Science and Technology Facilities Council
Job Title: Quantum Computing Cloud Services (QCaaS) Administrator
Salary: Band D £42,840 – £47,124 OR Band E £53,818 – £59,199 gross per annum (Depending upon experience)
Location: Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire, UK
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: Full-time or Part-time (minimum 0.8FTE) (We understand the importance of work-life balance, and offer flexible working, but do require at least 4 days a week on-site)
Due to the requirement of obtaining an enhanced security clearance for this role, we are only able to accept applications from persons who have been resident in the UK for the last 5 years. We cannot sponsor visa applications for this role.
About the Role
We have an exciting opportunity for a Quantum Computing Cloud Services (QCaaS) Administrator to join the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC). You will be working alongside scientists, engineers, developers, and experts in quantum technologies, working to enhance the UK’s quantum computing capabilities. As part of the Operations Team reporting to the Deputy Director (Operations), the QCaaS Administrator is essential to the delivery of our ambitious technology roadmap for supporting quantum computing for the UK.
As a QCaaS Administrator, you’ll oversee the design, implementation, and management of our private computing services, prioritizing integration with UK Cloud Services like AWS, AZURE, GCP, IBM, and their Quantum-Computing-as-a-service offerings. Your role emphasizes stringent security and seamless collaboration with NQCC teams to amplify cloud service quality and integrity. As a key member of our systems administration team, you’ll be working across classical IT systems like HPC and GPU, UNIX/Linux platforms to Quantum Computing services, AI support, and diverse OS software provision. Your acumen will be instrumental in driving cloud simulation and integration technologies in tandem with the NQCC Control Systems and Quantum-hardware platform teams.
Responsibilities
As a QCaaS Administrator, you’ll oversee our quantum computing hardware and software, ensuring optimal availability and performance. Your role will encompass assisting NQCC stakeholders in configuring quantum experiments, providing critical support for cloud services integration, and troubleshooting various system and performance issues. Efficient resource management will be a cornerstone, as you’ll allocate computing resources, optimize utilization, and maintain security measures in line with international regulations such as GDPR. You’ll keep a keen eye on system performance, adjusting as necessary, and manage our cloud storage solutions, ensuring data integrity through backup and disaster recovery strategies. Documenting processes, generating insightful reports, and collaborating with diverse NQCC teams will be integral to your role. Additionally, you’ll lead training sessions, promote best practices in Quantum Computing as a Service (QCaaS), and stay updated on the latest trends and technologies, pushing the boundaries of what our platform can achieve. Your commitment to innovation and continuous improvement will drive our QCaaS offerings to new heights.
This is an outline description of the key responsibilities and accountabilities involved in the job. This is not an exhaustive list, and the successful applicant might be expected to undertake any other duties across NQCC, appropriate to the Band/level of responsibility for which the post-holder has the necessary experience and/or training.
Our Benefits
UKRI recognises and values employees as individuals and aims to provide a pay and rewards package that motivates staff to perform to the best of their ability. The reward package includes a flexible working scheme (subject to business requirements), generous average-salary Defined Benefit pension scheme and 30 days annual leave allowance plus 10.5 bank holiday/privilege days and several other benefits.
Person Specification
Prior knowledge of quantum computing is not required to apply for this role, but it would be an advantage. We offer significant development and training opportunities. Applicants for this role should meet the following criteria:
Essential
• Cloud Proficiency: Understand service offerings on major cloud platforms hosting compute resources like AWS, Azure, and IBM Cloud.
• Development & Tools: Familiar with cloud development tools and programming in Python, C++ for cloud computing.
• System & Resource Management: Expertise in system administration in cloud settings, including server resources, VMs, containers, and efficient resource management and HPC.
• Security Protocols: Knowledge of cloud-specific security protocols, encryption, and access controls.
• Troubleshooting & Vendor Collaboration: Resolve technical issues in cloud services and collaborate with vendors for system optimization.
• Support & Communication: Interact effectively with stakeholders, address technical concerns, and provide technical support.
• Analytics & Reporting: Monitor cloud system performance, analyse usage, and generate reports for management.
• Documentation & Teamwork: Create and maintain comprehensive technical documents and collaborate within a team for successful outcomes.
Desirable
To be considered for a Band E, you must have experience in several of the following:
• Quantum & Cloud Proficiency: Understand quantum computing, QCaaS, AWS, Azure, and IBM Cloud. Quantum development tools (Qiskit, Cirq, Forest). Certifications: IBM Quantum Experience, AWS, and Microsoft Azure.
