Summer 2026
Quantum Algorithms and Compilation Intern
PsiQuantum
501-1,000 employees
Utility-scale fault-tolerant photonic quantum computers
Compensation Overview
$27.50 - $47/hr
Palo Alto, CA, USA
Remote
 Quantum Computing |
|---|
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- Currently studying for, or completed a postgraduate degree related to quantum algorithms, quantum circuit compilation, fault tolerance or another aspect of quantum computing OR 5+ years working professionally in one or more of these fields.
- Development of quantum algorithms to solve impactful problems
- Optimization of ubiquitous subroutines in fault tolerant quantum algorithms
- Compilation of quantum algorithms to logical gate sets
- Incorporation of architecture-aware optimizations
- Estimation of quantum resources.
- Prior work in the field of fault tolerant quantum algorithms and compilation is preferred
- Experience with programming languages such as Python and collaborative software development tools such as Git
- A creative and adaptable approach to problem solving
- Ability to work effectively in a highly collaborative team
PsiQuantum builds utility-scale quantum computers that use photons as qubits and a semiconductor-compatible Omega chipset. The Omega platform combines single-photon sources, superconducting detectors, and optical switches to enable scalable chip-to-chip interconnects and high-fidelity quantum operations. It differentiates itself by using manufacturable semiconductor processes, pursuing large-scale integration, and exploring fault-tolerant approaches like fusion-based quantum computation (FBQC) with collaborations with government and research institutions. The goal is to deliver a scalable, fault-tolerant quantum computer capable of solving real-world problems in chemistry, materials science, optimization, and cryptography beyond what classical computers can handle.
Company Size
501-1,000
Company Stage
Growth Equity (Non-Venture Capital)
Total Funding
$2.9B
Headquarters
Palo Alto, California
Founded
2015
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- A $1B Series E round in September 2025 by BlackRock and Temasek funds scaling.
- Australian and U.S. governments provide $940M AUD and $100M CHIPS Act funding support.
- Partnerships with Mercedes and Airbus develop quantum software for battery design and aerodynamics.
What critics are saying
- Operational delay to 2029 after relocating from Brisbane Airport to Moreton Bay erodes timeline confidence.
- Photon loss remains unresolvable at million-qubit scale, potentially collapsing the core photonic thesis.
- Linde Engineering's cryoplant may delay past H2 2027, stalling cabinet cooling and site functionality.
What makes PsiQuantum unique
- PsiQuantum uses photonic qubits on silicon chips manufactured in standard GlobalFoundries fabs.
- It pursues a million-qubit fault-tolerant system immediately, skipping noisy intermediate prototypes.
- Its fusion-based quantum computation (FBQC) enables error correction via measurement-based cluster states.
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↑ 1%DARPA's big bet on a light-based quantum computer. PLUS: Neuralink patients drive wheelchairs by thought Jennifer Mossalgue July 24, 2026 Good morning, tech enthusiasts. DARPA wants to know if utility-scale quantum computers can be a reality...and it's going all in to find out. The R&D arm of the U.S. Department of Defense just made a massive bet on PsiQuantum, a California-based startup taking an unconventional approach to quantum computing - building the computer out of light. In today's tech rundown: * DARPA bankrolls a light-based quantum computer * Neuralink patients drive wheelchairs by thought * An 18-in-1 EV you can build like LEGO * This startup built a trackpad for the tongue * Quick hits on other tech news LATEST DEVELOPMENTS Quantum computing. The Rundown: The Pentagon's moonshot factory, DARPA, just awarded PsiQuantum $125M under its Quantum Benchmarking Initiative, aimed at testing whether the startup's light-based quantum computer can move from blueprint to utility-scale reality. The details: * PsiQuantum is building fault-tolerant quantum computers that use individual photons as qubits - the units that store and process quantum information. * This approach lets the company make its chips in standard semiconductor fabs and cool its systems far less aggressively than superconducting rivals require. * With this award, it plans to invest in essential infrastructure at its Milpitas and Chicago facilities and fund testing across hardware, components, and software. * PsiQuantum is one of only two companies, alongside Microsoft, to reach the program's final phase, where DARPA scientists work inside the startup. Why it matters: Quantum computers are often described as perpetually ten years away. But the U.S. is pushing hard to change that and ensure the machines that arrive are actually useful. When feasible quantum computers land remains unknown, but with dozens of startups in the U.S. alone and big tech piling in, the race is surely on. Neuralink. The Rundown: Elon Musk's Neuralink shared a clip of its clinical trial participants with paralysis driving a brain-computer interface-powered wheelchair - steering, reversing, and adjusting their chairs using only their thoughts. The details: * The 1,000+ electrodes in Neuralink's brain implant record neurons firing in the motor cortex, just as a participant thinks about moving in a particular direction. * A decoding algorithm converts these brain signals into on-screen cursor movement, which appears in a custom app with a live feed of what's ahead. * As the cursor