Head of Experimental System Integration

Head of Experimental System Integration
Company: Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC)
Location: Reading, United Kingdom
Employment Type: Full-time
Department: Research & Development
Reporting to: VP Research
Indicative Salary Range: £400,000–£500,000 per year, subject to confirmation.

About OQC
At OQC, we aren’t just theorising about the future; we’re building it. Born from a philosophy of bold innovation, we’ve successfully transitioned quantum computing from an academic dream into a commercial reality.

We have recently closed our £260 million Series C funding round, the largest fundraise ever completed by a quantum computing company in Europe. We are building the future of quantum computing and working towards fault-tolerant logical quantum computing.

The Purpose
As Head of Experimental System Integration, you will lead the development of sophisticated experimental platforms that enable OQC to advance quantum computing.

You will bring together quantum processors, cryogenics, control electronics, and high-performance computing (HPC) and real-time decoding to build the integration capability that accelerates research and development cycles and supports the scaling of quantum computing systems.

The Role
You will lead OQC's Experimental System Integration function, operating at the intersection of experimental physics, hardware development, and embedded software engineering.

You will own the architecture and integration of research and development testbeds, lead and develop a highly technical team, and collaborate across OQC's research programmes to turn ambitious scientific objectives into reliable, high-performance experimental systems.

Reporting to the VP Research, you will shape the team's technical roadmap, lead complex research projects, and provide clear recommendations on priorities, resources, and investment.

Key Responsibilities
Lead the architecture and end-to-end integration of experimental quantum hardware testbeds, bringing together quantum processors, cryogenics, control electronics, firmware, and HPC.

Define technology-transfer pathways that turn emerging, high-TRL components and subsystems into stable, high-throughput experimental platforms.

Work across OQC's R&D programmes, translating research objectives into clear system requirements and integration strategies.

Establish system-level verification, bring-up, and validation standards that deliver repeatable, high-performance experimental operation.

Build and lead a high-performing technical team, managing recruitment, objectives, performance, coaching, and long-term capability development.

Own the Experimental System Integration roadmap and delivery of complex research projects, coordinating resources and work across multiple technical teams.

Drive operational excellence across experimental systems, improving tooling, diagnostics, uptime, throughput, and repeatability while supporting external technical collaborations.

Required Qualifications and Experience
A deep technical background in quantum hardware, cryogenic systems engineering, superconducting qubits, or a closely related field.

Commercial experience within a relevant technical or scientific environment.

Experience leading and developing a technical team of approximately 5–10 people within a fast-changing organisation.

Proven ownership of the full lifecycle of complex technical projects, from requirements and architecture through integration and delivery.

Strong hands-on understanding of cryogenic system operation and electrical measurement.

Strong leadership, delegation, project planning, data analysis, and technical reporting capabilities.

The ability to influence across disciplines, communicate complex technical concepts clearly, and guide teams through challenging technical problems.

Experience coordinating multiple technical teams to deliver against complex research or engineering objectives.

A PhD or equivalent commercial experience.

Preferred Qualifications and Experience
Experience designing and implementing quantum or cryogenic systems.

Experience working across a range of quantum or cryogenic system architectures.

A track record of designing and delivering complex technology to specification.

Experience coordinating larger multidisciplinary teams to produce complex technical outcomes.

Strong technology roadmapping capability and experience translating longer-term technical goals into executable programmes.

Experience developing and managing external partnerships across suppliers, government, commercial organisations, or R&D teams.

Why Join OQC?
You will join a world-class team at the forefront of the next computational era.

OQC offers a culture of bold innovation, access to unique laboratory infrastructure, and the opportunity to contribute to work that redefines the limits of computation.

Learn more about OQC's benefits and work culture: https://oqc.tech/company/careers-at-oqc/

Location
Reading, United Kingdom

Application
Apply through OQC's careers page or the original job listing:

https://oxfordsciences.getro.com/companies/oqc#content

I would appreciate hearing your thoughts on this opportunity and whether it aligns with your current career interests.

Best regards,