Principal Compiler Engineer – Quantum Software - 880 in London, England at Quantinuum

We are seeking a Principal Compiler Engineer to join Quantinuum’s quantum software team in Tokyo.

As a Principal Compiler Engineer, you will help design, build, and evolve the compiler and programming language infrastructure that enables quantum-classical software development. You will work on novel quantum-classical programming languages, functional type systems, multi-level compiler architectures, and full-stack software systems that connect high-level developer tools to quantum and classical execution backends.

This role will collaborate closely with compiler teams in the UK and USA, with some international travel expected. You will also work with scientific, product, and engineering teams to translate research ideas, customer needs, and platform requirements into robust, production-ready software.

This is a senior individual contributor role. You will lead complex technical projects, mentor junior developers, set high engineering standards, and contribute to research and publications where appropriate.

Design, implement, and evolve compiler infrastructure for quantum-classical programming workflows, including language front ends, type systems, intermediate representations, optimization passes, lowering pipelines, runtime interfaces, and backend integration.

Work on novel programming language features for quantum software, including functional type systems, semantic analysis, program transformation, static analysis, and correctness-oriented compiler design.

Develop production-quality software primarily in Python and Rust, contributing across the full stack from research prototypes to maintainable product systems.

Help define and implement multi-level compiler architectures that bridge high-level programming abstractions, quantum circuit representations, runtime systems, and execution targets.

Analyze compilation workflows and software stack performance to identify bottlenecks, improve scalability, and support efficient execution of hybrid quantum-classical applications.

Contribute to architectural decisions that ensure the compiler stack is extensible, maintainable, testable, and aligned with Quantinuum’s long-term quantum software roadmap.

Collaborate with compiler teams in the UK and USA to align architecture, implementation strategy, standards, and delivery plans. Some travel is expected.

Partner with scientific teams to translate quantum computing research into usable compiler features, programming models, and developer workflows.

Work with product and application teams to ensure compiler capabilities address real user needs and integrate effectively into broader platform and developer-tool experiences.

Technical Leadership

Lead complex software projects from concept through delivery, including architecture, planning, implementation, review, testing, documentation, and handoff.

Mentor junior and mid-level engineers through design reviews, code reviews, technical guidance, and project leadership.

Help establish software engineering standards, compiler design practices, and review processes that improve quality and maintainability across the codebase.

Research and External Contribution

Contribute to research discussions, technical papers, conference submissions, publications, or external collaborations where appropriate.

Help position Quantinuum as a technical leader in quantum programming languages, compiler systems, and hybrid quantum-classical software.

Master’s degree or PhD in Computer Science, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, or a related technical field, or equivalent professional experience.

10+ years of professional software engineering experience, with a significant portion focused on designing and building compilers, programming languages, developer tools, runtimes, or related software infrastructure.

Strong programming ability in Python and Rust, or deep expertise in one with the ability to work professionally in both.

Experience with compiler implementation topics such as parsing, semantic analysis, type systems, intermediate representations, optimization, lowering, code generation, runtime integration, or program transformation.

Strong understanding of programming language design and implementation, especially functional programming concepts and type systems.

Experience leading technically complex software projects in ambiguous or research-adjacent domains.

Ability to work across the full software stack, from prototype development through production-quality software delivery.

Strong communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across engineering, scientific, product, and leadership audiences.

Experience mentoring engineers and raising technical standards within a team.

Experience with quantum computing, quantum programming languages, quantum circuit compilation, hybrid quantum-classical workflows, or quantum runtime systems.

Experience with multi-level compiler infrastructures such as MLIR, LLVM, or similar systems.

Experience designing domain-specific languages, embedded languages, or advanced type systems.

Background in functional programming languages or ecosystems such as Haskell, OCaml, F#, Scala, Rust, or similar.

Experience with compiler correctness, formal methods, static analysis, program verification, or strongly typed intermediate representations.

Experience contributing to research publications, patents, open-source projects, or external technical collaborations.

Experience working in distributed teams across multiple time zones.

Experience in high-performance computing, distributed systems, scientific software, or developer platforms.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Ability to bridge conversations between scientists, compiler engineers, software engineers, and product stakeholders.

Strong ownership mindset and ability to drive projects through ambiguity.

Pragmatic approach to balancing research exploration with production software delivery.

Ability to mentor others while remaining hands-on in technical implementation.

Collaborative working style suited to globally distributed teams.