Alice & Bob
Chief of Staff - Platform
TLDR
Lead execution across software, infrastructure, and physics, turning ambitious technical priorities into shipped systems and improving cross-team alignment.
Alice & Bob is developing the first universal, fault-tolerant quantum computer to solve the world’s hardest problems.
The quantum computer we envision building is based on a new kind of superconducting qubit: the Schrödinger cat qubit 🐈⬛. In comparison to other superconducting platforms, cat qubits have the astonishing ability to implement quantum error correction autonomously!
We're a diverse team of 200+ brilliant minds from over 30 countries united by a single goal: to revolutionise computing with a practical fault-tolerant quantum machine. Are you ready to take on unprecedented challenges and contribute to revolutionising technology? Join us, and let's shape the future of quantum computing together!
About the Platform Department
The Platform department builds the software and computational infrastructure that powers Alice & Bob’s quantum computers. Our scope spans scientific software, cloud/GPU compute, simulation tools, and the orchestration systems required to design, calibrate, and operate our hardware.
The Mission 🎯
As Platform Chief of Staff, your core mission is execution leadership: turning ambitious technical priorities into shipped systems. Working directly with the Head of Platform and team leads, you will drive execution across software, infrastructure, and physics. You will also eliminate ambiguity, align teams around clear milestones, unblock decisions, and scale our operating model.
A primary focus will be leading initiatives for our next-generation software layer, including orchestration, automated calibration workflows, and increasingly agentic modes of quantum computer operation.
Who You Are
This role is built for a senior, software-oriented technical leader (e.g., former CTO, tech founder, or senior engineering leader) who brings:
Technical & Academic Depth: Strong fundamentals in software engineering, mathematics, and physics.
Operating Discipline: A proven ability to move complex, ambiguous initiatives across the finish line.
Strategic Partnership: The leadership maturity to act as a trusted advisor on roadmap, organization, and execution strategy.
Responsibilities
Drive high-impact technical initiatives from ambiguity to delivery, especially around the quantum computer operating system.
Identify where teams need clearer ownership, faster decision-making, stronger technical framing, or better coordination.
Step in hands-on when needed to unblock progress, clarify trade-offs, accelerate decisions, or build momentum.
Ensure major initiatives result in shipped capabilities, not only plans, documents, or coordination rituals.
Build the operating model that allows Platform to work effectively with physicists, hardware, software and infrastructure teams, and leadership.
Identify bottlenecks in workflows, communication, planning, and decision-making.
Implement pragmatic processes that increase clarity and execution without adding unnecessary bureaucracy.
Support the evolution from research tooling toward robust, scalable platform capabilities.
Challenge technical assumptions constructively and help teams converge on clear architectural and execution choices.
Serve as a trusted thought partner on roadmap, organization, execution, and platform strategy.
Translate long-term technical ambition into concrete priorities, milestones, KPIs, resourcing needs, and delivery plans.
Experience
7+ years of experience in a demanding technical environment, ideally in a software-first technology company, deeptech scale-up, research infrastructure team, or complex engineering organization.
First-hand experience leading mission-critical technical initiatives across multiple teams.
Proven ability to move from ambiguous goals to structured plans, clear ownership, and delivered outcomes.
Strong software culture and ability to reason about architecture, platforms, infrastructure, tooling, and developer or scientific workflows.
Solid math and physics fundamentals, with the ability to engage credibly with physicists and technical experts.
Master’s degree or equivalent in Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or a related technical field.
Excellent written and spoken English.
Nice to Have & Success Measures
Experience building scalable internal developer, infrastructure, or specialized (MLOps, scientific, orchestration) platforms, with deep expertise in cloud infrastructure, GPU compute, distributed systems, and workflow scheduling.
Familiarity with scientific computing, numerical methods, simulation, calibration, characterization, or experimental automation.
Prior experience in deeptech, quantum computing, hardware-adjacent software, robotics, aerospace, semiconductor, or other complex R&D environments.
French language skills.
1. Drive Execution of Major Technical Initiatives
2. Improve Cross-Team Alignment and Operating Rhythm
3. Bridge Software, Physics, and Infrastructure
4. Partner on the Department Roadmap
Success in this role means that ambiguous, cross-functional department priorities become clearly owned, well-structured, and delivered.
Benefits:
- Our success is your success: own it with our BSPCE plan
- Direct IP Compensation: Earn substantial bonuses for driving the core patents that define our quantum architecture.
- Flexible remote policy, up to 40 % a month
- A Parental plan including additional benefits such as crèche support or additional days-off to take care of under 12 years old children
- Subsidized membership with Urban Sports Club
- Mental health support with moka.care
- 25-day vacation policy (as per French law) + RTT
- Half of transportation cost coverage (as per French law), or yearly allowance for the die-hard bicycle users
- Competitive health coverage, with Alan.
- Meal vouchers with Swile, as well as access to a fully equipped and regularly stocked kitchen
- French language courses covered by the company for those interested
Research shows that women might feel hesitant to apply for this job if they don't match 100% of the job requirements listed. This list is a guide, and we'd love to receive your application even if you think you're only a partial match. We are looking to build teams that innovate, not just tick boxes on a job spec.
You will join of one of the most innovative startups in France at an early stage, to be part of a passionate and friendly team on its mission to build the first universal quantum computer!
We love to share and learn from one another, so you will be certain to innovate, develop new ideas, and have the space to grow.
Benefits
Equity Compensation
Own it with our BSPCE plan
Flexible Work Hours
Flexible remote policy, up to 40 % a month
Health Insurance
Competitive health coverage, with Alan.
French language courses
French language courses covered by the company for those interested
Paid Parental Leave
A parental plan including additional benefits such as crèche support or additional days-off to take care of under 12 years old children
Paid Time Off
25-day vacation policy (as per French law) + RTT
Alice & Bob is focused on developing the world's first universal, fault-tolerant quantum computer designed to tackle some of the most challenging problems we face. With a diverse and talented team of over 200 individuals from more than 30 countries, the company is positioned to make significant advancements in the computing landscape, competing against industry giants like Google and IBM.
- Founded
- Founded 2012
- Employees
- 201-500 employees
- Industry
- Professional Services
- Total raised
- $120M raised
Chief of Staff