Senior Technical Lead, Government Programs

Senior Technical Lead, Government Programs

Department: Chief Quantum Office

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: British Columbia, Canada

Compensation: The base annual salary range for this full-time role is between $138,200 to $190,100. This range reflects the minimum and maximum target range for new hire base salary across all Canadian locations. Actual compensation may vary outside of this range and is dependent on various factors including but not limited to a candidate's qualifications including relevant education and training, competencies, experience, geographic location, and business needs. Base pay is only one part of the total compensation package. Full time roles are eligible for equity and benefits. Base pay is subject to change and may be modified in the future.

Description

As our quantum systems mature toward program milestones, we need a rare leader who can hold rigorous technical depth and exceptional stakeholder management in the same hand. This role will be the primary interface between our engineering teams and government program offices — translating cutting‑edge spin qubit R&D into credible, contract‑compliant deliverables. You will operate at the intersection of:

• Full‑stack quantum computing product development
• Government and systems engineering benchmarking and evaluation
• Quantum engineering and integrated chip engineering
• Hardware and software engineering
• Critical customer management and technical communication
• Application‑level utility and performance validation

This is not a generic product or communications role. It requires deep quantum engineering fluency, attention to detail, and outstanding interpersonal skills.

Please include a cover letter with your resume (in one file) describing how you would be a great fit at Photonic and what attributes you could bring to our growing team.

WHAT WE NEED YOU TO DO

Government contract execution and stakeholder management

• Coordinate and develop the technical communications and technical product delivery for key government contacts: deliver against all contract expectations
• Manage all customer expectations, communications, experiences, and any change management as required
• Feedback into technical planning process to triage key customer feature requests.
• Define internal KPIs and defensible benchmarking methodology aligned with customer criteria.
• Communicate contract status and execution risks to executives and internal stakeholders.

Quantum Computing Product Strategy

• Contribute to the CQO office, as well as the product management team
• Translate component metrics into system‑level performance milestones and delightful customer experiences
• Deliver government product milestones on time and on budget
• Contribute to product roadmap planning across all engineering and architecture teams with agile component‑level TRL development

WHAT YOU BRING TO OUR TEAM

Technical Fluency

• Demonstrable working knowledge of quantum computing systems — sufficient to engage credibly with PhD‑level engineers on topics such as error correction, gate fidelity, qubit coherence, control hardware, quantum software stack, and system‑level performance trade‑offs. This may have been gained through a graduate degree, industry experience, or both.
• Ability to critically evaluate technical claims, customer concerns, benchmark methodologies, and program milestones without needing to be the domain expert in the room.

Government Program Experience

• Demonstrated experience managing or executing on government contracts, ideally in Canada and/or the US.
• Familiarity with government program structures: milestone‑based funding, evaluation criteria, reporting cadences, communication styles, and the expectations of technically sophisticated program officers.
• Experience navigating government review settings — including preparing teams for high‑stakes evaluations and translating technical progress into language that satisfies contract requirements.

Leadership & Communication

• Proven track record of owning and delivering a technical communications across cross‑functional engineering teams — on time and within contract or budget constraints.
• Demonstrated ability to manage stakeholder expectations across technical, executive, and customer audiences simultaneously.
• Experience leading without direct authority — coordinating across product, research, engineering, and architecture teams toward shared program milestones.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; able to produce and oversee the production of high‑quality technical deliverables for external audiences.
• Comfortable operating in a fast‑moving, high‑accountability environment where the stakes of miscommunication are high.

You’ll thrive in this role if you’ve spent meaningful time in the quantum stack — debugging spin qubit devices or interpreting noisy cryogenic data. You’re equally comfortable discussing QLDPC codes or single‑photon indistinguishability with a quantum physicist as you are presenting program risk to a government program officer or a C‑suite executive. You think in systems and timelines. You can hold a 3‑year scaling roadmap in your head while staying focused on what needs to deliver this quarter, and you know how to sequence technical milestones in a way that builds credibility with demanding external stakeholders. You don’t need ambiguity resolved for you — you help resolve it for others. You’re the person who walks out of a complex technical review and can immediately translate what it means for the program, the contract, and the team’s next 90 days. Above all, you take seriously the responsibility of being the bridge. You know that the best quantum engineering in the world doesn’t matter if it can’t be communicated, validated, and delivered against a contract.

WHY YOU SHOULD WORK WITH US

• Work closely with some of the brightest innovators in quantum technologies to drive breakthroughs that redefine computing
• Enjoy a fast‑paced and fun environment where you can try new things while solving innovative challenges every day
• Inclusive company culture that values collaboration
• Regular social events and fun activities keep our global team connected
• Competitive compensation package including base salary, stock options, and relocation assistance for global talent
• Comprehensive benefits including extended health, dental, life, long‑term disability, an employee assistance program, parental leave top‑ups, and a flexible spending account

The description above is what we think an ideal candidate would look like for this role. At Photonic, we understand that everyone has a different work and life journey. If you feel your experience is close to what we’ve described, but you might not meet all the requirements, please still apply! All roles listed are for current vacancies. While artificial intelligence (AI) tools may be used to assist in reviewing applicant profiles, they do not determine candidate outcomes. Our hiring decisions are made by people, not algorithms. We are committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion. We embrace and encourage our employees’ differences, knowing that these very differences inspire innovation and build better teams. If there are any accommodations our team can make throughout our hiring process, please let us know.