Quantum technology areas and roles
We group roles into nine technology areas. For each area, we describe the work and the roles employers hire for. Each card links to the area’s open roles.
Quantum computing – hardware
Hardware teams build and operate physical qubits: superconducting, trapped-ion, photonic, neutral-atom, and silicon spin. Some develop topological and diamond NV center approaches. Employers hire device physicists and engineers in fabrication, cryogenics, control electronics, lasers, and testing.
Quantum computing – software and algorithms
Software teams write compilers, control software, error-correction decoders, and benchmarking tools. Algorithm researchers design quantum algorithms for chemistry, materials, and optimization. A quantum software engineer builds production software. A quantum algorithm researcher designs and analyzes algorithms.
Quantum security and PQC
Security teams move organizations to post-quantum cryptography (PQC). NIST published the first three PQC standards in August 2024: ML-KEM (formerly CRYSTALS-Kyber), ML-DSA (formerly CRYSTALS-Dilithium), and SLH-DSA (formerly SPHINCS+). Employers hire PQC migration specialists, cryptographers, and security architects.
Quantum sensing
Sensing teams build magnetometers, gravimeters, atomic clocks, and inertial sensors. Engineers base many of these sensors on atoms, ions, or diamond NV centers. Employers hire experimental physicists, sensor systems engineers, laser engineers, and field test engineers.
Quantum communications and networking
Network teams build systems to send quantum states between locations. They work on quantum key distribution (QKD), entanglement distribution, quantum memories, and repeaters. Employers hire quantum network engineers, photonics engineers, protocol researchers, and network architects.
Quantum systems integration
Integration teams connect quantum processors to classical computing, from supercomputing centers to cloud platforms. They build hybrid workflows to split a problem between classical and quantum processors. Employers hire integration engineers, high-performance computing engineers, and solutions architects.
Enabling technologies
Each quantum system depends on some mix of cryogenics, lasers, photonics, control electronics, vacuum systems, and materials such as superconducting films and isotopically purified silicon. Employers hire cryogenic engineers, photonic integrated circuit designers, electronics engineers, and materials scientists.
Quantum policy, standards, and export control
People in policy roles write and apply the rules for quantum technology: national strategies, standards at bodies such as NIST, ETSI, and ISO/IEC, and export controls. Employers hire policy analysts, standards engineers, export control managers, and program managers.
Quantum-adjacent roles
Quantum organizations also hire for sales, business development, product management, marketing, technical writing, finance, and people operations. We list these roles when the employer is a quantum organization, or when the role belongs to a company’s quantum group.
Who hires in these areas
Quantum startups, large enterprises, national labs, universities, defense organizations, and consulting firms all hire for these roles. On our industries page, we describe the quantum work in each industry. In our company directory, you’ll find every employer whose roles we list.