Materials Simulations and Characterization Senior Research Scientist, Materials Team, AWS Center for Quantum Computing

Quantum Research Scientist

The Amazon Web Services (AWS) Center for Quantum Computing (CQC) is a multi-disciplinary team of scientists, engineers, and technicians on a mission to develop a fault-tolerant quantum computer. You will be joining a team located in Pasadena, CA that conducts materials research to improve the performance of superconducting quantum processors. You seek a Quantum Research Scientist to investigate how material defects affect qubit performance. In this role, you will combine expertise in numerical simulations and materials characterization to study materials loss mechanisms such as two-level systems, quasiparticles, vortices, etc.

Key job responsibilities:

• Provide subject matter expertise on integrated experimental and computational studies of materials defects
• Develop and use computational tools for large-scale simulations of disordered structures
• Develop and implement multi-technique materials characterization workflows for thin films and devices, with a focus on the surfaces and interfaces
• Identify material properties that can be a reliable proxy for the performance of superconducting resonators and qubits
• Communicate findings to teammates, the broader CQC team and, when appropriate, publish findings in scientific journals

A day in the life:

At the AWS CQC, we understand that developing quantum computing technology is a marathon, not a sprint. The work/life integration within our team encourages a culture where employees work hard and also have ownership over their downtime. We are committed to the growth and development of every employee at the AWS CQC, and that includes our research scientists. You will receive management and mentorship from within the team that is geared toward career growth, and also have the opportunity to participate in Amazon's mentorship programs for scientists and engineers. Working closely with other quantum research scientists in other disciplines like design, measurement and cryogenic hardware will provide opportunities to dive deep into an education on quantum computing.

About the team:

Our team contributes to the fabrication of processors and other hardware that enable quantum computing technologies. Doing that necessitates the development of materials with tailored properties for superconducting circuits. Research Scientists and Engineers on the Materials team operate deposition and characterization systems in order to develop and optimize thin film processes for use in these devices. They work alongside other Research Scientists and Engineers to help deliver the fabricated devices for quantum computing experiments.