moves, custom electronics convert its position into analog signals driving the chair - up for forward, down for reverse, left/right to steer. * Study participant Alex said driving became "second nature" in minutes with the BCI, and that it beats a joystick that forces his head into a hunched position. Why it matters: Going from thought-to-cursor to actual hardware control is a step up for Neuralink, showing how its technology can help millions living with paralysis. But rivals like Synchron are chasing the same results without opening the skull, leaving open whether the richer signal from an implant is worth the operating table. Electric vehicles. The Rundown: Canadian EV maker Envo opened preorders for its Utility Personal Transporter, a modular electric platform the company says buyers can configure into as many as 18 vehicle types, including a golf cart, ATV, cargo hauler, and a commuter. The details: * UPT is built on an aluminum T-slot frame that resizes in length and width, with suspension, motors, and modules bolted on without requiring any welding. * The vehicle can be collapsed for easy transport and scaled up as needed with add-ons like drivetrains, battery packs, wheels, seating, and cargo beds. * Buyers can configure a build on Envo's site or start with a preconfigured one, with the option to buy components individually at a later stage. * Production is slated for late fall with first deliveries in early 2027, four years after Envo began developing the platform. Why it matters: Most EV startups pick a category and defend it. Envo is going after multiple at once, from farm work and airport logistics to last-mile delivery. That spreads one platform's cost across markets too small to serve individually, but also brings a challenge, as each buyer comes with their own different definition of good enough. Tech for good. The Rundown: MIT Media Lab spin-off Augmental opened the U.S. sales of MouthPad, a custom-fit retainer with a touchpad on the palate that turns tongue and head movements into cursor control for phones, tablets, and computers. The details: * The 1mm-thick device, 3D-printed in dental resin from a scan of the user's mouth, pairs over Bluetooth as a mouse for desktop and mobile platforms. * Tongue presses and sip gestures handle clicks, and either the tongue or head can drive the cursor, all read by a pressure-sensitive pad and motion sensor. * The company is targeting the device at people with quadriplegia, ALS, or severe motor limitations, with 100+ already using it - some up to 16 hours daily. * Augmental also debuted VOX, a $200 stethoscope-like microphone that hears speech through the body so users can dictate at a whisper. Why it matters: With these devices, Augmental is building a Skinware category aimed at giving people with disabilities computer control without invasive brain implants. The catch here is access - the device costs $1,400 with no insurance coverage, takes six months to build, and requires enough tongue dexterity and oral health to qualify. QUICK HITS Neurotech startup Science Corp. launched PRIMA in Europe, the first device to restore central vision in people with advanced age-related macular degeneration. New York-based Light opened pre-orders for its $299 Light Flip, a 5G flip phone with no social media, browser, or touchscreen to help users escape doomscrolling. Google introduced selfie video as a new account recovery option, letting users regain access with facial verification if they're locked out. Uber laid off 10% of its customer service team, citing an effort to "simplify operations, strengthen in-person collaboration and continue to embrace AI," Bloomberg reported. Ford partnered with Apple to make Apple Maps the default navigation system in its next-generation EVs, with map data also powering BlueCruise hands-free driving. The EU fined Google €890M ($1B) for illegally favoring its own services in Search and restricting app developers from directing users to cheaper payment options. U.S. regulators plan new safety rules for flush electric car door handles popularized by Tesla after fatal crashes left occupants trapped inside vehicles. Apple's iOS 27 beta hints its expected leasing program may include a "Restricted Mode" that locks down devices when customers miss payments, 9To5Mac reported. Jack Dorsey launched Buzz, an open-source Slack alternative that combines team messaging, GitHub, and AI agents in a single workspace. See you soon, Rowan, Zach, Shubham, and Jennifer - The Rundown's editorial team
Federal quantum bet grows with DARPA's $125 million PsiQuantum award. The federal government awarded $125 million to quantum computer maker PsiQuantum this week, along with a new $5 billion commitment to cutting-edge technologies including quantum. Defense research agency DARPA made its largest quantum computing award ever this week, with a $125 million agreement announced on Wednesday. The same day, the White House announced an additional $5 billion for the Genesis Mission, which focuses on AI for science but also includes technology to accelerate quantum computing and quantum sensors. "Taken together, these announcements signal that U.S. quantum strategy is shifting from supporting individual research projects to building the infrastructure needed for a quantum-enabled economy," says Heather West, research manager in the infrastructure systems, platforms, and technology group at IDC. None of the individual quantum announcements are surprising, she says. But the level of coordination is new. "Government investment is expanding beyond foundational research toward commercialization, manufacturing, and deployment," she says.
