Program Manager, Government Programs & Strategic Engagement (Quantum)

QuEra Computing, Inc. • Boston, MA

7h • Onsite

About The Position

QuEra is seeking a Program Manager, Government Programs & Strategic Engagement to expand and execute the company’s engagement with the U.S. Government and allied governments on quantum computing.
This role sits at the intersection of technology, policy, and business strategy—translating QuEra’s technical roadmap into credible program concepts, agency partnerships, and mission-aligned outcomes. You will build durable relationships with government stakeholders, advocate for programs and policies that accelerate quantum capability, and serve as a program manager for selected government-funded initiatives. Internally, you will advise senior leadership on engagement strategy, align priorities across technical and business teams, and communicate the value and tradeoffs of government opportunities with clarity and discipline.

Our Government Programs and Strategic Engagement function helps translate frontier science into durable national capabilities—by aligning technical roadmaps with mission needs, shaping high-impact programs, and executing with rigor across government and allied ecosystems.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline (e.g., Physics, Engineering, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics) or equivalent technical training and experience.
• 5+ years of relevant experience spanning government, national security, policy, strategy consulting, deep-tech commercialization, or government-facing business roles.
• Demonstrated ability to operate at the intersection of technology, business, and government-building stakeholder trust and moving initiatives from concept to execution.
• Strong program management skills, including the ability to coordinate cross-functional teams and manage timelines, risks, and deliverables.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience briefing senior technical and executive audiences.
• Ability to travel periodically (domestic and international) for stakeholder engagement, program reviews, and partner coordination.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance where required.
• This role may involve interaction with controlled technical data and compliance with export-control and cybersecurity requirements, depending on program assignment.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree in a technical field, public policy, international affairs, business (MBA), or a related discipline.
• Familiarity with U.S. federal R&D and acquisition pathways (e.g., OTA, FAR/DFARS, SBIR/STTR, CRADAs), and the operational realities of milestone-based government programs.
• Experience engaging allied governments or international partners on emerging technology initiatives, including an understanding of shared objectives and constraints (e.g., security, export controls, data governance).
• Working knowledge of the quantum computing ecosystem (hardware modalities, control stack, benchmarking, error correction, applications) sufficient to communicate credibly with technical stakeholders.
• Experience building multi-party collaborations (government/industry/academia) and structuring programs that span institutions or regions.

Responsibilities

• Establish and grow strategic relationships with U.S. Government agencies and allied government counterparts relevant to quantum computing, including both technical and policy leadership.
• Shape and advance program concepts that align government mission needs with QuEra’s technical roadmap (e.g., testbeds, benchmarking, workforce, standards, supply chain, and deployment readiness).
• Advocate for priority programs and enabling policies through effective engagement with program offices, acquisition organizations, and key decision makers.
• Serve as a program manager for selected government programs, coordinating scope, schedule, deliverables, and stakeholder communications in partnership with technical leads, contracts, and finance.
• Develop government engagement strategies and “campaign plans” for priority accounts (e.g., DARPA, DOE, DoD, NNSA, national labs, allied ministries), including objectives, timelines, and measures of success.
• Identify and pursue partnership models across government, industry, and academia (e.g., consortia, shared testbeds, public-private partnerships, international R&D collaborations), in coordination with Legal and Contracts.
• Translate complex technical concepts into clear narratives, briefing materials, and decision memos for government stakeholders and QuEra executives.
• Inform corporate strategy by mapping the evolving government landscape (funding priorities, procurement pathways, standards, export controls) to product, R&D, and commercialization decisions.
• Support capture activities across the lifecycle (early shaping through submission), including stakeholder discovery, solution framing, teaming strategy, and executive-level positioning.
• Represent QuEra at relevant government, industry, and academic forums; build credibility and trust through disciplined, accurate, and mission-oriented communication.

Benefits

• Compensation and equity are competitive and commensurate with experience.
• QuEra is an equal opportunity employer. We recruit, hire, and promote without regard to legally protected characteristics.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level