Quantum Applications and Algorithms Lead

QuNorth is looking for a Quantum Applications and Algorithms Lead to help shape and lead QuNorth’s technical work on quantum applications and algorithms, grounded in continuous assessments of the performance of Magne, QuNorth’s Neutral Atom quantum computer, in addition to participating in other aspects of operationalizing Magne in a fast-paced but stable startup environment.

QuNorth is a new Nordic Hub for quantum exploration, providing the region’s enterprises, researchers, and startups with the capability to test, learn, and build on Magne, a world-leading Level 2 quantum computer. With strong backing from EIFO and the Novo Nordisk Foundation, QuNorth will operate Magne as a shared platform for Nordic industries, research organisations, and start-ups. Our aim is to provide the access, tools, expertise, and support needed to explore new quantum applications across all relevant areas, including, but not limited to, life sciences, innovative materials, biochemistry, and AI.

Magne’s physical layer, developed by Atom Computing, includes 1200+ Ytterbium-171 atoms, serving as physical qubits with all-to-all connectivity. It can be operated seamlessly in logical mode enabled by Microsoft, providing tens of logical qubits depending on QEC code. Magne can also be operated in physical mode with mid-circuit measurement and feedforward, which in conjunction with its all-to-all connectivity at scale turns Magne into an excellent platform for exploring quantum algorithms, benchmarking protocols, application-relevant workloads, and the interplay between physical- and logical-qubit operation.

As the Quantum Applications and Algorithms Lead, you will help QuNorth understand what Magne can meaningfully do, how its capabilities should be evaluated, and which algorithms, workloads, and application-oriented experiments are most relevant to pursue. Working directly with the CTO, and interfacing with the CPO team and QuNorth’s users and partners, and technical teams at Microsoft, Atom Computing, and other partners, you will help connect Magne’s real system capabilities to credible use cases, benchmarks, demonstrations, and scientific collaborations. Working with one of the most powerful quantum computers in the world in both physical and logical mode, you will have the opportunity to help shape the path toward scalable, fault-tolerant algorithms for scientifically and industrially important problems.

This role is not a purely theoretical algorithms position, nor is it a generic applications role. It is a hands-on technical leadership role for someone who can move between quantum algorithms and applications, benchmarking and QCVV, noisy and early fault-tolerant computation, user-facing technical scoping, and practical experiment design, interpretation, and iteration. The successful candidate will help identify which proposed applications are technically meaningful and feasible, which are premature or incorrectly oriented, and what benchmarks or validation experiments are needed to assess their feasibility and impact.

We are a small and committed team working to build QuNorth from the ground up as a reliable and transparent organization that contributes to the long-term strength of the Nordic quantum computing ecosystem.

Your Responsibilities

The successful candidate will eagerly engage in many of the following directions:

• Lead QuNorth’s work on quantum algorithms, applications, benchmarking, and related workflows, partly in collaboration with our users and partners.
• Stay current with the latest developments in quantum algorithms addressing various application areas, and quantum-inspired classical methods competing to set performance and feasibility standards. Continuously brief the CTO and the rest of QuNorth as appropriate.
• Deploy relevant performance assessment protocols and benchmarking techniques, and develop frameworks to connect system performance parameters to the feasibility of various applications and algorithms.
• Evaluate quantum applications/algorithms proposals from QuNorth users and partners along several dimensions, including feasibility, meaningfulness, impact, and relevance to NISQ systems, Level 2 error-corrected systems, and Level 3 scaled fault-tolerant quantum computers.
• Interpret experimental results, devise strategies for iteration or evolution of experiments, and help distinguish credible quantum applications and demonstrations from premature or overextended claims.
• Work closely with QuNorth’s CTO and QEC Lead to explore the interplay between applications, algorithms, QCVV, compilation, QEC, noise, error mitigation, and logical-mode operation, including opportunities for integration and co-design.
• Interface with the CPO team as needed to help ground and inform interactions with the user community.
• Collaborate on a case-by-case basis with QuNorth users and partners from academia and research institutions, startups, and enterprises.
• Contribute to proposals, grant applications, reports, publications, presentations, internal documents, and user-facing documents and materials.
• Help coordinate and mentor future postdocs, collaborators, or team members working on algorithms, benchmarking, applications, and related topics.
• Participate in broader company-building work, including collaborator or partner discussions, product strategy, documentation, technical evaluation, and operational tasks.
• Use AI tools effectively and responsibly to accelerate research, coding, literature review, writing, planning, analysis, operations, and internal workflows.
• Help establish a high standard for technical honesty, scientific rigor, clear communication, and effective execution within the company.

Your Experience and Qualifications

We expect strong candidates to have many of the following:

• A PhD or equivalent experience required in quantum information, quantum computing, physics, computer science, mathematics, chemistry, materials science, electrical engineering, or a related field.
• Deep understanding of quantum algorithms and their practical requirements, including the gap between formal algorithmic advantage and executable workloads on real systems.
• Strong familiarity with quantum simulation, Hamiltonian simulation, quantum phase estimation, hybrid algorithms, optimization, quantum chemistry, materials applications, or other application-relevant quantum algorithms.
• Familiarity with benchmarking and validation approaches, including QCVV, application-oriented benchmarking, circuit-level metrics, workload characterization, and performance interpretation.
• Familiarity with NISQ computation, early fault-tolerant computation, implications of physical vs logical qubits, QEC-aware algorithms, and resource estimation.
• Strong programming experience, preferably in Python or similar scientific computing environments, with experience developing simulations, analysis workflows, notebooks, benchmarking tools, or research software.
• Ability to critically evaluate technical literature, algorithmic claims, benchmark results, and application proposals.
• Experience collaborating across disciplines, especially between algorithms, software, experimental teams, domain scientists, and product or user-facing teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical results clearly to both expert and non-expert audiences.
• Comfort working in an early-stage environment where priorities evolve and everyone contributes beyond their formal job title.
• Practical experience using AI tools such as LLMs, coding assistants, literature tools, agentic workflows, and AI-enabled analysis environments.
• Good judgment about when AI tools are useful, when they are unreliable, and how to verify their outputs.

The Team

The position is based in our new offices at Rønnegade 6 in Copenhagen, where Magne is also currently being built. You will be part of the Technology team under the CTO, but will interact closely with the Product team under the CPO and the rest of QuNorth as well.

Like many start-ups, we are building QuNorth as we go. You will join a very entrepreneurial team, driven by curiosity about the technology, with a desire to make an impact while working in a fun and engaging workplace. As an early employee, you will be an important contributor to building this environment along with us.

What We Offer

A unique opportunity to be part of standing up and operating a quantum computing company with strong backers, in modern offices located centrally in the Innovation District Copenhagen with convenient public transport and lunch service.

Comprehensive remuneration package, including benefits that support an environment where people can grow and do their best work.

This position will be based in Copenhagen, which offers a rare combination of international outlook, strong quantum and deep-tech ecosystem, and excellent quality of life, consistently ranked amongst the most liveable cities in the world.

Application and Contact

If you wish to know more about the position, please reach out to Dr. Kasra Nowrouzi, CTO at QuNorth, at [email protected]

Please apply via LinkedIn by August 2 ^nd at the latest. Please be aware that we will be reviewing applications on an ongoing basis.

All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

We look very much forward to receiving your application.