Job Info
- Apply Before: 08/03/2026
- Job Shift: Day
- Hours: Full Time
Job Description
Science and Technology Facilities Council
Salary: £23,493 per annum
Contract Type: Fixed Term 12 – weeks
Hours: Full-time
Location: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX
Closing date: 8th March 2026
Interview: Onsite in April 2026
Start date: June 2026
The NQCC is the UK’s national centre for quantum computing, dedicated to accelerating its development by addressing the challenges of scaling up the technology. Our vision is to enable the UK to solve some of the most sophisticated and challenging problems facing society by harnessing the potential of quantum computing. The centre is working with businesses, the government, and the research community to deliver quantum computing capabilities for the UK and support the growth of the emerging industry.
The NQCC’s programme represents a £93m investment and is being delivered jointly by the research councils, EPSRC and STFC, as part of UK Research and Innovation.
This is a great opportunity to join one of the NQCC’s hardware teams to undertake a 12-week placement during summer 2026 in one of the following areas:
Trapped Ion Quantum Computing
Trapped ions can be employed as qubits by using two electronic states of the charged atom. Their long-lived quantum states make it possible to create high-quality qubits that perform operations with world leading fidelities. With the potential for large numbers of identical qubits and all-to-all connectivity between them, trapped ions are one of the leading approaches to quantum computing.
The trapped ion quantum computing team aims to further the UK’s ecosystem through technology development and collaboration with academic and industry partners.
Internal projects are focused on technological progress including building modular systems, high-fidelity gate control, and scaling. Current work is focussed on two complementary platforms. Cryogenic surface traps for exploring high-fidelity microwave gates and a room temperature 3D microtrap for exploring different laser-driven qubit operations.
Our collaborative work covers a wide range of projects focussed on enabling technologies and supply chain development such as testing and validating trap types, miniaturisation of ion trap packaging, and remote entanglement.
Superconducting Circuits
Superconducting quantum computing uses the quantum oscillator states of nanofabricated superconducting circuits to encode qubits. They are operated below 20 mK in a dilution refrigerator, controlled and read out by microwave frequency signals, and entangled by circuit coupling structures. Qubits, couplers, readout circuitry and signal lines are manufactured together on-chip to create multi-qubit systems.
The NQCC Superconducting Circuits Team develops superconducting quantum computing systems to build in-house expertise and perform the science and engineering research to scale them. The team operates a cryogenics lab with three dilution fridges, giving the ability to develop multiple systems with complementary design choices and uses.
We have built the capability to tune up and characterise single- and multi-qubit operations with tuneable transmon qubits and tuneable couplers. Additionally, we explore other qubit architectures, support activity on control systems and cryogenic wiring.
We collaborate with academic researchers and other national labs, directly and through joint PhD projects, on areas such as 3D integration and improved materials. Collaborative research projects with industry currently focus on evaluating novel readout methods such as optical transduction or digital superconducting electronics.
With the initial internal programme established, we are also beginning to survey the field more broadly to understand current innovative systems, and to look ahead at challenges and approaches to scale to systems capable of millions of coherent quantum operations and beyond.
Cold Atom Tweezer Arrays
Neutral atom quantum computing is an emerging platform that leverages laser-cooled atoms trapped in programmable optical potentials. Qubits are encoded in internal energy levels of the atoms, and entangling operations are achieved via Rydberg interactions – strong, controllable dipolar interactions that occur when the atoms are promoted to highly excited atomic states.
The NQCC’s tweezer array team works to advance this platform which offers a promising path to scalability through dense qubit packing, dynamically reconfigurable connectivity, and highly parallel gate operations & control multiplexing. Optical tweezers allow for dynamic rearrangement of qubits mid-circuit, enabling defect-free arrays and flexible circuit layouts. The use of atomic species can enable fast, simple readout schemes.
The team at NQCC are building toward modular, high-fidelity tweezer array systems capable of trapping and manipulating thousands of neutral atoms. Initial milestones include establishing robust single-atom loading and imaging, characterising coherence times and gate fidelities, and implementing fast, parallel entangling gates using Rydberg excitation.
The team is also involved in road-mapping future architectures that can scale to millions of coherent operations, including advanced optical and vacuum designs, error correcting protocols and control system improvements for improved scalability and control. Collaborations with academic and industrial partners support our progress on laser systems, atom sources, vacuum technologies, and control electronics.
