Quantum computing executive search

Retained search for quantum computing leadership, from hardware and error correction through software, applications and commercial partnerships. Vice president to C‑suite.

Key roles we place ↓

Overview

What we do in quantum computing

Metric places senior and executive leaders across quantum computing, covering quantum hardware, error correction, software and algorithms, and the commercial teams building the first customer relationships. The work spans hardware companies, software developers and the organizations building quantum capability. Searches are retained and run from vice president through C-suite.

Quantum computing is still mostly a research problem with a commercial clock attached. Leaders need the scientific credibility to hire and keep outstanding researchers and the judgment to turn their work into a product and a business, and very few people have both.

Roles

The roles we place in quantum computing

Chief Scientific Officer Scientific direction and research leadership.
VP Hardware Engineering Building and scaling quantum systems.
Head of Error Correction Theory and implementation of fault tolerance.
VP Software Compilers, tools and application software.
Head of Applications Finding and proving useful problems to solve.
VP Product Turning research into products customers can use.
VP Business Development Partnerships with industry, government and research.
Chief Executive Officer Leading a research-led business toward commercial scale.
VP Marketing Positioning and demand generation for early quantum products.

+ many others

Within this sector

What quantum computing covers

Quantum Hardware

Qubits, cryogenics, control electronics and the systems around them.

Error Correction

Making quantum systems reliable enough to be useful.

Software & Algorithms

The tools and applications that run on quantum hardware.

Commercial & Partnerships

Early customers, research partners and the path to revenue.

Market

Hiring in quantum computing right now

The quantum talent pool is small, and most of it trained in a handful of university and national labs. Companies compete hard for the same researchers, so how a business is led matters as much as what it pays. The rarer hire is the leader who can bridge research and commerce, someone researchers respect and customers trust. Product, engineering and commercial leaders from semiconductors, high-performance computing and deep technology software often fill that gap well.

Common questions

Quantum computing hiring questions

The questions clients ask most often before briefing a quantum computing search.

How long does a quantum computing leadership search take?

We work to seven days to a shortlist on most briefs. How long the search takes after that depends on the role and on notice periods, so we set out a realistic timeline with you at the start.

Do you work retained or contingent?

Retained. That is what lets our consultants map the market fully and approach people who are not looking, rather than working only from whoever has applied.

Do you place below vice president?

Most briefs sit at vice president and above. We also run director searches for critical technical leadership, such as a head of error correction or a hardware lead.

Do candidates need a quantum background?

For scientific and core engineering roles, yes. For product, commercial and operational leadership, people from semiconductors, high-performance computing and deep technology software often bring what a quantum company needs, and can learn the science around them.

Sector specialists

Quantum computing team

Shaila Gallagher

Business Development Lead

Zeke Arlott

Head of Frontier Tech

Meet the team →

Let's build together

Ready to brief us on a quantum computing search?

Tell us about the role and we'll give you a clear read on the market, the people worth speaking to and how quickly we can move.