Quantum Network Manager

Department

PME Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE)

About the Department

The Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE) is an intellectual hub for advancing the science and engineering of quantum information between the CQE community, across the Midwest, and around the globe. A catalyst for research activity across its member and partner institutions, the CQE is based at the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering and is anchored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Northwestern University, and Purdue University.

The Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (PME) was established in May 2019 and evolved from the Institute for Molecular Engineering, which was founded in 2011. The PME integrates science and engineering to address global challenges from the molecular level up. The PME’s rigorous academic and research programs are made possible through the University of Chicago’s unique partnership with Argonne National Laboratory. The Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering is the first new school at the University of Chicago in three decades and the first school in the nation dedicated to molecular engineering. In the next phase of growth as a School, the PME will continue to expand its team of world-class faculty researchers and empower students from diverse backgrounds to collaborate with faculty in cutting-edge facilities. The PME aims to bring solutions for urgent societal problems to the forefront, while training the next generation of scientific leaders and entrepreneurs.

Job Summary

The Quantum Network Manager is responsible for launching and supporting the programming and maintenance of the Midwest Quantum Network Facility. This role will include overseeing hardware and software experiments and deployments, and vendors related to quantum networking, as well as working with other technical staff at partnering organizations. The position requires experience and expertise in telecommunications, programming, project management, field deployments, and customer relations. The Quantum Network Manager is responsible for ensuring compliance with University, government, and industry security and regulatory protocols. This position reports to the Chief Executive Officer of the Chicago Quantum Exchange and collaborates closely with the PME Executive Director of Information Technology.

Responsibilities

• Oversees the launch and maintenance of the Midwest Quantum Network Facility, focusing on reducing optical losses, optimizing network control and applications, integrating control devices, and facilitating the incorporation of new quantum components and protocols through collaboration with academic, government, and industry experts.
• Leads the expansion of the quantum network infrastructure to deploy and integrate additional quantum nodes into the network.
• Represents the Midwest Quantum Network Facility in technical engagements with external stakeholders, including industry partners, federal agencies, and research collaborators.
• Interfaces with central IT and Facilities stakeholders to ensure the quantum network infrastructure meets University and Midwest Quantum Network Facility strategic goals.
• Collaborates with CQE to distill complex technical milestones into actionable narratives for executive leadership and board-level stakeholders.
• Collaborates with technical staff at partnering organizations to develop secure quantum networking technologies, including U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Northwestern University, and Purdue University.
• Deploys quantum networking and related technologies, such as low-loss, fiber-based quantum repeaters, quantum-classical hybrid systems, and optimizes fiber infrastructure for secure data transmission.
• Implements fiber-optic links for quantum entanglement distribution and quantum communication networks. Deploys hardware to interface qubits with optical fibers, such as high-efficiency single-photon sources and detectors.
• Reports on site readiness, risk analysis, and strategic planning to senior leadership.
• Broadens the scope of the Midwest Quantum Network Facility by investigating long-range connections to other regional and national quantum networks.
• Provides support to maintain the operation and service levels of quantum networking systems.
• Clearly communicates and presents technical information to both technical team members and employees who may not be familiar with quantum networking termino