Quantum Communications Intern

The Leidos Innovation Center (LInC) Quantum Incubator has openings for theoretical and experimental Quantum Communications Interns with a background in quantum technologies / quantum information science. This is an exciting opportunity to use your experience to help grow and contribute to the Leidos quantum communications portfolio of contract and internal R&D projects, benchmarking, and operational prototypes.  In this position, the intern will participate in the full life cycle of research & development of experiments and software platforms for the study of quantum communications and networking. Ideal candidates should be interested in a career devoted to applied research and development with strong experimental and software skills and should be interested in maturing technologies from concept to prototype.  

Primary Responsibilities

• Design, perform tests, and analyze optics/optoelectronics/photonics use cases in various systems and platforms for cutting edge devices in quantum communications
• Design software to create high-fidelity simulation of quantum communications, photonics, or sensing experiments.
• Perform laboratory and field tests to prove and validate quantum experimental theories as viable products in applicable domains, and benchmark results within the field
• Mathematical modelling and simulation of quantum communications protocols
• Collaborate with other team members, engineers, and scientists across the company and different fields to leverage quantum technologies to achieve organizational goals

Basic Qualifications

• Pursuing bachelor's or graduate degree in physics, applied physics, engineering, or related fields
• Research experience and experimental background in quantum communications and quantum optics
• Research experience or experimental background in one or more of the following areas: quantum optics, chip integrated photonics, quantum entanglement, photonics, quantum communications, quantum information theory, and/or quantum error correction theory
• Familiarity with photonic states, quantum sensing, and/or quantum communications
• Demonstrated experience with quantum information simulation tools such as IBM Qiskit, Strawberry Fields, or NumPy/SciPy
• Ability and willingness to quantitatively substantiate ideas at the theoretical level, i.e. proofs, derivations and/or simulations
• Strong understanding of the cybersecurity implications of quantum communications and quantum cryptography.
• Strong proficiency in Python, Matlab, C, or C++
• Experience developing innovative solutions based upon the application of relevant research results from a wide variety of sources
• Experience building and benchmarking software prototypes, to include metrics development, and theoretical/analytical/computational 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
• 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

• Pursuing graduate degree in physics or related field
• Extensive experience researching and designing experiments quantum communications and/or quantum information technology
• Extensive research experience in any of quantum sources, networking, communications, sensing, and quantum information theory
• Strong familiarity with the tools of quantum information theory such as: characterization of entanglement and of measurement schemes; relevant continuous-variable/discrete-variable quantum error correction protocols such as GKP and cat codes/stabilizer codes and dynamical decoupling; standard networking and communication protocols for quantum systems (classical networking not expected but is a plus). 
• Laboratory experience is not required but is a plus
• Experience with high-performance computing, standard sensing modalities such as Rydberg atoms or Silicon vacancies, or formal verification languages such as Coq and Lean all a plus
• Experience operationalizing machine learning and/or autonomy, and analytical capabilities
• Experience and domain knowledge related to data processing
• Interest and experience in quantum communications, quantum networks, quantum sensing and technology relevant to their deployable environments, such as space systems and science