Research Scientist, Quantum Methods, Quantum AI

Google•Goleta, CA

About The Position

This Research Scientist role is dedicated to developing and validating the next generation of performance-enhancement methods, such as error mitigation, for quantum applications directly on quantum hardware. Your primary focus will be to push the physical limits of our state-of-the-art processors to enable successful application deployment. You will bridge the gap between abstract quantum protocols and the physical realities of noisy hardware by innovating both digital and pioneering analog mitigation techniques. As a key contributor to flagship experiments, you will prototype and stress-test novel methods in high-stakes experimental contexts. Your work is not theoretical; it is focused on experiments on our hardware with validation of error mitigation, suppression, and performance strategies that ensure our processors can meet the demands of the hardest problems. You will work at the frontier of experimental physics, identifying the paths toward high-accuracy computation while collaborating with theory and experiment teams to ensure these breakthroughs are robust and reproducible. The full potential of quantum computing will be unlocked with a large-scale computer capable of complex, error-corrected computations. Google Quantum AI's mission is to build this computer and unlock solutions to classically intractable problems. Our roadmap is focused on advancing the capabilities of quantum computing and enabling meaningful applications.

Requirements

PhD degree in Physics, Quantum Information, a related experimental field, or equivalent practical experience.
Experience performing experiments on quantum hardware.
Experience with Python for experimental control and data analysis.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Hamiltonian simulation or complex quantum application benchmarks.
Experience troubleshooting and optimizing complex hardware-software interfaces in a fluid laboratory environment.
Expertise in advanced error mitigation and suppression techniques.
Expertise in the physics of noisy quantum systems, including error modeling and characterization.
Proven track record of high-impact experimental research, specifically in scaling up multi-qubit performance.

Responsibilities

Research, develop, and experimentally validate novel methods for error mitigation and suppression, including both gate-based (digital) and pulse-level (analog) techniques.
Drive the success of flagship projects by providing expert prototyping and performance-tuning for critical application deployments.
Identify and implement techniques to enhance the fidelity and reach of current quantum processors.
Design and execute stress-tests for new performance methods, ensuring they provide measurable gains in real-world, large-scale quantum experiments.