Venture CTO QuantumAI Venture Building (Science & Ecosystem)

Role Overview:

As Venture CTO at QAI Ventures you will be a core member of the venture-building team responsible for driving the technical and scientific development implementation and scaling of Quantum AI ventures while actively contributing to the growth of the broader ecosystem.

You are responsible for end-to-end technical feasibility from scientific validation and IP considerations to product and architecture implementation translating this into clear venture decisions such as Go or No-Go Build vs Buy and architecture choices.

Your focus lies on the scientific and technological execution of deliverables across Discovery Validate MVP and Accelerate phases. You work closely with founders and venture teams to ensure strong technological substance validation differentiation and that ventures are feasible scalable and investor-ready.

You analyse technological dependencies feasibility and long-term differentiation supporting the translation of scientific insights into implementable product and system architectures.

The role sits at the interface of research product architecture and venture execution with focus on feasibility IP strategy scalability TRL progression and resource realism with ownership of technical and architectural decisions.

Tasks

Key Responsibilities:

1. Venture Building and Scientific Delivery Excellence (80%)

Active execution and responsibility for scientific and technological deliverables in the venture-building model responsibilities as Technical Co-Founder / Venture CTO / Feasibility Architect.

Responsibility for end-to-end technical feasibility and the consistent translation of scientific technological and IP-related insights into concrete architectural build and scaling decisions within the venture-building process.

1.1 Scientific and Technological Development
1.1.1. Scientific Validation & Differentiation

• Technological problem definition and structured hypothesis formation and evaluation of scientific differentiation and technological moats
• Close collaboration with founders to translate complex research into clearly defined marketable product and technology concepts
• Evaluation and prioritisation of quantum AI and deep-tech use cases from the perspectives of TRL feasibility scalability and differentiation
• Support with hardware integration for example with quantum hardware partners
• IP analysis protection strategy and patentability in collaboration with external partners
• Assessment of technology readiness levels (TRL) and likelihood of implementation
• Ensuring scientific robustness and technological differentiation

Execution & Architecture

• Responsible for conducting technical feasibility analyses including architecture design build-vs-buy decisions and analysis of critical dependencies (e.g. hardware cloud vendor lock-in) as well as resource estimation
• Translation of scientific technological and IP requirements into concrete implementable engineering and system decisions
• Design and management of the implementation of technically robust prototypes and MVP concepts (including feasibility of implementation and resource estimation)
• Definition of technical roadmaps scaling logic and system architectures as well as technical dependencies and their likelihood of realisation
• Deriving clear technical go/no-go build/buy and architectural decisions with ownership in a venture-building context
• Quantification of technological risks and identification of critical system dependencies (hardware cloud vendor lock-in)
• Ensuring technical feasibility and architectural consistency across all development stages
• Sharing responsibility for investment or PoC readiness in accordance with defined targets
• Compliance with global product management and growth guidelines IP standards and quality requirement

1.2 Product and Use Case Structuring
1.2.1. Scientific Validation & Differentiation

• Contributing to the structured derivation of product approaches from scientific or technological innovations
• Assessment of the technological differentiation of use cases
• Support in defining clear technologically robust value propositions for technology-driven products
• Close collaboration with founders in translating technological concepts into comprehensible product architectures and solution designs

1.2.2. Technical Execution & Architecture

• Supporting founders in the development of technically feasible and scalable product concepts
• Translating product requirements into concrete system architectures and implementable technical solution designs
• Support in the structured definition of technology-driven challenges and customer problems
• Evaluation of use case priorities based on technological feasibility market potential and implementation effort
• Support with the technological evaluation of customer discovery results
• Structuring the problem-solution fit and early product concepts from a technical perspective
• Ensuring consistency between product logic architecture and feasibility

1.3. Scientific Scouting and Technical Evaluation
1.3.1. Scientific Validation & Differentiation

• Assessment of the scientific quality of applications for venture building and accelerator programmes
• Conducting technical due diligence as part of internal investment decisions including FTO (Freedom to Operate) analyses and assessment of the patent landscape.
• Assessment of TRL scientific substance and long-term differentiation
• Classification of technological developments within the research and ecosystem context

