability to communicate effectively through verbal and written communication with technical and non-technical stakeholders. 

• Collaborate across multidisciplinary contributors, both technical and programmatic 

• Engage with Infleqtion leadership to advise on technical merits and needs associated with key decisions 

Technical Knowledge 

• PhD in atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) physics 

• Atom trapping using tightly focused laser beams 

• Rydberg physics and their interactions  

• Optical design, alignment, and control of complex laser systems 

• Working knowledge of control systems and signal processing 

• Mechanical, optical, and electronic design packages (e.g. Solidworks, Zemax, Altium)  

• Understanding of ultra-high vacuum creation and maintenance 

• Ability to effectively influence and drive project team members and stakeholders 

• Ability to work and communicate with all levels of an organization; professional-level communication skills, including verbal, written, and presentation skills 

• Ability to work comfortably in a highly collaborative, cross-functional, team-oriented, and matrixed environment 

• Good verbal and written communication skills, able to effectively share information with technical and non-technical staff, both in writing and orally 

Experience 

• Multiple years of relevant and progressive experience in a technical project team context, including demonstrated leadership experience. 

• Experience with proposal, experimentation, design, development, and transition of technically complex solutions and/or products 

• Direct and hands-on experience supporting externally-funded projects 

• Proven track record of integrating complex hardware and software into systems 

• Experience in project management 

• Understanding of Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) practices and modeling workplace safety culture 

In addition to your base compensation, we offer a generous Total Rewards program which includes:   

• Competitive salary  

• Unlimited PTO  

• Generous company 10% pension contribution regardless of employee contribution  

• Cycle to work scheme 

• Tax efficient technology schemes  

• Incentive Stock Option Plan  

• BUPA Private Healthcare Insurance once probationary period is successfully completed