PhD Position on Quantum Error Correction for Photonics

Location: Delft, Netherlands; relocation to the Netherlands may be required. The role is based in the Terhal group at hirify.global, with collaborations and several-month secondments in Enschede and London.

Salary: €3,204–€4,051 gross per month, increasing from the first to the fourth year.

Company

hirify.global is a research university working on engineering, digitalisation, artificial intelligence, quantum technology, and other societal challenges, with QuTech developing scalable quantum computers and a secure quantum internet.

What you will do

• Develop fault-tolerant architectures for photonic, optical, and microwave quantum computing.
• Address photon loss and other hardware-specific errors in photonic platforms.
• Extend circuit-based quantum error-correction tools and concepts to fusion-based computation using ZX calculus.
• Design, numerically simulate, and decode small quantum error-correction protocols.
• Collaborate with theoretical and experimental researchers at QuTech, hirify.global, Riverlane, and other QuBriC network partners.
• Participate in secondments, consortium events, workshops, and doctoral training.

Requirements

• Master's degree in physics or quantum technology.
• Theoretical background in optics and quantum technologies.
• Excellent written and oral English communication skills are required.
• Self-drive, scientific curiosity, and a team-oriented attitude.
• Ability to work at hirify.global in Delft and relocate to the Netherlands if necessary.

Nice to have

• Knowledge of quantum error correction.
• Master's research experience in quantum error correction.

Culture & Benefits

• Four-year doctoral employment in principle, structured as an initial 1.5-year contract followed by a 2.5-year contract subject to progress and performance.
• 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus.
• Enrollment in the hirify.global Graduate School with supervision, mentoring, and a doctoral education programme.
• Customisable compensation package, health-insurance discounts, and a monthly work-cost contribution.
• Flexible work schedules, relocation support through Coming to Delft Service, and a Dual Career Programme for accompanying partners.

Hiring process

• Submit a CV, motivation letter, and BSc/MSc transcripts online by 22 September 2026.
• Applications are addressed to Barbara Terhal.
• A knowledge-security risk assessment takes place during the final stages of recruitment.