About the role

We are seeking a Quantum Fault-Tolerant Architecture Specialist to lead development of the software stack that maps logical quantum circuits to executable fault-tolerant implementations. You will own the architecture roadmap, compilation methodology, and physical resource-estimation models across different codes and architecture paradigms.

This high-ownership role sits at the boundary of quantum error correction, architecture, and software. You will define fault-tolerant semantics, reference implementations, error budgets, and validation criteria; guide a compiler engineer building production infrastructure; and partner with quantum algorithm scientists on key workloads. You will have access to advisors including Austin Fowler and Alexandru Paler, with opportunities to publish and contribute to open-source tools. This position is classified as exempt under applicable wage and hour laws.

What you'll do

• Own the roadmap for translating logical circuits into fault-tolerant operations, layouts, schedules, and costed physical implementations
• Develop code-aware lowering and resource models for surface, qLDPC, color, and emerging codes under explicit hardware, connectivity, and noise assumptions
• Lead software components and APIs for code geometry, logical operations, syndrome extraction, decoding, routing, scheduling, and magic-state factories
• Build reproducible estimators for physical qubits, runtime, space-time volume, throughput, failure probability, and uncertainty
• Benchmark decoders, QEC simulations, logical error rates, and architecture tradeoffs
• Define fault-tolerant IR constructs, backend passes, tests, and specifications with the compiler engineer on the team
• Co-design resource estimates with algorithm scientists for cryptographic, chemistry, and simulation workloads
• Track emerging codes, gates, decoders, and architectures; deliver recommendations through software, publications, technical reports, and program deliverables

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent in a related field, with research focused on quantum error correction or fault-tolerant quantum computing
• Established record in code design, decoding, fault-tolerant logical operations, architecture, or compilation
• Deep command of stabilizer and subsystem codes, syndrome extraction, logical errors, and code-family tradeoffs
• Ability to derive physical qubit counts, runtime, and space-time volume from a logical workload and failure target
• Hands-on Python and experience building research-quality QEC, compiler, simulation, or resource-estimation software
• Experience evaluating decoders via Monte Carlo simulation, logical-error analysis, and extrapolation
• Systems understanding of logical operations, feed-forward, routing, scheduling, magic-state supply, classical decoding, and hardware constraints
• Ability to set a roadmap, expose assumptions, collaborate across disciplines, and communicate clearly

Preferred Experience

• Substantive contributions to open-source QEC or fault-tolerant compilation tools such as tqec, Stim, Qualtran, Bench-Q, or comparable systems
• Expertise beyond a single code family, especially qLDPC or color codes, code switching or gauge fixing, transversal gates, lattice surgery, or modular fault-tolerant architectures
• Experience with hardware-aware QEC, real-time or accelerated decoding, and physical error models for superconducting, neutral-atom, trapped-ion, or photonic platforms
• Familiarity with compiler IRs and verification techniques (for example QIR/MLIR, equivalence checking, property-based testing, SMT, Lean, or Coq) 
• Experience with government-funded research programs

About Zapata Quantum

Zapata Quantum is shaping the future of quantum computing: setting the standards for what’s viable, valuable, and worth building. The Company powers quantum applications across cryptography, pharmaceuticals, finance, materials discovery, defense, and beyond, translating cutting-edge research into real-world impact.

Zapata is the only organization to have contributed across every technical area of DARPA’s Quantum Benchmarking program, giving it a uniquely comprehensive view of what it takes to make quantum computing work in practice. Now restructured and sharply focused, Zapata Quantum stands alone as the only publicly traded, pure-play quantum software company fully dedicated to unlocking quantum’s commercial potential.

We’re rebuilding at a pivotal moment for the industry—bringing together a team that will help define how quantum delivers value in the real world, with the opportunity for meaningful ownership as we shape the commercial path forward.