As facilities expand, our roadmap includes development of scalable, error corrected hardware, benchmarking tools, and application-layer integration through collaboration with the software and applications teams. We are committed to growing the UK capability in neutral atom quantum computing through workshops, training, technology development, open research, and supply chain engagement.
Summer Placements at STFC
STFC’s incredibly diverse range of placements allow you to work alongside world leading engineers, scientists, and technicians in highly collaborative environments. Whichever you choose, you will become a critical member of the team in which you will be exposed to exciting projects and challenges from the start. You will also be supported every step of the way by our dedicated Early Careers Development Team
Key Duties & Responsibilities
Within these placements, responsibilities will include some of the following:
- Developing and testing experimental systems.
- Undertaking proof-of-concept / engineering R&D projects to enhance experimental performance.
- Designing & benchmarking experimental control systems.
- Implementing automated monitoring and feedback systems.
- Developing environmental monitoring systems.
- Engage in hands-on development with laser, cryogenic, vacuum systems, and electronics.
- Conduct measurements, data analysis, and software development for experimental control.
- Apply knowledge of superconducting qubits and quantum computing gained to theoretical or experimental problems within superconducting circuits.
- Communicating progress and discussing results with NQCC scientists.
Person Specification
The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).
In order to apply for the role, we are looking for the following:
Essential:
- You are in full time education at university, and will be returning to university/your studies to complete your undergraduate degree once the summer placement has concluded (S)
- You have the right to live and work in the UK for the duration of the placement (S)
- Make sure your cover letter states which area you are interested in: Trapped Ion Quantum Computing, Superconducting Circuits or Cold Atom Tweezer Arrays (S)
- Working towards an undergraduate degree in Physics, Engineering, or a closely related discipline (S)
- A demonstratable interest in and conceptual understanding of quantum technologies, especially quantum computing (S&I)
- Experience in programming and knowledge of data analysis techniques (S&I)
- Experience working in a laboratory – in particular with optics, lasers, cryogenics and experimental control systems (S&I)
- Experience working in a team, and being able to demonstrate autonomy within their area of responsibility (S&I)
- Good organizational and problem-solving skills. (S&I)
- Good communication skills, particularly for technical information (S&I)
Employee Benefits
We are offering a fixed term position with a whole host of benefits including:
- 30 days holiday pro rata
- Flexible working hours.
- Easily accessible public transport links/ free parking.
- Excellent learning and development opportunities.
Link to more benefits: https://stfccareers.co.uk/rewards-and-benefits/
As this job does not fulfil the UK Government minimum criterion for obtaining sponsored migrant worker status, we will be unable to apply for sponsorship for anyone not eligible to work in the UK. At interview, all shortlisted candidates are required to bring with them identification documents and original documents that prove they hold or can obtain the right to work in the UK.
You can check your eligibility here: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa/y
Application Guidance
Please note that we can only accept a maximum of 2 applications per candidate.
Part of our application process involves submitting your CV and a cover letter. Your cover letter should address your suitability for the opportunity based how you meet each essential criteria stated in this advert.
Please note that we hold the right to close this vacancy early if a sufficient number of applications have been received.
We ask some of the biggest questions in the universe, to answer some of the biggest challenges in the world. Together, our scientists, technologists, engineers and business support team explore the unknown across every field you could think of. And they turn what they find into work that changes the world around us.
What could you achieve with the world-leading facilities and experts of one of Europe’s largest research organisations by your side? Join us and discover what’s possible!
About Us
UKRI – UK Research and Innovation
UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.
Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.
More information can be found at www.ukri.org.
Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI.
How we support EDI in the workforce
At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.
Disability Confident Employer
As users of the disability confident scheme, any candidate who opts into the scheme and best meets the essential criteria, will be shortlisted for interview. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
How to apply
Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.
UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.
The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.
About the Team
The Science and Technology Facilities Council is a world-leading multi-disciplinary science organisation where curiosity-driven, blue-skies thinking meets practical, application-led science and engineering. Our goal is to deliver economic, societal, scientific and international benefits to the UK and its people – and more broadly to the world.
One of Europe’s largest research organisations, we’re trusted to support, enable and undertake cutting-edge projects in an amazing diversity of fields. Through world-class facilities and people, we’re driving ground-breaking advances in science, engineering, computing and technology. Our research seeks to understand the Universe from the largest astronomical scales to the tiniest constituents of matter, yet creates impact on a very tangible, human scale.
For more information about STFC please visit https://stfc.ukri.org/
You can also visit our careers site https://www.stfccareers.co.uk/