Job Description

Quantum Computing Specialist

Derby - Hybrid (3 days a week on-site)

37 hours per week

Rolls-Royce has an exciting opportunity for 2 Quantum Computing Specialists to join the Future Technology team within the Rolls-Royce R&T organisation based in Derby.

A Quantum Chemistry role where the focus will be on electronic structure calculations using Hamiltonian evolution and mesoscale optimisation of material properties.

The other focus will be for a Quantum Linear Equation Solver where the focus will be on new state and matrix loading oracles that achieve polylogarithmic scaling; solution state reconstruction; and solving time-dependent PDEs.

Why Rolls-Royce?

Rolls-Royce is one of the most enduring and iconic brands in the world and has been at the forefront of innovation for over a century. We design, build and service systems that provide critical power to customers where safety and reliability are paramount.

We are proud to be a force for progress, powering, protecting and connecting people everywhere.

We want to ensure that the excellence and ingenuity that has shaped our history continues into our future and we need people like you to come and join us on this journey.

What we offer

We offer excellent development opportunities, a competitive salary, and exceptional benefits. These include bonus, employee support assistance and employee discounts.

Your needs are as unique as you are. Hybrid working is a way in which our people can balance their time between the office, home, or another remote location. It’s a locally managed and flexed informal discretionary arrangement. As a minimum we’re all expected to attend the workplace for collaboration and other specific reasons, on average three days per week.

The team aims to radically transform RR Engineering methods and software, applying these to emerging novel products & services. The potential of quantum computing to disrupt the way businesses design their products will only be possible with robust engineering applications. The successful candidates will join Rolls-Royce at the outset of its journey of disruption with multiple opportunities to shape our future methods and software; and, to interact with technical experts inside and outside the Company. Areas of interest include Linear equation solvers & Partial Differential Equations, Material Chemistry and crystallographic structures and Optimisation but are not restricted to these.

More information about innovation at Rolls-Royce is available via this link: https://www.rolls-royce.com/innovation.aspx

What you will be doing

In this role, you will be part of a dynamic, agile and creative team, directly reporting to the Chief of Future Methods. You will lead and support state-of-the-art research programmes with quantum computing companies, universities, and government research laboratories. You will develop quantum computational science methods as part of future multi-physics simulation capabilities, developing algorithms and codes to utilise quantum processors.

Both roles will focus on error-corrected algorithms and develop practical applications that can be run in emulation in advance of using physical devices.

For Quantum Chemistry , the focus will be on electronic structure calculations using Hamiltonian evolution and mesoscale optimisation of material properties.

For Quantum Linear Equation Solvers , the focus will be on new state and matrix loading oracles that achieve polylogarithmic scaling; solution state reconstruction; and solving time-dependent PDEs.

We expect there to be many crossovers in the algorithms being developed and for the two roles to work closely together and with the rest of the team. Both will involve hybrid classical-quantum algorithms and the use of high-performance computers for larger test cases.

This will include a propensity to influence RR to adopt these methods and support their wider commercialisation as appropriate. As such, the role offers the opportunity to work with a broad and complex stakeholder community, both internal and external.

You may also take part in technology horizon scanning and identify and assess emerging computation technologies.

Who we’re looking for:

At Rolls-Royce we put safety first, do the right thing, keep it simple and make a difference. These principles form the behaviours that guide us and are an essential component of our assessment process. They are the fundamental qualities that we seek for all roles.

You will bring a genuine passion and curiosity for technology and computational science, with a strong interest in how innovation can positively impact our world. You will be self-directed, ambitious, resilient with an open mind set and the ability to work effectively with others.

Essential Skills:

A degree in Physics, Mathematics or equivalent qualification.
A sound understanding of quantum information and postgraduate experience in computational science, or a strong knowledge of classical linear algebra.
Experience using and implementing quantum computing algorithms including development with one or more development environments; PennyLane, Qiskit, Classiq, Quest, or similar.
Proficiency in Python
Strong consultancy skills with the ability to engage effectively with domain experts, academics, start-ups and technology vendors globally.
Excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate with non-quantum computing specialists including seniors within Rolls-Royce.

For the Quantum Chemistry role, knowledge and experience of Quantum Phase Estimation is beneficial as are standard Quantum Chemistry techniques such as Density Functional Theory.
For the Quantum Linear Equation Solver , knowledge and experience of the Quantum Singular Value Transformation and the Harrow-Hassidim-Lloyd algorithm is beneficial.

Desirable

Experience in C/C++
Experience of parallel programming for high performance computing.
Experience of simulation and modelling and/or machine learning for engineering.
Knowledge of state loading, matrix encoding, amplitude amplification and measurement operators

We are an equal opportunities employer. We’re committed to developing a diverse workforce and an inclusive working environment. We believe that people from different backgrounds and cultures give us different perspectives which are crucial to innovation and problem solving. We believe the more diverse perspectives we have, the more successful we’ll be. By building a culture of caring and belonging, we give everyone who works here the opportunity to realise their full potential.

We welcome applications from people with a refugee background.

You can learn more about our global Inclusion strategy at Our people | Rolls-Royce

Closing date 10th October 2025

Job Category

Software Systems