Senior Technical Engagement Manager - U.S. Government Programs

Sr. Technical Engagement Manager, U.S. Government Programs

About Xanadu: 
Xanadu's mission is to build quantum computers that are useful and available to people everywhere.At Xanadu, we are learners, innovators, researchers, collaborators and problem solvers. We are creating something that has never been built before. We love what we do and are looking for like-minded individuals who are passionate about the future of computing to join our team. If this sounds like it could be you, we'd love to hear from you.Your role and responsibilities: 

As Xanadu's Technical Engagement Manager (TEM), U.S. Government, you will drive the growth and delivery of our U.S. government-funded research portfolio, owning the full lifecycle from identifying and winning new funding to assuring successful execution of active awards. This includes building relationships, shaping opportunities, and ensuring that our government funded programs remain on track and strategically aligned with both Xanadu’s technical roadmap and funding agency priorities. You will serve as the primary interface between Xanadu and U.S. government research funding communities. As such, an ideal candidate will feel comfortable bridging the divide between U.S. government needs and Xanadu’s technical capabilities and expertise. 

You Will:

• Manage delivery on a wide range of active U.S. government grants, working closely with principal investigators and technical staff to ensure timely delivery of milestones, reports, and deliverables across active awards.
• Coordinate with Xanadu’s Hardware, Software, Algorithms, Legal, and Finance teams to ensure proposals are technically rigorous, strategically compelling, and administratively compliant.
• Lead outreach and grant-writing efforts for new U.S. government funding opportunities, including shaping strategy, assembling teaming arrangements with primes and national labs, writing and editing technical volumes, and managing proposal submissions.
• Cultivate and expand relationships with U.S. government program managers, prime contractors, national lab collaborators, and other key community stakeholders, to position Xanadu for upcoming solicitations and opportunities.
• Monitor the funding landscape and proactively brief leadership on programs aligned with Xanadu's research roadmap in fault-tolerant quantum computing, photonic hardware, and quantum algorithms.
• Represent Xanadu at community events and use these engagements to generate new leads and teaming partnerships.

Basic qualifications and experience:

• Undergraduate degree in physics, chemistry, computer science, engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in a government-facing technical or program management role (e.g., program manager or SETA, national laboratory researcher, defense contractor, FFRDC staff, or university research/program administrator).
• Direct experience writing, reviewing, or managing proposals for U.S. government funding programs.
• Track record of successfully identifying, winning, and/or managing new government-funded programs or contracts.
• Strong understanding of U.S. government contracting and grants processes, including compliance requirements, cost accounting standards, and reporting obligations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to translate deep technical content into compelling proposal narratives.
• U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

Preferred qualifications and experience:

• Advanced degree (PhD, MSc, or equivalent) in physics, chemistry, computer science, engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Familiarity with quantum computing, photonics, superconducting systems, or adjacent deep-tech domains.
• Existing relationships with program managers at DARPA, DoE, or national laboratories.
• Experience working with or within a startup or high-growth technology company.
• Familiarity with the U.S. public policy landscape as it relates to emerging technologies, including congressional affairs, executive branch science and technology priorities, and the federal budget and appropriations process.
• Active U.S. security clearance (Secret or above), or clearance eligibility. 

Our values are important. They are fundamental and lay the foundation for culture at Xanadu. Learn more about our values here.

We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. We are committed to building an inclusive, safe, and equitable culture and fostering an environment where our employees feel included, valued, and heard. We are committed to meeting the needs of all individuals and support a barrier-free workplace. Should you require accommodations at any point during the recruitment process please contact Recruiting at [email protected].

Please be advised that we may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in the screening and assessment of applicants for this position. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.