• Development & Programming Skills: Programming in Python, C++, or Qiskit. Functional programming for HPC (C/C++, Fortran). Parallel programming (MPI, OpenMP, CUDA, OpenACC). Scripting for HPC (Python, CSH, TCSH, Bash).
• Certifications & Education: Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA). CompTIA Security+. Degree in a relevant discipline.
• High-Performance Computing (HPC) Expertise: OS: Unix, Linux (RHEL, SLES, SUSE, etc). Filesystems (Lustre, GPFS, BeeGFS, CEPH). Job Scheduling (SLURM, Altair PBS, UGE). Virtualisation (OpenStack, KVM) & Containerisation (Kubernetes, Docker).
• Project & Configuration Management: Experience managing technology projects (with Band E focus). Configuration Management (Ansible, Puppet), Code Control (GIT), Monitoring (Icinga, Prometheus). Risk and Quality Management knowledge.
You would need to be available to occasionally travel/work within the UK and overseas for workshops, conferences, and meeting when required.
About Us
The National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) is a new research centre funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), which is dedicated to accelerating the development of quantum computing by addressing the challenges of scalability.
How to Apply
Please submit your Covering Letter (up to 2 pages) and CV that clearly outlines how you fulfil the role criteria along with your motivation to join NQCC, as attachments on your application. Please ensure that your name and the job reference number are in the file name of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit your application without a covering letter may result in your application not being considered.
Security Clearance
Due to the nature of the role, and the requirement to support diverse projects, the successful candidate is required to successfully complete national pre-employment control checks to the BPSS (Baseline Personnel Security Standard) to fulfil the role. BPSS checks can take between 9-12 working days. Once in post you will need to successfully complete a Security Check (SC) clearance.
About the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC)
As part of the UK’s National Quantum Technologies Programme, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is leading a programme to establish a National Quantum Computing Centre, which includes a commitment of £93m over 5 years, dedicated to drive development in the field of Quantum Computing and to place the UK at the forefront of the field. The Centre is a joint initiative of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).
A purpose-built National Quantum Computing Centre will be built and operated by UKRI at the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) campus in Oxfordshire. The Centre will be open and operational by December 2022. Until then, the NQCC’s activities are taking place in other facilities on the Harwell Campus or at partnering institutions. The NQCC will sit alongside other departments within the STFC National Laboratories and will be part of the broader National Quantum Technologies Programme (NQTP).
The primary purpose of the NQCC is to fill a key gap in the research and innovation landscape addressing the challenge of scaling quantum computing. However, this technology is immature and extensive development work is needed to scale the fundamental science to provide usable computing systems.
The NQCC’s initial 5 years will focus on developing a Noisy Intermediate Scale Quantum (NISQ) machine to demonstrate the technology as well as software, algorithm and applications development. The longer-term aim is to scale the technology towards an error and noise-free fault-tolerant machine capability with benchmarking and verification demonstrated in collaboration with the UK and international partners. The NQCC will give assured and direct access to early prototype machines to developers and promote the formation of a strong UK-based quantum computing supply chain.
About The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
As one of Europe’s largest research organisations, we ask the biggest questions in the universe to find answers that change the world around us. We seek understanding. We’re proud of the impact we make. And we’re committed to helping build a globally competitive, knowledge-based UK economy. Being part of all this means contributing to work that pushes boundaries and creates possibilities. You’ll work with, and learn from, true experts. Whatever your role, you’ll be free to question and encouraged to share ideas. And, in a positive and supportive culture, you’ll discover just what a difference you can make when you’re equipped and inspired to excel.
We’re a place where curious minds thrive. Not bound by profit, we explore ideas that others don’t, ask questions that others won’t, and discover answers that others are not equipped to find. And, alongside Mars landings and black holes, we also explore diverse, international projects in everything from science and engineering to computing and technology. Whether it’s at the cutting edge or behind the scenes, our work is intellectually challenging. It’s very often ground-breaking. And it’s endlessly, irresistibly fascinating.
For more information about STFC please visit https://stfc.ukri.org/
You can also visit our careers site https://www.stfccareers.co.uk/
About UK Research Innovation (UKRI)
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 a salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI.
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.
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, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, perform essential job functions, and 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.
Additional Information
- Organisation: Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) – National Quantum Computing Centre
- Contract Type: Open Ended
- External Closing Date: Feb 25, 2024
- Minimum Salary: Pound Sterling (GBP) 42,840
- Hours: Full-time / Part-time