IBM Quantum Algorithm Researcher — Japan

IBM

IBM

Tokyo, Japan

Posted on May 1, 2026
Introduction

We are seeking a passionate and technically skilled Quantum Algorithm Engineer to join our team and enable a vibrant ecosystem around our quantum computing platform. This role sits at the intersection of engineering, education, and community engagement—ideal for someone who thrives on explaining complex concepts, supporting developers, and accelerating adoption of quantum computing. As a Quantum Algorithm Engineer at IBM, you will be responsible for working with Quantum Innovation Centers to get the most out of our quantum computers, both dedicated and on the cloud systems, directly impacting the path towards quantum utility. You’ll represent the voice of users internally and bring the company’s latest capabilities to the world through workshops, events, tutorials, code, and more. You must be passionate not only for technology but also for connecting people and seeing individuals grow within our community. The ideal candidate must also possess communication skills appropriate for engaging scientists and developers while teaching complex concepts to a technical audience. You will liaise with numerous internal and external stakeholders and tackle complex problems which will often involve several teams, while still being able to operate independently to prioritize tasks effectively.

Key Responsibilities

Your responsibilities include

  • Working with researchers and engineers across the IBM Quantum Network (IQN) to understand, analyze and optimize quantum computing performance on state-of-the-art hardware and software.

  • Working closely with the software development and product teams in new capability testing to expand IBM Quantum’s software tools and capabilities. This includes i) providing feedback on early internal prototypes, and ii) identifying (client-related) gaps in existing software and engaging with Product and leaders to address them.

  • Implementing production-quality software across IBM Quantum’s software stack

  • Maintaining up-to-date technical skills and knowledge of latest developments in quantum computing and related fields.

  • Deliver technical lectures for a wide audience, ranging from beginners to experts.

  • Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to define and achieve goals.

Your role and responsibilities

At IBM Quantum, our mission is to bring useful quantum computing to the world. IBM brings the most performant quantum computers and enables the quantum community to develop early quantum computing use cases with the Qiskit software stack. Today, our IBM Quantum Network comprises 275+ Fortune 500 companies, academic institutions, national laboratories, and startups, all striving toward the common goal of extracting value from quantum computers. IBM is driving this technology forward along an ambitious roadmap aimed at demonstrating quantum advantage by end of 2026, delivering the first fault-tolerant quantum computing by 2029. We hope you'll join us on this mission.

Required education
Master's Degree
Preferred education
Doctorate Degree
Required technical and professional expertise

  • MSc. in Physics, Computer Science, Computational Science, or equivalent experience

  • 4+ years of experience in quantum computing, running near-term algorithms in quantum hardware.

  • Excellent programming skills in Python and Qiskit.

  • Deep understanding of quantum computing architecture, both in software, middleware and hardware.

  • Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.

  • Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills to identify, diagnose and address challenges.

  • Project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.

  • Proven experience analyzing, modeling and tuning quantum hardware performance, including (but not limited to) transpilation, error suppression and mitigation techniques.

  • Speak fluently in both Japanese and English

Preferred technical and professional experience

  • PhD. in Physics, Computer Science, Computational Science, or equivalent experience

  • Understanding of quantum system benchmarking techniques and trade-offs across different hardware architectures.

  • Strong fundamentals in quantum algorithms across different application domains, particularly those that are feasible for near term implementation

  • Proven experience with real quantum processors, and system-level performance modelling

  • HPC programming experience and understanding of the integration between quantum and classical compute capabilities

  • Software development skills (e.g. documentation, debugging, data structures, design patters, software testing, CI/CD, agile frameworks, open source).

  • Demonstrated experience collaborating across team such as product and sales teams.

  • Experience in external/interdisciplinary research collaborations

  • Experience in customer-facing and/or client support roles.

ABOUT BUSINESS UNIT

IBM Research is the organic growth engine of IBM and an innovation engine for our customers and partners. As part of this mission, IBM Research anticipates and examines 'What's Next in Computing' to ultimately create and integrate the technologies the world relies upon to solve big challenges and unlock new opportunities. We create and pioneer new markets for IBM, our partners and customers as exemplified in our ongoing quest to reach practical and large-scale quantum computing. Across IBM Research, we realize the power and potential to accelerate discovery with our partners and clients by combining the power of high performance computing, AI, and Quantum, all integrated through the hybrid cloud.

YOUR LIFE @ IBM

In a world where technology never stands still, we understand that, dedication to our clients success, innovation that matters, and trust and personal responsibility in all our relationships, lives in what we do as IBMers as we strive to be the catalyst that makes the world work better.

Being an IBMer means you’ll be able to learn and develop yourself and your career, you’ll be encouraged to be courageous and experiment everyday, all whilst having continuous trust and support in an environment where everyone can thrive whatever their personal or professional background.

Our IBMers are growth minded, always staying curious, open to feedback and learning new information and skills to constantly transform themselves and our company. They are trusted to provide on-going feedback to help other IBMers grow, as well as collaborate with colleagues keeping in mind a team focused approach to include different perspectives to drive exceptional outcomes for our customers. The courage our IBMers have to make critical decisions everyday is essential to IBM becoming the catalyst for progress, always embracing challenges with resources they have to hand, a can-do attitude and always striving for an outcome focused approach within everything that they do.

Are you ready to be an IBMer?

ABOUT IBM

IBM’s greatest invention is the IBMer. We believe that through the application of intelligence, reason and science, we can improve business, society and the human condition, bringing the power of an open hybrid cloud and AI strategy to life for our clients and partners around the world.

Restlessly reinventing since 1911, we are not only one of the largest corporate organizations in the world, we’re also one of the biggest technology and consulting employers, with many of the Fortune 500 companies relying on the IBM Cloud to run their business.

At IBM, we pride ourselves on being an early adopter of artificial intelligence, quantum computing and blockchain. Now it’s time for you to join us on our journey to being a responsible technology innovator and a force for good in the world.

IBM is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, pregnancy, disability, neurodivergence, age, or other characteristics protected by the applicable law. IBM is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.

OTHER RELEVANT JOB DETAILS

For additional information about location requirements, please discuss with the recruiter following submission of your application.

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