Cloud Engineer - Quantum Computing (f/m/d)

eleQtron develops and operates full-stack quantum computers based on trapped‑ion technology. Quantum computing is a new computing paradigm rapidly approaching commercial viability. Our unique approach combines laser‑cooled trapped ions with microwave control and tailored magnetic fields. Our next‑generation computing machines under development will be able to find solutions to problems that are out of reach today, thus enabling new innovative products and services for a brighter future.

We are looking for a Cloud Engineer (m/f/d) to join us in Hamburg or Siegen and build and operate the scalable, secure cloud platform that connects users with our trapped‑ion quantum computers.

Responsibilities:

You will join our Quantum firmware Team as a Cloud Engineer. You will build the layer through which the world reaches our quantum computers. Users submit quantum programs; your services compile, schedule, and dispatch them to our machines and return the results:

• Build and operate the cloud services that let users submit quantum programs to our systems and retrieve their results.
• Develop and deploy our compilation pipeline as a scalable cloud service, from circuit input through transpilation down to hardware‑level instructions
• Design and maintain the public API and SDK entry points to our platform
• Implement job queuing, scheduling, and dispatch towards the hardware backends, including quota, prioritisation, and result handling
• Own authentication and authorisation across the platform: user and tenant identity, API keys and tokens, and role‑based access to machines, jobs, and results, built on an established identity provider rather than from scratch
• Guarantee tenant isolation, so that quantum programs and results are never visible across customer boundaries, and manage secrets and credentials across the stack
• Work with the quantum firmware and hardware teams on the interfaces between cloud services and the machine itself
• Instrument the platform for observability and keep an eye on latency, throughput, and cost

Required Skills:

• 3+ years of hands‑on experience building and deploying backend or platform services in production
• Strong Python; additional systems‑level language experience (Go, Rust, C++) is welcome
• Solid API design skills (REST and/or gRPC) for services other developers have to use
• Practical experience implementing authentication and authorisation in production systems: OAuth 2.0 / OpenID Connect, token handling, and role‑based access control
• Secure engineering habits: least privilege by default, proper secrets management, and awareness of dependency and container supply‑chain risks
• Infrastructure as code (Terraform, Pulumi, or similar) and CI/CD pipelines (GitLab CI, GitHub Actions, or similar)
• Working understanding of GDPR and data residency requirements, and a genuine interest in digital sovereignty
• Ability to collaborate effectively with experimental physicists and engineers
• Strong adaptability and a quick learning mindset
• Good proficiency in English (written and spoken); German is an advantage for working with public‑sector partners

Nice to have (Bonus)

• Running an identity provider in production (Keycloak, Zitadel, Ory, Authentik, or a managed IAM service)
• Multi‑tenant isolation patterns in SaaS platforms
• Contributing to security certification work (ISO 27001, BSI IT‑Grundschutz, BSI C5) or acting on penetration test findings
• Familiarity with quantum SDKs and toolchains (Qiskit, Cirq, PennyLane, QIR) or hardware abstraction interfaces such as QDMI
• Batch scheduling or HPC environments (Slurm or similar)
• Observability stacks such as Prometheus, Grafana, or OpenTelemetry
• Prior exposure to quantum computing or other deep‑tech domains

What you can expect from eleQtron:

• Competitive salary: We value our team members and therefore provide remunerations that reflect this, additionally rewarding achievements
• Flexible working hours: We offer personal freedom through a variety of flexible work schedules
• Team spirit: In our international and diverse team, and with our regular team events, having fun at work is simply part of the culture
• Further development: We want to grow together and so we offer our team members needs‑based, individualized further training as well as plenty of room for personal development
• Wellness Package: We offer health-promoting benefits such as fitness programs like UrbanSportsClub to support your well‑being
• Bike Leasing: Stay Mobile and Sustainable with Our Company Bike Leasing Program
• Moving Benefits: A warm welcome! We are happy to support employees who move for us with a bonus
• At the forefront: Work at the forefront of technology, where academic research meets commercial applications
• Modern workplace: We have a high‑quality infrastructure with laboratory space, offices and meeting rooms