Senior Manager, Data Science - Quantum Computing Research (Remote-Eligible)

Capital One • McLean, VA

1d • Remote

About The Position

At Capital One, we are building the future of financial services by exploring technologies that hold the potential to deliver disruptive change. We're looking for a Senior Manager, Data Science - Quantum Computing Research to work on our fundamental and applied research initiatives in quantum information science. The ideal candidate will have a deep theoretical and practical understanding of quantum computing principles and a proven track record of developing innovative quantum algorithms and applications. This role requires a leader who can not only push the boundaries of scientific knowledge but also translate complex research into tangible, real-world solutions. This role has a strong strategic aspect and the successful candidate is expected to shape and guide explorations into the application of quantum computing with an emphasis on those applications that are particularly relevant to financial services, including the intersection of quantum computing and AI. Team Description: We are looking for a technical leader who has hands-on experience with modern quantum computing technologies. We are committed to pushing the boundaries of scientific knowledge and translating complex research into tangible, real-world solutions that provide a strategic advantage. As part of the first quantum computing team at Capital One, you will have the opportunity to influence the strategic direction of our quantum computing initiatives. You will collaborate with product, technology, and business leaders to apply the state-of-the-art in quantum computing to financial challenges, and identify promising directions for further exploration. You will be expected to be an external leader, representing Capital One in the research community and collaborating with prominent faculty members in the relevant quantum computing research community. In this role, you will: Define and execute a research roadmap focused on characterizing the performance of new and emerging quantum algorithms, protocols, and computational methods on tasks and problems that are relevant to financial services. Conduct cutting-edge research in areas such as quantum optimization and quantum machine learning. Collaborate with quantum hardware vendors to co-design algorithms that maximize performance on current and future quantum processors. Publish research findings in top-tier scientific journals and present at international conferences to maintain a strong presence in the quantum community. Identify and evaluate potential business applications for quantum computing, working with internal and external partners to translate research into commercial value as appropriate. Leverage communication skills to convey complex technical concepts to a diverse audience, from fellow researchers to executive leadership. The Ideal Candidate is: Customer First: You love the process of analyzing and creating but also share our passion for doing the right thing. You know that at the end of the day, it's about making the right decision for our associates and customers. Innovative: You continually research and evaluate emerging quantum technologies. You stay current on published state-of-the-art methods, protocols, and algorithms and seek opportunities to apply them. Creative: You thrive on bringing definition to big, undefined problems. You love asking questions and pushing hard to find answers. You're not afraid to share a new idea. A Leader: You challenge conventional thinking and work with stakeholders to identify and improve the status quo. Technical: You’re comfortable with quantum programming and are passionate about developing further. You have hands-on experience developing quantum algorithms and solutions using open-source tools and quantum cloud computing platforms. Deep Understanding: Has a deep understanding of the foundations of quantum information science and quantum mechanics. Experience: Experience building complex quantum circuits and models, whether for optimization, simulation, or machine learning, as well as expertise in one or more of the following: quantum error correction, quantum complexity theory, or quantum hardware-software co-design. Research Mindset: An engineering mindset as shown by a track record of publications, mentoring junior researchers and interns, partnering with academia, attending conferences, representing Capital One at such research forums, and cultivating relationships with academia while also helping build the talent pipeline. Track Record: A professional with a track record of coming up with new ideas or improving existing ones in quantum computing, demonstrated by accomplishments such as first-author publications or projects. Publications: Has publications in quantum information, physics, computer science, mathematics, or related technical fields. Autonomy: Possess the ability to own and pursue a research agenda, including choosing impactful research problems and autonomously carrying out long-running projects.

Requirements

• A Bachelor's Degree in a quantitative field (Statistics, Economics, Operations Research, Analytics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related quantitative field) plus 7 years of experience performing data analytics
• A Master's Degree in a quantitative field (Statistics, Economics, Operations Research, Analytics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related quantitative field) or an MBA with a quantitative concentration plus 5 years of experience performing data analytics
• A PhD in a quantitative field (Statistics, Economics, Operations Research, Analytics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related quantitative field) plus 2 years of experience performing data analytics
• At least 2 years of experience leveraging open source programming languages for large scale data analysis
• At least 2 years of experience working with machine learning
• At least 2 years of experience utilizing relational databases
• Has a deep understanding of the foundations of quantum information science and quantum mechanics.
• Experience building complex quantum circuits and models, whether for optimization, simulation, or machine learning, as well as expertise in one or more of the following: quantum error correction, quantum complexity theory, or quantum hardware-software co-design.
• An engineering mindset as shown by a track record of publications, mentoring junior researchers and interns, partnering with academia, attending conferences, representing Capital One at such research forums, and cultivating relationships with academia while also helping build the talent pipeline.
• A professional with a track record of coming up with new ideas or improving existing ones in quantum computing, demonstrated by accomplishments such as first-author publications or projects.
• Has publications in quantum information, physics, computer science, mathematics, or related technical fields.
• Possess the ability to own and pursue a research agenda, including choosing impactful research problems and autonomously carrying out long-running projects.

Nice To Haves

• Ph.D. in Physics, Computer Science, Mathematics, or a related field with a strong focus on quantum information or quantum computing.
• At least 7 years of experience in quantum computing research and development.
• At least 7 years of experience partnering with quantum hardware developers to implement and evaluate algorithms.
• At least 7 years of experience in quantum algorithms (e.g. Shor's algorithm, Grover's algorithm, Variational Quantum Eigensolver (VQE), and Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm (QAOA)).
• At least 7 years of experience in quantum information theory and quantum computing applied to Machine Learning.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to effectively communicate technical advances and strategy to research scientists, engineering teams, senior executives, and non-technical audiences.
• Knowledge of advanced quantum hardware and their associated control systems.
• Experience with large-scale classical simulation of quantum systems (e.g., with tensor networks or state-vector simulators).
• Experience with production-level quantum hardware or cloud-based quantum services.
• Worked with datasets or systems involving 100+ qubits.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute a research roadmap focused on characterizing the performance of new and emerging quantum algorithms, protocols, and computational methods on tasks and problems that are relevant to financial services.
• Conduct cutting-edge research in areas such as quantum optimization and quantum machine learning.
• Collaborate with quantum hardware vendors to co-design algorithms that maximize performance on current and future quantum processors.
• Publish research findings in top-tier scientific journals and present at international conferences to maintain a strong presence in the quantum community.
• Identify and evaluate potential business applications for quantum computing, working with internal and external partners to translate research into commercial value as appropriate.
• Leverage communication skills to convey complex technical concepts to a diverse audience, from fellow researchers to executive leadership.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree