Quantum Compilation Intern M/F

Alice & Bob
Paris, France
Hybrid

Who this role is best for

Aimed at early-career researchers in quantum information who can work autonomously and contribute to theoretical and practical innovation in quantum computing, with a focus on fault-tolerant architectures and error correction.

Best fit for

  • Early-career researchers with a strong foundation in quantum error correction and a passion for theoretical innovation.
    — “Solid foundations in quantum computing and quantum information, including the stabilizer formalism”
  • Candidates who can design and optimize complex quantum protocols and layouts independently.
    — “Design and optimise factory layouts”
  • Individuals with a research mindset and the ability to critically evaluate academic literature.
    — “Ability to read and critically assess research literature”

Things to consider

  • The role demands independent research and the ability to work on open-ended questions without prior professional experience.
    — “No prior professional experience required; a previous research project or internship in quantum information is an asset”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with quantum error correction and protocol design in your resume and interview.
    — “Review the state of the art in magic state distillation”
  • Emphasize your ability to translate theoretical protocols into practical logical operations.
    — “Compile distillation protocols to Alice & Bob’s logical instruction set”
  • Showcase your skills in building simulation and resource-estimation tools for quantum systems.
    — “Develop resource-estimation and noise-simulation tools”
  • Demonstrate your ability to work on multi-parameter optimization problems, especially in quantum contexts.
    — “Minimise factory space-time volume by jointly optimising code distances, degree of parallelism and placement of operations”
Pace · SteadyCollaboration · MediumAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Individual

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • review state of the art in magic state distillation
  • compile distillation protocols
  • design and optimize factory layouts
  • develop resource-estimation and noise-simulation tools
Typical background
Master’s degree in progress in physics, computer science or quantum engineering

Skills & requirements

Required

Quantum ComputingQuantum InformationPythonResearch Literature Assessment

Preferred

Quantum Error CorrectionClassical Coding TheoryStabilizer Simulation ToolsCombinatorial Optimization

Stack & domain

PythonQuantum ComputingQuantum InformationStabilizer FormalismClassical Coding TheoryCombinatorial OptimizationSat/smt SolversCuriousRigorousIndependentClear CommunicationQuantum Error Correction

About the role

Original posting from Alice & Bob via Lever

Alice & Bob is developing the first universal, fault-tolerant quantum computer to solve the world’s hardest problems.

The quantum computer we envision building is based on a new kind of superconducting qubit: the Schrödinger cat qubit 🐈‍⬛. In comparison to other superconducting platforms, cat qubits have the astonishing ability to implement quantum error correction autonomously!

We're a diverse team of 250+ brilliant minds from over 35 countries united by a single goal: to revolutionise computing with a practical fault-tolerant quantum machine. Are you ready to take on unprecedented challenges and contribute to revolutionising technology? Join us, and let's shape the future of quantum computing together!

Responsibilities::

Review the state of the art in magic state distillation

  • Survey single- and multi-output (batched) protocols, qubit-recycling techniques and unfolded

(physical-level) distillation

  • Identify promising candidates for Alice & Bob’s architecture, including two-stage strategies

combining physical- and logical-level distillation

Compile distillation protocols to Alice & Bob’s logical instruction set

  • Translate selected protocols into sequences of logical operations native to Alice & Bob’s

architecture

  • Integrate magic state injection schemes and hardware connectivity constraints into the

compiled protocols

Design and optimise factory layouts

  • Propose concrete layouts for repetition-code and LDPC-code architectures
  • Minimise factory space-time volume by jointly optimising code distances, degree of paral-lelism and placement of operations

Develop resource-estimation and noise-simulation tools

  • Build a tool exploring the multi-parameter design space and computing the space-time cost

of candidate factories

  • Run circuit-level noise simulations to validate factory output fidelities and refine the resource

estimates

Extend the scope and communicate results

  • Design new distillation protocols where the exploration reveals gaps, and apply the developed

tools to Clifford state factories

  • Document results in an internal report and, where relevant, contribute to publications or

invention disclosures

Requirements::

You are curious and rigorous, comfortable with open-ended research questions, and able to work independently while engaging regularly with the team.

Education: Master’s degree (M2) in progress in physics, computer science or quantum

engineering

Languages: Proficient in English

Experience No prior professional experience required; a previous research project or

internship in quantum information is an asset

Solid foundations in quantum computing and quantum information, including the stabilizer

formalism

  • Programming in Python for scientific computing
  • Ability to read and critically assess research literature
  • Rigour, autonomy and clear written and oral communication in English

Nice to have::

  • Knowledge of quantum error correction (CSS codes, repetition and LDPC codes, lattice surgery)

and magic state distillation

  • Familiarity with classical coding theory
  • Experience with stabilizer simulation tools (e.g. stim)
  • Experience with combinatorial optimisation or SAT/SMT solvers (e.g. z3)

Benefits:

  • 1 day off per month
  • Half of transportation cost coverage (as per French law)
  • Meal vouchers with Swile, as well as access to a fully equipped and regularly stocked kitchen

Research shows that women might feel hesitant to apply for this job if they don't match 100% of the job requirements listed. This list is a guide, and we'd love to receive your application even if you think you're only a partial match. We are looking to build teams that innovate, not just tick boxes on a job spec.

You will join of one of the most innovative startups in France at an early stage, to be part of a passionate and friendly team on its mission to build the first universal quantum computer!

We love to share and learn from one another, so you will be certain to innovate, develop new ideas, and have the space to grow.

Source: Alice & Bob careers (Lever)

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