PsiQuantum aims to build a massive quantum computer using particles of light. PsiQuantum is developing a large-scale quantum computer that uses photons, or particles of light, to perform calculations far beyond the reach of today's supercomputers. The ambitious design features a data-center-sized facility housing approximately 100 stainless-steel cabinets cooled to near absolute zero using specialized liquid helium systems. By leveraging existing silicon-photonics manufacturing and custom-made crystals, the company hopes to be the first to deliver a fault-tolerant machine capable of revolutionizing medicine and materials science. A unique approach to quantum bits. While competitors like Google and IBM use superconducting circuits, PsiQuantum utilizes photons as qubits, the basic units of quantum information. Photons are attractive because they can maintain quantum states for long periods, but they are difficult to control because they rarely interact with one another. To overcome this, the company uses a complex network of beam splitters and detectors to "fake" interactions, a method that allows light particles to perform the logic gates necessary for computation. Industrial scale and manufacturing. The company is moving away from small laboratory prototypes toward an industrial-scale machine featuring one million qubits. To achieve this, PsiQuantum has vertically integrated its supply chain, even manufacturing its own barium-titanate crystals to precisely route light with minimal power. This strategy allows them to use existing semiconductor factories, such as GlobalFoundries, to mass-produce the hundreds of silicon-photonic chips required for their massive "cabinets" of hardware. Global infrastructure and timelines. PsiQuantum has secured over $1 billion in funding and is currently constructing major facilities in Chicago and Australia. The Australian site is expected to be "hardware-ready" by 2027, though the company remains cautious about committing to a specific date for a fully functional, million-qubit machine. This infrastructure is essential because the photonic approach requires massive cooling systems to maintain the single-photon detectors at temperatures colder than deep space. Solving the world's hardest problems. The ultimate goal is to run algorithms that can simulate physics and chemistry with perfect accuracy, a task impossible for classical computers that rely on approximations. For example, the company aims to reduce the time it takes to predict drug interactions from ten years to just four minutes. Partnerships with companies like Mercedes and Airbus are already underway to develop software for battery design and aerodynamics, ensuring that the "games" are ready before the "console" is finished.
