Internship R&D Software Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL

Position Summary

This Quantum Software Engineer role will join the Compiler Team within Infleqtion’s Quantum Software organization. This role will be responsible for designing, building, and maintaining quantum compilation software alongside considerable involvement in co-design efforts that span the full quantum stack, including applications, algorithms, hardware and control. This role combines hands-on coding, code review, and system design with R&D. Ideal candidates have a strong software development background and familiarity with quantum computation.

This role is open to both entry-level and senior-level candidates.

Job Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities outlined below include essential functions of the role. Depending on business needs, this role may perform a combination of some or all of the following duties. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned.

• Conduct R&D toward cutting-edge advances in quantum technology with a focus on quantum compilation, similar to work described in https://arxiv.org/abs/2309.05157 and https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.13247

• Deploy software optimizations to our cloud platform Superstaq using industry-grade software engineering procedures including documentation, linting, testing, and type-checking

• Interface with customers of Superstaq to understand their needs and support them in a timely fashion

• Contribute to development of government and commercial proposals and execution on global programs

• Collaborate with experimental physicists and software engineers to bridge the gap between theoretical concepts and practical implementation

• Engage with the broader scientific community by publishing research findings in scientific journals and presenting at conferences

• Stay up to date with the latest developments in quantum computer architecture, quantum compilation and related fields

• Provide guidance and support to other team members, fostering a collaborative research environment

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, physics or a directly related field

• High proficiency in programming, with fluency in Python preferable. Proficiency in alternative languages (e.g. C/C++ or Julia) with the ability to rapidly upskill in Python

• Experience with open-source quantum software frameworks such as Cirq or Qiskit; Ideal candidates will have experience not only using these libraries but also modifying them

• Demonstrated ability to work and communicate with all levels of an organization; Professional-level communication skills, including verbal, written, and presentation skills

• Demonstrated ability to work comfortably in a highly collaborative, cross-functional, team-oriented, and matrixed environment

• Desire and demonstrated ability to thrive and produce results in a fluid, dynamic, and fast-paced environment

• Demonstrated ability to learn new and complex topics quickly

• Resourceful problem-solver who collaboratively identifies effective paths forward with demonstrated expertise in executing productization efforts

• Passion for solving complex problems and challenges in a highly technical and scientific environment

• Ability to be in the office any three days per week

• Ability to travel domestically and (potentially) internationally up to 10%

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD in quantum computation, physics, computer science, or a directly related field

• Familiarity with concepts in quantum computing such as error correction / fault tolerance, native gate decomposition, qubit mapping and routing, and variational quantum algorithms 

• Experience with advanced open-source quantum software frameworks such as Stim

• Familiarity with best practices of professional software engineering such as coverage, integration tests, type checking, unit tests, and version control 

• Experience with backend development with tools such as FastAPI for web frameworks and PostgreSQL/SQLAlchemy for databases 

• Experience with cloud development, especially on GCP and AWS

• Familiarity with CI/CD, automated actions, issue tracking, version control, and other features on GitHub

• Familiarity with security core best-practices such as access control, encryption at rest, key rotation, and logging 

• Exposure to or interest in front-end / GUI development, e.g., HTML/CSS, React, PyQt.

Our team will begin reviewing applications on January 20, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled.

Benefits

Benefits

• Salary range: 120,000 to 150,000 USD/year

• 100% company-paid medical, dental, vision, short/long-term disability

• Employer-funded Health Savings Account

• Unlimited PTO

• 401(k) match

• Company-paid Life and AD&D Insurance

• Flexible Savings Account

• Paid FMLA, Maternity/Paternity Leave

• Employee Assistance Program

• Student Loan Repayment
• Equity Program