Fixed term contract - 24 Month (initial 2-year appointment, with eligibility for a 1-year extension eligible for a 1-year extension following a positive review by the project PI).

The Opportunity:

The Quantum Software Lab (QSL; https://www.quantumsoftwarelab.com), based in the School of Informatics at the University of Edinburgh, invites applications for up to nine Postdoctoral Research Associate positions in areas including, but not limited to:

Quantum algorithms
Quantum machine learning
Quantum simulation
High performance computing and quantum computation integration
Networks distributed quantum computing
Quantum programming and software
Verification and benchmarking
Quantum error correction and error mitigation
Fault-tolerant compilation and resource estimation

These roles are an excellent opportunity to actively participate in and shape QSL’s projects, consolidating its position of international leadership in the field. The successful applicant will work inside the largest quantum software academic team in the UK based in one of the most renowned computer science departments in the world. QSL is a dynamic and interdisciplinary environment composed of a diverse cohort of colleagues passionate about bringing quantum computation to reality. This will be a unique experience of professional growth, working on the timely and exciting goal building the foundations of critical part of the quantum computation stack directly under the UK Missions 1 umbrella. Ideal candidates combine research excellence with a results-oriented approach.

We welcome both local (UK-resident) and international applicants from all backgrounds and particularly encourage applications from female researchers, minority ethnic groups, first-generation academics and STEM researchers, and other underrepresented groups in academia. We are also very open to applications from those with non-traditional career paths, including individuals with family, caring, or health-related career breaks, or those who have moved into academia from a career in another sector. We are strongly committed to offering everyone an inclusive and non-discriminatory working environment.

The posts will be for 2 + 1 years: an initial 2-year appointment, with eligibility for a 1-year extension subject to a successful review by the project PI
This post is full-time. We are open to considering requests for hybrid working, on a non-contractual basis, combining remote and regular on-campus working.

For full details of the essential and desirable skills and attributes required for the position, please refer to the full job description here

About the Quantum Software Lab

The Quantum Software Lab (QSL; https://www.quantumsoftwarelab.com) is the largest academic group in the UK focused on quantum software and applications. Strategically located within the UK’s growing quantum ecosystem, Edinburgh serves as a key hub for quantum technology development thanks to its close partnership with the National Quantum Computing Centre (https://www.nqcc.ac.uk). QSL aims to further develop its world-leading research capabilities in support of the UK’s National Quantum Strategy (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-quantum-strategy/national-quantum-strategy-missions ), in particular Mission 1, which focuses on developing UK-based quantum computers capable of performing 1 trillion coherent operations (TeraQuOps) by 2035. QSL currently comprises approximately 70 researchers, including 11 cross-college faculty members, under the leadership of Prof. Elham Kashefi, the NQCC Chief Scientist. Over the past few years, QSL has made significant contributions to quantum software and algorithms, producing more than 140 publications.

As a “Bell Labs-style” collective of senior faculty, postdoctoral researchers, innovation fellows, and professional staff working towards shared Mission 1 goals, QSL collaborates with industry professionals and NQCC quantum applications engineers to transform existing computational challenges into research problems that can be tackled using quantum technologies. Its researchers and scientists work alongside government, industry, and academia to develop full-stack solutions tailored to the needs of the economy and society.

The Lab’s main research programme, Quantum Advantage Turbo Charger (“QATCH”) has been developed to support the National Quantum Computing Centre and the UK’s quantum community in achieving the goals of the National Quantum Technology Missions.

Over the next four years, QATCH will deliver the UK’s first integrated software and verification infrastructure through a coordinated suite of tools. At its core, QATCH operates through a two-dimensional structure linking three research pillars: (i) Quantum Advantage Engine; (ii) HPC and Fault-Tolerant Architecture; and (iii) Performance Evaluation, with six application sectors in healthcare, materials, cybersecurity, finance, energy, and AI. The pillars develop methods, systems, and tools, while the sectors provide data, challenges, and end-user validation. Together, they form the QATCH workflow from theory to deployment, where research is verified on national testbeds and benchmarked against measurable sector metrics.

We're building a research environment that combines the intellectual freedom of Bell Labs with the urgency and impact of a focused startup. We offer the opportunity to work on hard, long-term problems that matter with the autonomy to follow promising directions without navigating corporate bureaucracy. We value researchers who can balance scientific rigor with pragmatic execution: people who want to ship real solutions to real problems, energized by turning research into impact. QSL provides a tight-knit team of exceptional researchers, the freedom to publish your work, and the rare opportunity to see your ideas go from concept to demonstration, all within a highly stimulating intellectual environment.

How to apply

Please include the following documents in your application:

- CV

- Cover letter (The cover letter should include a brief research statement of up to 3 pages, describing the applicant’s research interests, relevant experience, publications, and fit for the position.)

For informal enquiries, please contact QuantumSoftwareLab@ed.ac.uk.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

A competitive salary.
Generous funding for international travel, e.g. for attending conferences, visiting research collaborators, and disseminating research findings
Access to the computing infrastructure available within the School of Informatics
An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work.
To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community.
Comprehensive Staff Benefits, including generous annual leave entitlement, a defined benefits pension scheme, a wide range of staff discounts, family-friendly initiatives, and flexible work options. Check out the full list on our staff benefits page (opens in a new tab) and use our reward calculator to discover the value of your pay and benefits.

Championing equality, diversity, and inclusion

The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter, and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality.

Prior to any employment commencing with the University, you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages (opens new browser tab).

The University may be able to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role. This will depend on a number of factors specific to the successful applicant.

Key dates to note

Closing date 5th June 2026.

Unless stated otherwise the closing time for applications is 11:59pm UK time. If you are applying outside the UK the closing time on our adverts automatically adjusts to your browsers local time zone.

As a world-leading research-intensive University, we are here to address tomorrow’s greatest challenges. Between now and 2030 we will do that with a values-led approach to teaching, research and innovation, and through the strength of our relationships, both locally and globally.

Informatics is the study of how natural and artificial systems store, process and communicate information. Research in Informatics promises to take information technology to a new level, and to place information at the heart of 21st century science, technology and society. The School enjoys collaborations across many disciplines in the University, spanning all three College, and also participates as a strategic partner in the Alan Turing Institute and is home to a number of Centres for Doctoral Training.

The School provides a fertile environment for a wide range of studies focused on understanding computation in both artificial and natural systems. It attracts students around the world to study in our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Informatics is one of seven schools in the College of Science and Engineering, at the University of Edinburgh. It is recognised for the employability of its graduates, its contributions to entrepreneurship, and the excellence of its research. Since the first Research Assessment Exercise in 1986, Informatics at Edinburgh has consistently been assessed to have more internationally excellent and world-class research than any other submission in Computer Science and Informatics. The latest REF 2021 results have again confirmed that ours is the largest concentration of internationally excellent research in the UK. This contributes to our ranking of consistently being in the top 30 world-wide.

We aim to ensure that our culture and systems support flexible and family-friendly working and recognise and value diversity across all our staff and students. The School has an active programme offering support and professional development for all staff; providing mentoring, training, and networking opportunities.

The Quantum Software Lab (QSL; https://www.quantumsoftwarelab.com), based in the School of Informatics at the University of Edinburgh, invites applications for up to nine Postdoctoral Research Associate positions in areas including: Quantum algorithms Quantum machine learning Quantum simulation High performance computing and quantum computation integration Networks distributed quantum computing Quantum programming and software Verification and benchmarking Quantum error correction and error mitigation Fault-tolerant compilation and resource estimation

Apply now

See more open positions at Quantum Software Lab

Powered by Getro.com