Senior Applications Lead Defense

PsiQuantumsmission is to build the first useful quantum computersmachines capable of delivering the breakthroughs the field has long promised. Since our founding in 2016 our singular focus has been to build and deploy million-qubit fault-tolerant quantum systems.

Quantum computers harness the laws of quantum mechanics to solve problems that even the most advanced supercomputers or AI systems will never reach. Their impact will span energy pharmaceuticals finance agriculture transportation materials and other foundational industries.

Our architecture and approachisbased on silicon photonics. Byleveragingthe advanced semiconductor manufacturing industryincluding partners like GlobalFoundrieswe use the same high-volume processes that already produce billions of chips for telecom and consumer electronics. Photonics offers natural advantages for scale: photonsdontfeel heat are immune to electromagnetic interference and integrate with existing cryogenic cooling and standard fiber-optic infrastructure.

In 2024PsiQuantumannounced government-funded projects to support the build-out of our first utility-scale quantum computers in Brisbane Australia and Chicago Illinois. These initiatives reflect a growing recognition that quantum computing will be strategically and economically definingand that now is the time to scale.

PsiQuantumalso develops the algorithms and software needed to make these systems commercially valuable. Our application software and industry teams work directly with leading Fortune 500 companiesincluding Lockheed Martin Mercedes-Benz Boehringer Ingelheim and Mitsubishi Chemicalto prepare quantum solutions for real-world impact.

Quantum computing is not an extension of classical computing. Itrepresentsa fundamental shiftand a path to mastering challenges that cannot besolvedany other way. The potential is enormous and we have a clearpathto make it real.

Come join us.

Job Summary:

As the Senior Applications Lead Defense you will help define and advance PsiQuantums defense and national security applications strategy. Sitting in the Industry Applications team you will partner closely with Business Development Applications Algorithms Software and other technical teams to translate defense and national security needs into credible quantum computing opportunities.

The ideal candidate brings deep experience in the U.S. defense national security intelligence aerospace or adjacent government technology ecosystem combined with strong scientific judgment and the ability to develop fluency in quantum computing. This role is expected to be U.S.-based ideally in the Washington D.C. area.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as a senior applications lead for PsiQuantums defense and national security efforts identifying and shaping high-value use cases for fault-tolerant quantum computing.
• Partner closely with Business Development on customer engagement strategic account development conference participation proposal shaping and senior stakeholder conversations.
• Engage credibly with senior officials defense primes national laboratories FFRDCs service research organizations and other strategic partners.
• Translate defense and national security priorities into application opportunities including mission relevance technical feasibility potential quantum advantage adoption pathway and strategic value.
• Develop customer-facing narratives briefings white papers proposals and other materials that connect PsiQuantums roadmap to defense-relevant challenges.
• Work with Applications Algorithms and Software teams to assess feasibility define project scope identify risks and develop paths toward customer-facing work.
• Act as a project owner for selected defense and national security engagements including project charters milestones deliverables stakeholder alignment and communication.
• Help define PsiQuantums broader defense applications strategy including priority use cases target customers partner strategy funding opportunities and go-to-market approach.

Experience/Qualifications:

• Significant experience in the U.S. defense industry national security intelligence aerospace or adjacent government technology ecosystem.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance required; active clearance (TS/SCI) preferred.
• Ph.D. required in physics engineering applied mathematics chemistry materials science or a related technical field.
• Familiarity with quantum computing quantum algorithms high-performance computing AI semiconductors or other technologies preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including experience preparing briefings proposals white papers conference materials or customer-facing technical content.
• Self-starter with strong cross-functional collaboration skills and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment with high ambiguity and evolving priorities.

PsiQuantum provides equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. PsiQuantum does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race color religion sex (including pregnancy childbirth or related medical conditions) gender identity gender expression national origin ancestry citizenship age physical or mental disability military or veteran status marital status domestic partner status sexual orientation genetic information or any other basis protected by applicable laws.

Note: PsiQuantum will only reach out to you using an official PsiQuantum email address and will never ask you for bank account information as part of the interview process. Please report any suspicious activity to .

We are not accepting unsolicited resumes from employment agencies.