Senior Applications Lead - Defense

Job description

Accountabilities: Lead the development of defense and national security applications, identifying and shaping high-value use cases where fault-tolerant quantum computing can provide meaningful strategic or mission advantages. Partner with business development teams on strategic accounts, customer engagements, conference participation, proposals, briefings, and senior-level stakeholder discussions. Build trusted relationships with senior officials, defense primes, national laboratories, FFRDCs, service research organizations, and other strategic government and industry partners. Translate defense and national security priorities into clearly defined application opportunities, assessing mission relevance, technical feasibility, potential quantum advantage, adoption pathways, and strategic value. Develop compelling customer-facing materials, including technical narratives, white papers, proposals, briefings, and conference content that connect quantum technology roadmaps with defense-relevant challenges. Collaborate closely with applications, algorithms, software, and other technical teams to evaluate feasibility, define project scope, identify technical and delivery risks, and develop paths toward customer-facing engagements. Own selected defense and national security projects, establishing project charters, milestones, deliverables, stakeholder alignment, communications, and execution plans. Contribute to the broader defense applications strategy by identifying priority use cases, target customers, strategic partners, funding opportunities, and go-to-market approaches. Help develop the organization's understanding of defense-sector opportunities and continuously refine application priorities as quantum capabilities and customer needs evolve. Requirements: Bring significant professional experience within the U.S. defense industry, national security, intelligence, aerospace, or an adjacent government technology ecosystem, with the credibility to engage senior stakeholders. Hold a Ph.D. in physics, engineering, applied mathematics, chemistry, materials science, or a closely related technical discipline. Be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance; an active TS/SCI clearance is strongly preferred. Demonstrate strong scientific and technical judgment, with the ability to understand complex technical concepts and translate them into practical applications and compelling customer narratives. Have familiarity with quantum computing, quantum algorithms, high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, or related advanced technologies; direct quantum experience is advantageous. Demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience creating technical briefings, proposals, white papers, conference materials, or other customer-facing content. Be comfortable working across multidisciplinary teams and influencing stakeholders without direct authority. Possess strong project ownership skills, with the ability to manage ambiguity, evolving priorities, multiple stakeholders, and complex initiatives in a fast-paced environment. Be a self-starter who combines strategic thinking with hands-on execution and can move effectively between high-level strategy, technical analysis, and customer engagement. Benefits: Base salary: $164,000–$192,700 USD annually for the Washington, D.C. Zone 2 market. Equity grants as part of the overall compensation package. Competitive health coverage for employees and eligible dependents. 401(k) retirement plan with company matching. Financial wellness tools and planning resources. Wellness benefits and family support programs. Life and disability insurance. Paid leave programs and company-designated paid holidays. Discretionary time off (DTO) and an end-of-year company shutdown. Remote and flexible working opportunities, with the role ideally based in the Washington, D.C. area. Opportunity to work at the forefront of quantum computing and help shape applications with significant national security and strategic implications. How Jobgether works: We use an AI-powered matching process to ensure your application is reviewed quickly, objectively, and fairly against the role's core requirements. Our system identifies the top-fitting candidates, and this shortlist is then shared directly with the hiring company. The final decision and next steps (interviews, assessments) are managed by their internal team. We appreciate your interest and wish you the best! Why Apply Through Jobgether? Data Privacy Notice: By submitting your application, you acknowledge that Jobgether will process your personal data to evaluate your candidacy and share relevant information with the hiring employer. This processing is based on legitimate interest and pre-contractual measures under applicable data protection laws (including GDPR). You may exercise your rights (access, rectification, erasure, objection) at any time. #LI-CL1 This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Senior Applications Lead - Defense based in the United States. This is a senior, highly strategic role focused on shaping the future of quantum computing applications across defense and national security. You will translate complex mission needs into high-value opportunities for fault-tolerant quantum systems. Working across business development, applications, algorithms, software, and technical teams, you will help assess feasibility and define pathways from concept to customer impact. The role combines scientific leadership, strategic customer engagement, and project ownership in a fast-moving environment. You will engage with senior government officials, defense organizations, national laboratories, and other influential stakeholders. This is an opportunity to help establish emerging quantum capabilities in one of the most strategically important technology domains.