Quantum Solution Engineer

About the Role

Uplift People Consulting is seeking a Quantum Solution Engineer for a contract position in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This role is for a mid-senior application engineer with a background in Operations Research and/or Quantum Computing, contributing to a client's team.

Responsibilities

• Execute quantum optimization client projects from initial technical discussions and problem framing to delivery.
• Support the Commercial team in conducting feasibility studies and defining the scope of work for future client projects.
• Translate real-world problems into optimization formulations and evaluate solution strategies using analytical reasoning and numerical experimentation.
• Investigate and synthesize academic and industrial literature to identify relevant directions, assess feasibility, and propose impactful research paths.
• Develop and scale quantum optimization solutions for clients' use cases on quantum processors, and improve existing use cases.
• Design and run benchmarking and feasibility studies, including assessing classical approach limitations and identifying pathways toward quantum utility.
• Develop solutions and experiment pipelines in collaboration with the software engineering team, utilizing emulation backends locally and on HPC.
• Investigate realistic implementations on neutral-atom hardware, primarily using analog paradigms.
• Define blueprints of quantum utility for clients' use cases and collaborate with R&D hardware teams for implementation.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders throughout all project phases, ensuring alignment on technical scope, success criteria, and deliverables.
• Support team-wide execution and knowledge sharing, including assisting with code/components outside direct ownership and contributing to scientific watch activities.

Qualifications and Experience

Candidates should possess an MSc or PhD in Combinatorial Optimization, Quantum Computing, or a related field, with at least 3 years of experience in a similar role.

• Combinatorial Optimization: Familiarity with classical problems, linear programming, constrained programming, heuristics, metaheuristics, complexity theory, and graph theory.
• Quantum Computing: Understanding of quantum algorithms, Hamiltonian-based optimization, Ising formulations, adiabatic and variational approaches, noise mechanisms, state preparation errors, measurement statistics, and hardware constraints of neutral-atom QPUs.
• Methodological Approach: Ability to connect theoretical concepts with practical applications on current and future quantum hardware.
• Delivery Mindset: Ability to explore, prototype, benchmark, and iterate on new approaches, and write clear technical reports.
• Programming Skills: Proficiency in Python with good software engineering practices including version control, testing, and documentation.
• Algorithm Evaluation & Benchmarking: Solid experience in experiment design, reproducibility, and performance analysis.
• Collaboration: Ability to collaborate with Engineering and R&D teams across different disciplines.
• Project Ownership: Capability to execute projects end-to-end, respecting milestones and managing risks.
• Client-facing Skills: Relationship skills for interacting with clients and partners.

Work Environment

This is a contract position based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The role involves working within a dynamic and international team, contributing to a fast-growing startup environment. Time is allocated for training, conferences, and meetups.