Staff Software Engineer, Non-Realtime Controllers

About This Role

We are representing a confidential quantum computing organization in Oxford, and we're seeking a Staff Software Engineer to join their non-realtime controllers team. This is a hands-on, highly technical role working at the intersection of hardware and software to build and operate the systems that control the infrastructure surrounding advanced quantum computers.

You'll be the most experienced engineer writing controllers, tackling the most demanding hardware integrations and framework improvements. This role requires deep systems engineering expertise and a passion for staying hands-on in code rather than moving into pure management.

The position is hybrid-based in Oxford, UK.

Responsibilities

This is a hands-on engineering role where your influence comes from the code you ship and review, and from the problems you solve for the entire team.

• Take on the most demanding device integrations and perform deep diagnosis of problems that appear against real hardware in live laboratory environments
• Remove whole classes of failures across the fleet rather than individual instances
• Improve the shared framework and bring existing controllers along with each change
• Build tooling, simulators, and test infrastructure that accelerate the entire team's velocity
• Evolve service deployment and operations as the fleet grows, ensuring problems are detected early through comprehensive observability
• Raise the bar for everyone through the quality of code you write and the reviews you provide
• Work closely with software engineers, systems teams operating physical quantum computers, and quantum scientists in a dynamic cross-disciplinary environment

What We're Looking For

Our client seeks someone with deep systems engineering experience, a proven track record of shipping and operating reliable services, and the judgment to distinguish structural problems from those worth patching. You should want to remain hands-on in code at this senior level.

Required qualifications:

• Expert systems engineering skills with solid Rust experience, or deep proficiency in another systems language with the appetite to work in a Rust codebase, including async programming
• Experience building and operating networked services in production (gRPC or REST) with a strong grasp of error handling, observability, and failure modes
• Experience with hardware and instrument protocols and interfaces such as SCPI, Modbus, serial, and Ethernet
• A reputation as the go-to person for undiagnosable bugs, with the ability to prioritize work by distinguishing critical from urgent items
• Excellent communication skills both within software teams and across disciplines

Note: Previous exposure to quantum systems is not required.

Visa requirements: Due to export control regulations, candidates must be able to verify "U.S. Person" status (U.S. citizen, U.S. national, U.S. permanent resident, or lawfully admitted as refugee/granted asylum) or obtain necessary export control authorization.

How We Work With You

As Get A Job.ai's recruiting team, we act as your advocate throughout the hiring process:

• Apply directly through Get A Job.ai with your CV and any relevant portfolio materials
• Our recruiters will screen your application and conduct an initial conversation to understand your background and goals
• We'll prepare and submit your profile to our client on your behalf
• We'll coordinate interviews and provide feedback at each stage
• Please do not contact the client directly; all communication should flow through Get A Job.ai to ensure the best outcome

Pay

Compensation details will be discussed during the screening process and will be competitive for a Staff-level engineering role in Oxford.

Equal Employment Opportunity: Get A Job.ai is committed to fair and equitable recruiting practices. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.