Job Description
Salary: £35,049 per annum + £1,000 welcome bonus
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: Full-time
Location: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX
Closing date: 19th October 2025
Assessment Centre: December 2025 / January 2026
Start date: September 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, 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. The centre is headquartered within STFC’s Rutherford Appleton Laboratory site at the Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire.
Graduate Scheme
The STFC Graduate scheme will give you the opportunity to really pursue your interests and passion early in your journey with us, supported by technical training and a broader programme of career support and training and development.
Our dedicated Graduate Development Team will provide the right combination of challenge and support throughout, helping you achieve your ambitions. We know that professional recognition is also important to you, so we will provide mentoring and expertise to help you achieve valued qualifications or chartered status in your chosen field.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
Working with our scientists in the NQCC’s Neutral Atom Quantum Computing Team, our graduates will be encouraged to support the development of tweezer array quantum computing hardware. Your skills will be championed within an encouraging and multidisciplinary environment, as part of the centre’s mission to build scalable quantum computing platforms. There will be the opportunity to join one or more of the following areas:
- Hands-on experimental development (optical tweezer arrays, laser systems, vacuum systems, control electronics, etc.)
- Qubit state preparation and manipulation, measurements, and data analysis
- Software for experimental control and automation
- Horizon scoping and project planning
This is an ideal opportunity for someone who enjoys working both independently and as a teammate and has a strong curiosity about quantum science and emerging quantum technologies.
Key responsibilities include:
- Contributing to the design, development, assembly, and optimisation of neutral atom quantum computing systems
- Communicating progress to and discussing results with NQCC scientists
- Representing the NQCC at STFC and external events with commercial and academic partners and collaborators
- Chipping in to software and experimental control systems
Person Specification
In order to apply for the role, we are looking for the following:
Essential:
- Achieved, or be on course to achieve, a minimum 2:1 degree in a relevant field of study (S)
- Have the right to live and work in the UK at tthe ime of starting employment (S)
- A demonstrable interest in quantum science and technology (S&I)
- Experience in working in a laboratory – especially laser/optics labs (S&I)
- Good communication skills (S&I)
- Experience working in a team, and able to demonstrate autonomy within their area of responsibility (S&I)
- Experience in programming in Python (or similar languages) (S&I)
Desirable:
- Familiarity with core concepts of quantum computing (S&I)
- Familiarity with atomic, molecular and optical physics (S&I)
Employee Benefits
We are offering a permanent position with a whole host of benefits, including:
- 30 days holiday (in addition to 10.5 bank holidays and privilege days).
- Flexible working hours.
- An excellent defined average salary pension scheme.
- Easily accessible public transport links/ free parking.
- Excellent learning and development opportunities.
- Cycle to work scheme.
Link to more benefits: https://stfccareers.co.uk/rewards-and-benefits/
As this job does not fulfil the UK Government’s 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 the 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!