Job Summary

About the Company

We are a quantum software company, applying cutting edge quantum, quantum inspired, and machine learning research to high impact enterprise use cases.

Our platform connects enterprises with ready-to-run, domain-specific applications and the building blocks behind them.  We enable enterprises to turn quantum potential into real world impact on an accelerated timeframe.

As a joint venture of Standard Chartered and Fujitsu, we exist to turn quantum from potential into impact.  We build high-performance, domain-intelligent applications, accelerate innovation through collaboration, and make frontier technologies accessible to the diverse innovators who will shape the future.

We are hiring our first Quantum Algorithms Scientist to join the founding scientific team and work directly with the CSO.

Key Responsibilities

As a foundational scientific hire, you will shape the algorithmic direction of the company. You will conduct deep research into classical and quantum algorithms, design hybrid quantum–classical methods, and prototype new approaches relevant to financial institutions. You will take ownership of algorithmic development in areas such as algorithmic trading, market making, risk analytics, derivatives pricing, and fraud detection.

This role is ideal for someone who is driven by mathematical elegance, scientific depth, and the ambition to translate quantum research into real-world, commercially meaningful solutions.

Key Responsibilities

1. Quantum & Classical Algorithm Research
•    Design, prototype, and benchmark quantum algorithms for finance: QML, variational circuits, simulators, quantum optimization (QUBOs, annealing), quantum Monte Carlo, PDE solvers, and quantum-enhanced signal-processing models.
•    Explore frontier areas including QML, hybrid workflows, error mitigation, advanced compilation, and noise-resilient optimization.
•    Conduct foundational research in quantum information, spectral methods, TDA, tensor networks, Fourier transforms, complexity theory, and related mathematical frameworks.
•    Identify, develop, and test quantum and hybrid algorithms that work on near-term quantum hardware (NISQ).
•    Evaluate and integrate existing AI/ML models where appropriate rather than reinventing from scratch.
2. Prototyping & Analysis
•    Implement and test quantum circuits using Qiskit, Cirq, Pennylane, or TKET.
•    Build classical–quantum hybrid prototypes and benchmarking pipelines.
•    Analyze algorithmic performance, scalability constraints, and robustness to noise.
•    Produce high-quality research notes, white papers, and internal memos guiding product strategy.
3. Collaboration
•    Work with engineering and product partners to translate research into platform features.
•    Help define scientific strategy for marketplace components and reusable algorithmic modules.
•    Participate in early client-facing experiments with financial institutions.
4. Thought Leadership & Culture Building
•    Be entrepreneurial, hands-on, low ego, and highly accountable.
•    Maintain strong awareness of quantum and AI research trends.
•    Contribute to high-impact publications, technical blogs, or conference papers.
•    Help build a rigorous, intellectually curious scientific culture.
•    Support future research hiring and mentorship.

Skills and Experience

Required Experience

•    MSc or PhD in Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science, Quantum Computing, or related fields. Preference for deep theoretical domains: differential geometry/topology, topological data analysis (TDA), spectral analysis, information theory, quantum physics/computing.
•    Strong understanding of quantum mechanics, quantum circuits, qubit systems, and advanced quantum computing concepts.
•    Solid knowledge of ML theory, optimization, Monte Carlo methods, Fourier transforms, neural networks, and algorithmic complexity.
•    Hands-on experience with at least one quantum programming framework.
•    Fluency in Python, vectorization and scientific computing libraries (NumPy, SciPy, Pandas).
•    Ability to reason rigorously, communicate research clearly, and tackle open-ended scientific problems.
•    Passion for the intersection of mathematics, AI, and quantum computing.

Qualifications

Ideal Experience
•    Research publications or open-source contributions.
•    Experience with financial modelling, risk analytics, or quantitative methods.
•    Understanding of optimization theory (linear/non-linear, continuous/discrete).
•    Familiarity with hybrid architectures, variational methods, and tensor networks.
•    Some exposure to production systems or data engineering is a plus but not required.
What We Offer
•    Competitive salary with the potential for equity participation and bonus
•    25 days annual leave, Health care, Life cover, gym membership, and a training budget
•    Opportunity to shape a company from its earliest stages
•    Flexible working arrangements and a collaborative, intellectually curious team passionate about building something meaningful
•    Access to state-of-the-art cloud quantum hardware and simulation environments
•    A mission-driven, entrepreneurial environment focused on real-world impact

About Standard Chartered

We're an international bank, nimble enough to act, big enough for impact. For more than 170 years, we've worked to make a positive difference for our clients, communities, and each other. We question the status quo, love a challenge and enjoy finding new opportunities to grow and do better than before. If you're looking for a career with purpose and you want to work for a bank making a difference, we want to hear from you. You can count on us to celebrate your unique talents and we can't wait to see the talents you can bring us.

Our purpose, to drive commerce and prosperity through our unique diversity, together with our brand promise, to be here for good are achieved by how we each live our valued behaviours. When you work with us, you'll see how we value difference and advocate inclusion.

Together we:

• Do the right thing and are assertive, challenge one another, and live with integrity, while putting the client at the heart of what we do
• Never settle, continuously striving to improve and innovate, keeping things simple and learning from doing well, and not so well
• Are better together, we can be ourselves, be inclusive, see more good in others, and work collectively to build for the long term

What we offer

In line with our Fair Pay Charter, we offer a competitive salary and benefits to support your mental, physical, financial and social wellbeing.

• Core bank funding for retirement savings, medical and life insurance, with flexible and voluntary benefits available in some locations.
• Time-off including annual leave, parental/maternity (20 weeks), sabbatical (12 months maximum) and volunteering leave (3 days), along with minimum global standards for annual and public holiday, which is combined to 30 days minimum.
• Flexible working options based around home and office locations, with flexible working patterns.
• Proactive wellbeing support through Unmind, a market-leading digital wellbeing platform, development courses for resilience and other human skills, global Employee Assistance Programme, sick leave, mental health first-aiders and all sorts of self-help toolkits
• A continuous learning culture to support your growth, with opportunities to reskill and upskill and access to physical, virtual and digital learning.
• Being part of an inclusive and values driven organisation, one that embraces and celebrates our unique diversity, across our teams, business functions and geographies - everyone feels respected and can realise their full potential.