Summer 2027 Internship - Quantum Software (QSW)

This internship program is within our Quantum Software (QSW) division. Interns work closely with Infleqtion’s Quantum Software Engineers and are paired with a mentor on the team. This program is intended to run for 10 to 12 weeks. Features of the program include:
Contribution to cutting-edge quantum software solutions from application to middleware layers
Weekly 1:1 meetings with your mentor to discuss summer projects and professional development
Research talks from Infleqtion engineers and experts in the industry
Primary internship location is Chicago, IL
Job Duties and Responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities outlined below include potential 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, quantum algorithms and applications, and related fields
Provide guidance and support to other team members, fostering a collaborative research environment
Tailor and apply quantum algorithms to real-world problems, analyzing their performance compared to classical methods
Expand existing or develop new quantum algorithms for various types of real-world applications
Requirements
Currently attending a degree program (computer science, engineering, physics, mathematics, or a directly related field) in the US, preferably in penultimate academic year when returning to degree program after completion of internship
High proficiency in programming, with fluency in Python preferable or proficiency in alternative languages (e.g. C/C++ or Julia) with the ability to rapidly upskill in Python
Preferred Qualifications
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)
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.
Required Materials
Resume
Cover letter
Optionally, sample(s) of a past project (e.g., software project, technical/scientific writing, etc.) relevant to the duties and the responsibilities for this internship.
Sharing publicly-available GitHub (or similar) projects is strongly recommended

Work arrangement
No