1.3.2. Technical Execution & Architecture

• Assessment of the technical feasibility and architectural viability of venture concepts
• Identification of technical risks system dependencies and scaling limits
• Structuring and delivery of technical sections of pitch decks data rooms and investor meetings
• Assessment of engineering effort system complexity and feasibility of implementation

2. QAI Switzerland Ecosystem and University (20%)

• Liaising with professors researchers technology transfer offices and deep tech communities
• Identification of spin-off potential and science-based venture opportunities
• Support in the design and delivery of scientific formats such as roadshows hackathons and research-to-venture workshops
• Representing QAI Ventures at scientific conferences and technology events
• Close coordination with the Head of Science and Technology Global and APAC as well as local venture leads

2.1. Team and Organizational Development

• Contributing to the establishment of an effective venture-building structure in Basel
• Close collaboration with the local QAI team and global roles to ensure stable delivery capacity
• Supporting the promotion and documentation of clear roles responsibilities and efficient processes
• Active support in integrating with global methodology governance and reporting structures

2.2. Strategic Contribution and Market Positioning

• Contribution to the local positioning of the venture-building offering as a high-quality and trustworthy player particularly vis-à-vis our portfolio start-ups
• Representation of QAI in relevant ecosystem contexts
• Support in defining industry focus areas and market priorities

Requirements

Required Skills & Qualifications:

Education:

• PhD or Masters degree in Quantum Physics Physics Computer Science Quantum Engineering or related deep tech disciplines but quantum physics must have been a key part of the candidates education

Professional Experience:

• Several years experience as an engineer architect or technical lead in deep tech AI or comparable technological environments
• Experience in developing PoCs MVPs or technical validation projects ideally in start-up or venture contexts
• Experience of working with start-ups scale-ups or venture-building environments is an advantage
• Experience in collaborating with universities research institutes or technology transfer organisations

Venture Building & Technical Execution

• Experience in taking responsibility for technical feasibility architecture and build-vs-buy decisions
• Experience in prototyping architectural design technical roadmap planning and the end-to-end implementation of MVPs and experimental systems (e.g. sandbox environments)
• Ability to translate scientific technological and product-related requirements into concrete system architectures and actionable solutions
• Strong judgement regarding technical feasibility realistic resource allocation and scalability
• Experience in structuring technical content for investment due diligence or partnering processes
• Ability to act as a technical sparring partner for founders and venture teams

Scientific & Deep-Tech Expertise

• In-depth expertise in at least one of the following areas: quantum computing quantum security advanced AI or comparable deep-tech fields
• Experience in translating scientific research into product architectures or start-up contexts including TRL development and scaling planning
• Understanding of IP strategies patent logic and technological moats including FTO analyses
• Experience in dealing with technological dependencies (e.g. hardware infrastructure vendor lock-in)
• Experience in building or collaborating with technological or scientific ecosystems is an advantage

Personal & Professional Capabilities

• Strong analytical thinking combined with an entrepreneurial focus on implementation
• High degree of personal responsibility and a structured approach to work
• Excellent communication skills for explaining complex technological issues to investors founders and partners
• Ability to balance scientific depth with pragmatic implementation
• Fluent in English
• Based in Switzerland ideally near Arlesheim with at least 50% onsite presence at the Uptown Basel offices to work closely with the venture teams.

Benefits

A unique opportunity to play an active role in shaping an international ecosystem and to have a direct influence on deal flow and scientific positioning combined with a role that brings together quantum execution scientific excellence technological autonomy and entrepreneurial freedom.

We are building something ambitious and are looking for someone who truly wants to shape and move things forward not just manage them. If you are excited by the idea of turning cutting-edge science into real ventures and having a tangible impact we would love to hear from you. We also greatly appreciate your feedback on this role it helps us continuously improve and attract the right people for this journey.