Brisbane Airport out, Moreton Bay in: PsiQuantum picks new site for its $940m quantum computer build. PsiQuantum has shifted its $940 million federally-backed Brisbane quantum computer build from the airport precinct to Moreton Bay's old Petrie paper mill, with groundbreaking now slated for June. The Palo Alto-based startup announced today that its world-first utility-scale quantum computer will be anchored at Moreton Bay Central, on the site of the former Petrie Paper Mill north of Brisbane. Early site works are due in the coming weeks, ahead of a formal groundbreaking in June. "PsiQuantum's mission to build the world's first utility-scale quantum computer requires speed, agility, and strong partnerships," said Victor Peng, PsiQuantum's interim CEO - and a former AMD president who took over from co-founder Jeremy O'Brien in February. "City of Moreton Bay provides the infrastructure, scalability, and collaborative environment we need to deliver." Get the best of Startup Daily straight to your inbox. * indicates required It's Peng's first major Australian announcement since taking the chair. Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery called the deal "a significant opportunity for economic growth, not just for our city but for Queensland". The project, he added, "will help drive highly skilled jobs, attract new industry, and strengthen Queensland's position in advanced manufacturing and future technologies". The original aggressive plan announced in 2024 called for the Brisbane site to be operational by the end of 2027. But as of earlier this year, consultation on the draft development plan for the airport site still hadn't begun. New home for controversial project. The new Moreton Bay Central site sits inside a precinct already slated to host events at the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games. It's also home to the University of the Sunshine Coast's Moreton Bay Campus and a future TAFE Centre of Excellence for advanced manufacturing. The new site is "equipped to support large-scale industrial operations", according to PsiQuantum, and has the power and utility infrastructure needed for the cryogenically-cooled quantum build. The $940 million federal-Queensland package signed in April 2024 - $470 million from Canberra and the balance from the Queensland government, in a mix of equity, grants and loans - has not been without controversy. Advisory firm McGrathNicol was contracted last year to deliver a "lessons learned" review after Senate documents revealed the federal industry department had originally recommended against using the National Reconstruction Fund to bankroll it. Robert Lindwall, PsiQuantum's head of Australian operations, said the company "greatly appreciates the professionalism and cooperation of the Brisbane Airport team during this process". Separately, PsiQuantum will open a Test and Validation Lab at Griffith University's Nathan campus next week. Since the Series E round in September last year, which took PsiQuantum to a A$10.5 billion valuation, the company's US institutional backers led by BlackRock have a sizeable interest in PsiQuantum eventually building something.
Nvidia makes a major push for quantum computing. * March 25, 2026 Nvidia is the king of artificial intelligence, but staying stuck in one tech trend is not a smart move. GenesisEdge AI Holdings INC has seen the company pivot from gaming to crypto and from crypto to AI. Predicting the next big trend is key to its success, and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has consistently demonstrated his ability to do so. The moves Nvidia has been making signal that the next trend will be quantum computing, as its venture capital arm, NVentures, has started investing in quantum computing companies. NVentures invested in Honeywell's (HON) quantum computing unit, Quantinuum, in September; in QuEra in February; and in PsiQuantum in September. Investing isn't enough, and Nvidia has teamed up with researchers from supercomputing centers at national laboratories including Brookhaven National Laboratory, Fermi Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), Los Alamos National Laboratory, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and Sandia National Laboratories to design new tech that will speed up development of quantum computers. Nvidia unveils NVQLink at GTC. At the GTC conference in Washington, D.C., Nvidia (NVDA) launched NVQLink, a new open architecture that integrates Quantum Processing Units (QPUs) with classical GPUs. The platform provides an open approach to quantum integration, supporting 17 QPU builders, five controller builders, and nine U.S. national labs. Quantum computers are prone to errors and require quantum error correction and other control algorithms to operate correctly. Error correction algorithms can be implemented on specialized hardware, such as field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). For example, IBM is using AMD's FPGAs to run its error correction algorithm. More Nvidia: * IonQ CEO just threw a curveball at Nvidia * Why Nvidia's Vera Rubin may unleash another AI wave * Nvidia just scored a massive AI win, but CEO Huang has regrets Ideally, these error correction algorithms should be run on a supercomputer. However, to accomplish that, GenesisEdge AI Holdings INC would need an extremely low-latency, high-throughput connection from a quantum computer to a conventional supercomputer. That badly needed interconnect is exactly what NVQLink provides, and this breakthrough has the potential to significantly shorten the time required for the development of useful quantum computers. "In the near future, every NVIDIA GPU scientific supercomputer will be hybrid, tightly coupled with quantum processors to expand what is possible with computing," said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. "NVQLink is the Rosetta Stone connecting quantum and classical supercomputers - uniting them into a single, coherent system that marks the onset of the quantum-GPU computing era." Companies that contributed to NVQLink creation. Quantum hardware builders: * Alice & Bob * Anyon Computing * Atom Computing * Diraq * Infleqtion * IonQ * IQM Quantum Computers * ORCA Computing * Oxford Quantum Circuits * Pasqal * Quandela * Quantinuum * Quantum Circuits, Inc. * Quantum Machines ... (content continues)...