Quantum Software Engineer

Location: Delft, Netherlands; remote negotiable

Company: Dark Qore B.V.

Type: Full-time; near full-time negotiable

Start: As soon as feasible

Compensation: To be discussed based on experience and contract setup

About Dark Qore

Dark Qore is a Delft-based company, close to the QuTech / House of Quantum ecosystem, building software for fault-tolerant quantum computing.

Our focus is on the missing layer between useful quantum applications and quantum hardware. We handle translating quantum algorithms into fault-tolerant logical implementations and realistic resource estimates.

We are building a software platform to estimate the resources required to run fault-tolerant quantum applications under specific hardware assumptions. The intended users include quantum hardware teams and companies in areas such as finance, chemistry, and materials discovery that need a more concrete way to judge when quantum computing may become relevant to them.

The role

Your job will be to turn ideas from fault-tolerant quantum computing into software that can actually be tested, used, and improved.

We need someone who can read a paper, understand its assumptions, and implement the relevant method. You will work directly with the founders on the early software architecture.

The strongest fit is someone with an MSc, PhD, or equivalent experience in quantum computing, quantum information, QEC, quantum compilation, quantum algorithms, computer science, applied mathematics, or a nearby field.

What will you do?

Depending on your background, your work may include:

• translating selected quantum algorithms into fault-tolerant logical representations;
• developing logical compilers;
• evaluating architectures under specific hardware assumptions;
• mapping QEC codes onto physical architecture assumptions;
• building resource-estimation and benchmark workflows;
• exploring design spaces across candidate fault-tolerant implementations;
• developing internal research tools, APIs, and prototype interfaces;
• documenting assumptions, limitations, interfaces, and results.

If relevant to your background, this could also touch:

• surface codes, LDPC codes, color codes, directional codes, or modular/distributed QEC;
• decoders and QEC simulation workflows;

What you will own

In this role, you will:

• build robust research software, primarily in Python;
• translate mathematical and research-level ideas into tested software components;
• design simulations that expose whether an approach is actually useful;
• make technical decisions under uncertainty and document the trade-offs;
• collaborate with technical partners where integration is required;
• help set the engineering standards.

What you bring

We expect you to have:

• MSc, PhD, or equivalent experience in quantum computing, physics, computer science, applied mathematics, or a related field;
• strong programming skills, especially in Python;
• a solid understanding of quantum circuits and the circuit model of quantum computation;
• familiarity with quantum error correction, fault-tolerant quantum computing, quantum compilation, or quantum algorithms;
• the ability to turn theory into usable software;
• independent problem-solving ability;
• experience with Git and basic software engineering workflows;
• clear written and spoken English.

Bonus points

You do not need all of these, but they are highly valuable:

• PhD or late-stage PhD experience in quantum compilation.
• experience with decoders, resource estimation, magic state distillation, or logical compilation;
• experience with tools such as Qiskit, Stim, PyMatching, Cirq, PennyLane, JAX, Qualtran;
• experience building reproducible benchmark pipelines;
• experience with C++, Rust, or Julia;
• ability to communicate with both researchers and software engineers.

What we offer

You will join Dark Qore early, while the core software architecture and product direction are still being shaped.

We offer:

• direct ownership of important technical components;
• high technical autonomy;
• direct influence on the architecture of the product;
• close collaboration with the founders, technical collaborators, and potential pilot customers;
• possible future participation in an employee incentive or stock-option plan, if and when the structure is in place;
• flexible working setup;
• opportunity to contribute to publications or technical outputs where appropriate.

Please send:

• your CV;
• a short motivation note;
• links to relevant code, GitHub, papers, thesis work, or technical projects if available.