Program Manager, Government Programs & Strategic Engagement (Quantum)

Program Manager, Government Programs & Strategic Engagement (Quantum)

Location: Boston, MA (Headquarters) with periodic travel to Washington, DC and partner sites
in the U.S. and allied countries.

Type: Full-time

Summary:

QuEra is seeking a Program Manager, Government Programs & Strategic Engagement to expand and execute the company’s engagement with the U.S. Government and allied governments on quantum computing.

This role sits at the intersection of technology, policy, and business strategy—translating QuEra’s technical roadmap into credible program concepts, agency partnerships, and mission-aligned outcomes. You will build durable relationships with government stakeholders, advocate for programs and policies that accelerate quantum capability, and serve as a program manager for selected government-funded initiatives. Internally, you will advise senior leadership on engagement strategy, align priorities across technical and business teams, and communicate the value and tradeoffs of government opportunities with clarity and discipline.

Responsibilities:

• Establish and grow strategic relationships with U.S. Government agencies and allied
  government counterparts relevant to quantum computing, including both technical and
  policy leadership.


• Shape and advance program concepts that align government mission needs with QuEra’s
  technical roadmap (e.g., testbeds, benchmarking, workforce, standards, supply chain, and
  deployment readiness).


• Advocate for priority programs and enabling policies through effective engagement with
  program offices, acquisition organizations, and key decision makers.


• Serve as a program manager for selected government programs, coordinating scope,
  schedule, deliverables, and stakeholder communications in partnership with technical
  leads, contracts, and finance.


• Develop government engagement strategies and “campaign plans” for priority accounts
  (e.g., DARPA, DOE, DoD, NNSA, national labs, allied ministries), including objectives,
  timelines, and measures of success.


• Identify and pursue partnership models across government, industry, and academia (e.g.,
  consortia, shared testbeds, public-private partnerships, international R&D collaborations),
  in coordination with Legal and Contracts.


• Translate complex technical concepts into clear narratives, briefing materials, and decision
  memos for government stakeholders and QuEra executives.


• Inform corporate strategy by mapping the evolving government landscape (funding
  priorities, procurement pathways, standards, export controls) to product, R&D, and
  commercialization decisions.


• Support capture activities across the lifecycle (early shaping through submission), including
  stakeholder discovery, solution framing, teaming strategy, and executive-level positioning.


• Represent QuEra at relevant government, industry, and academic forums; build credibility
  and trust through disciplined, accurate, and mission-oriented communication.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline (e.g., Physics, Engineering, Computer Science,
  Applied Mathematics) or equivalent technical training and experience.


• 5+ years of relevant experience spanning government, national security, policy, strategy
  consulting, deep-tech commercialization, or government-facing business roles.


• Demonstrated ability to operate at the intersection of technology, business, and government-building stakeholder trust and moving initiatives from concept to execution.


• Strong program management skills, including the ability to coordinate cross-functional
  teams and manage timelines, risks, and deliverables.


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience briefing senior technical
  and executive audiences.


• Ability to travel periodically (domestic and international) for stakeholder engagement,
  program reviews, and partner coordination.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in a technical field, public policy, international affairs, business (MBA),
  or a related discipline.


• Familiarity with U.S. federal R&D and acquisition pathways (e.g., OTA, FAR/DFARS,
  SBIR/STTR, CRADAs), and the operational realities of milestone-based government
  programs.


• Experience engaging allied governments or international partners on emerging technology
  initiatives, including an understanding of shared objectives and constraints (e.g., security,
  export controls, data governance).


• Working knowledge of the quantum computing ecosystem (hardware modalities, control
  stack, benchmarking, error correction, applications) sufficient to communicate credibly
  with technical stakeholders.


• Experience building multi-party collaborations (government/industry/academia) and
  structuring programs that span institutions or regions.

Additional Information:

• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance where required.


• This role may involve interaction with controlled technical data and compliance with
  export-control and cybersecurity requirements, depending on program assignment.

Compensation and equity are competitive and commensurate with experience.

QuEra Computing builds the world’s most powerful neutral-atom quantum
computers.

Our Government Programs and Strategic Engagement function helps translate frontier science into durable national capabilities—by aligning technical roadmaps with mission needs, shaping high-impact programs, and executing with rigor across government and allied ecosystems.

QuEra is an equal opportunity employer. We recruit, hire, and promote without regard to legally protected characteristics. Where project work requires access to controlled information or facilities, employment is contingent on the ability to obtain and maintain appropriate authorizations. All hiring complies with applicable federal and state laws.