Cambridge, United Kingdom | Permanent, Full time | Salary Range: £80,000 to £120,000 DOE

About Nu Quantum

Nu Quantum is at the forefront of building the Entanglement Fabric, a pioneering technology designed to unlock commercial quantum computing and drive the transition to a horizontal, scalable industry.

By transforming over a decade of research from the University of Cambridge’s Cavendish Laboratory into practical, market-driven solutions, we are shaping the future of quantum information.

As Head of Engineering, your role will be pivotal in driving forward our breakthrough innovations and helping to redefine the future of quantum computing.

The Role

Nu Quantum is seeking a skilled and experienced Head of Engineering to join our diverse team, driving the development of innovative and scalable quantum networking hardware.

In this role, you will lead and support a multidisciplinary engineering group, including Digital Design, Software, Electronics, Mechanical and Nanofabrication teams. You will also serve as a key technical authority for specific sub-systems developed by Nu Quantum, contributing directly to our technical strategy and roadmap.

A significant aspect of this role is team leadership and support, ensuring the success and growth of the engineering teams both technically and holistically. You will play an important role in shaping and fostering our company culture, embodying and promoting our core values.

You bring experience in all phases of engineering development—from concept and requirements gathering through to manufacturing, product release, and certification. The projects you've worked on may involve a complex mix of hardware and software components (such as FPGA, microcontrollers, RF/mixed-signal, low-latency control).

Responsibilities:

• Lead, coordinate, and inspire the technical activities of the Digital Design, Software, Electronics, and Mechanical teams.

• Take responsibility for planning, budgeting, and resource allocation across all stages of project delivery and the product development process.

• Collaborate closely with the PMO team, acting as the technical authority for engineering deliverables in Nu Quantum’s technology development programmes.

• Own and continuously improve engineering development processes and tools as Nu Quantum grows.

• Responsible for championing high-quality technical documentation.

• Provide day-to-day management, leadership, mentoring, and professional development to the engineering group leads.

• Collaborate with the VP of Technology and the Head of Quantum Hardware to ensure alignment in culture, roadmap, and technical goals across the Engineering and Research teams.

Requirements

Your Skills, Qualifications and Experience:

• A Bachelors/Masters degree in a numerate subject (e.g. physics, engineering, or a related discipline).

• 15+ years industry experience including 10+ years leading teams and projects.

• Proven experience in managing teams across various engineering disciplines and fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration.

• Proven experience taking prototypes into product development, manufacturing and release to customers; including direct experience with product certification.

• Experience with modern project management techniques (Agile, Scrum, Kanban, Waterfall etc)

• Experience with Process and Workflow Management tools for hardware and software development.

• Experience utilising test-driven development processes; in particular within early prototyping and R&D projects.

• A commitment to applying engineering best practices, combined with an interest in training and mentoring junior colleagues.

• Experience working in start-ups and/or scaling R&D environments.

• Excellent team player and natural problem solver with a ‘can do’ attitude.

• Strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative mindset, with the ability to communicate effectively across all levels of the organisation (from junior staff to C-Suite).

Desirable Skills and Experience (not required, but beneficial):

• Experience within the Quantum Industry.
• Familiarity with microfabrication techniques, test and validation processes.
• Experience with optics and photonics.
• Experience with cryogenic and UHV systems.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Nu Quantum

We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where people of all gender identities, sexual orientations, cultural backgrounds, and experiences feel valued and empowered. Our team is a reflection of this belief, with individuals from many different walks of life and disciplines, working together to push the boundaries of what’s possible.

We are dedicated to fostering a culture where everyone feels safe to bring their whole selves to work, and where diverse perspectives fuel our growth and creativity. We encourage and support all individuals—especially those from underrepresented or marginalised communities—to apply and grow with us.

Benefits

At Nu Quantum, we believe that a fulfilling career goes hand-in-hand with a well-rounded life. We take pride in offering a range of benefits designed to support your health, happiness, and growth—both personally and professionally.

Our Employee Benefits include:

Group Life Assurance

Peace of mind with coverage at 4x your salary.

Paid Sabbatical

Take a well-deserved 1-month sabbatical after 4 years of service to recharge or pursue personal passions.

IP Bonus Scheme

Be rewarded for your innovation and contributions with our Intellectual Property bonus program.

Employee Referral Scheme

Help us grow our team and earn generous bonuses for successful referrals.

Private Medical & Dental Cover

Optional comprehensive healthcare with Vitality and Bupa.

Gym Membership

Stay active with our gym membership perks, helping you to keep both body and mind healthy.

Cycle to Work Scheme

Reduce your carbon footprint and enjoy a tax-efficient way to purchase your bike.

Office Perks

Enjoy bean-to-cup coffee, fresh fruit, and snacks to keep you energised throughout the day.

Generous Time Off

Benefit from 28 days of annual leave plus UK bank holidays to rest, recharge, and explore.

Support for Giving Back

Take time for charity work and make an impact beyond the workplace.

Access to Cambridge/Oxford Botanical Gardens

Immerse yourself in nature with free access to the stunning Cambridge Botanical Gardens.