About The Role and Team
We are currently accepting applications for our PhD programme!
This is a unique opportunity to work at the cutting edge of technology development, developing new innovative circuits, devices and theoretical methods to tackle the engineering challenges of implementing a large-scale quantum computer in silicon.
PhD students will gain research and industrial experience working with some of the brightest quantum engineers, IC engineers and quantum computing theoreticians in a fast-growing research and development environment.
We do not award PhDs, and any offer for a PhD will be made in conjunction with our partner university, University of the Basque Country, where Quantum Motion will support you and provide guidance on your university application. The successful candidate is expected to start in October 2026.
Application Process:
- CV
- 1-page personal statement which describes your motivation for pursuing a PhD and explains which topics are of interest to you (in order of preference) and why.
If your application is successful, you will be invited to a 30-minute technical interview with the relevant team.
Application Deadline: The deadline for PhD applications is
January 7, 2026.
Functions of the Role
The Quantum Hardware Team at Quantum Motion develops and operates silicon based quantum processors built with standard CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) technology. This approach offers advantages for scaling such as high qubit density, long qubit coherence lifetimes and the ability to leverage the advanced nanofabrication methods of the semiconductor industry.
Quantum Motion has built a long and reliable track record in silicon qubit technology. The team has demonstrated a four-qubit silicon processor with gate fidelities above 99% and has set new standards in high-quality qubit readout. The group has also driven automated routines forward, including characterisation of 1024 quantum dots in less than 5 minutes. These advances open up many exciting research opportunities for spin-qubits based on silicon MOS devices, fabricated using the same processes used routinely across the IC industry today.
The project will be carried out in our facilities at the CIC nanoGUNE in San Sebastian under the supervision of Prof. Fernando Gonzalez-Zalba and Quantum Motion industrial supervisor Dr. Virginia Ciriano-Tejel. Moreover, it includes the option, if beneficial to the project and your interests, to spend periods working at the Quantum Motion headquarters in London.
Project Focus
This project tackles a real bottleneck in quantum computing. As the number of qubits grows, tuning, calibration and stable operation of qubits become increasingly difficult to manage. The aim of this PhD is to develop reliable automation routines that support these processes and allow systems of many transistors at low temperature to operate as functional quantum processors.
This PhD track combines experimental work with machine learning. You will work at the front line of quantum engineering and develop skills that reach well beyond this field. Your contributions will feed directly into the development and deployment of next-generation silicon-based quantum processors.
You will gain hands-on experience and deep expertise in:
Perform dynamical operations on spin qubits.
Analyse and interpret experimental data, contributing to scientific publications, patents, and presentations.
Applying machine learning methods for automation, including reinforcement learning, Bayesian approaches and practical data analysis
Working with RF and DC electronics and high frequency laboratory equipment
Running experiments at millikelvin temperatures in dilution fridges
EEO Statement
Quantum Motion is committed to providing Equal Employment Opportunities and does not discriminate in any employment decision based on characteristics protected by applicable national and regional laws, including: Age, sex (including gender identity, intersex status, and pregnancy), sexual orientation, race, colour, descent, or national/ethnic origin, religion, disability status, marital or domestic status, family responsibilities
We actively encourage applications from all qualified candidates, valuing the diversity that contributes to our innovative team.
About us
Quantum Motion is a fast-growing quantum computing scale-up based in London founded by internationally renowned researchers from UCL and Oxford University with over 40 years’ experience in developing qubits and quantum computing architectures. Bringing together state-of-the-art cryogenic facilities and an outstanding interdisciplinary team, we are developing quantum processors based on industrial-grade silicon chips, with the potential to radically transform computing power in areas such as materials modelling, medicine, artificial intelligence and more.
