Quantum Networking Theorist

The Leidos Quantum Incubator has an opening for a Quantum Networking Theorist with a background in quantum information science. This is an exciting opportunity to use your experience to help grow the Leidos quantum technologies portfolio of contract and internal R&D projects, benchmarking, and operational prototypes. In this position, the Quantum Networking Theorist will participate in the full life cycle of research & development of optical systems for the study of quantum-enabled remote sensing and communications. Ideal candidates should be interested in a career devoted to applied research and development with strong mathematical and software skills and should be interested in maturing technologies from concept to prototype.

Primary Responsibilities

• Design, simulate, and analyze cutting edge devices in quantum communication, sensing, and precision positioning, navigation, and timing

• Develop new concepts for quantum communication and distributed quantum device protocols

• Design software to create high-fidelity simulation of quantum communications, photonics, or sensing experiments.

• Collaborate with other team members, engineers, and scientists across the company and different fields to leverage quantum technologies to achieve mission goals

Multiple openings at various levels. The various position’s minimum education and experience requirements are as follows:

• T3: Bachelor’s degree in physics, engineering, or related fields and 4+ years of prior relevant experience. Additional years of experience may be considered in lieu of degree requirements.

• T4: Bachelor’s degree in physics, engineering, or related fields and 8+ years of prior relevant experience. Additional years of experience may be considered in lieu of degree requirements.

Basic Qualifications:

• Research experience in one or more of the following areas: CV and DV quantum optics, quantum entanglement structure theory, quantum communications protocols, quantum information science, quantum error correction, and entangled quantum sensing

• Familiarity with quantum information software tools such as Qiskit, Pennylane, SeQUeNCE, QuTIP, etc.

• Experience developing innovative solutions based upon the application of relevant research results from a wide variety of sources

• Strong theory and analytical skills

• Strong technical writing skills with experience in writing advanced technical proposals.

• US Citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain a US government security clearance

• Strong desire to learn new technologies and flexibility to change from one project to another quickly

• Experience with standard programming languages for analytics or scientific applications, such as Python, Matlab, and Mathematica

• Ability to effectively communicate to both technical and non-technical audiences

• Highly motivated to publish in peer-reviewed journals and present research at conferences

Preferred Qualifications:

• PhD in physics, mathematics, applied physics, engineering or related fields.

• Extensive experience researching in quantum information and communication theory

• Familiarity with stabilizer error correcting approaches as well as nontraditional approaches such as GKP, cat codes, and error detecting codes

• Familiarity with theory and applications of quantum networks such as distributed quantum algorithms, network nonlocality, distributed quantum sensing, etc.

• Comfort with tools ranging from numerical simulation to mathematical proof to demonstrate viability of quantum information concepts

• Experience with covert quantum communications protocols such as QKD, QSDC, entanglement-assisted communication etc.

• Experience with quantum-classical hybrid processing

• Interest and experience in quantum communications, quantum networks, quantum sensing

• Demonstrated experience in proposing and winning independent research funding

• DoD Top Secret Clearance

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting:

November 20, 2025

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range:

Pay Range $85,150.00 - $153,925.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.