Staff Project Manager

About the role

As Q-CTRL scales globally, our Program Management Office (PMO) is seeking an experienced Staff Project Manager to take end-to-end operational ownership of our strategic external engagements. From orchestrating high-value competitive bids to steering critical contract milestones, this role directly underpins the execution of our cutting-edge quantum technology initiatives.
Operating within our Operations team, our PMO cuts through bureaucracy to get things done. We leverage data, automation, and continuous improvement to build infrastructure that scales ahead of our company's growth. You will serve as a cross-functional multiplier—driving delivery across technical and commercial teams while codifying PMO best practices globally.

About the team The Project Management Office is the operationally-focused engine that drives big ideas into reality. We align strategy, streamline execution, and deliver measurable impact at scale. We turn complexity into clarity, empowering teams to achieve more, faster. About Q-CTRL Q-CTRL is the global leader in AI-powered quantum control infrastructure software. We build the tools that make quantum technology useful, solving the hardest challenges in quantum computing and quantum sensing to deliver real-world impact.   Founded in 2017, we operate globally with offices in Sydney, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Huntsville, Berlin, and Oxford. Our teams bring together technical and multi-disciplinary expertise across the product lifecycle, and we’re hiring talent to help scale every part of the business. We work quickly to turn cutting-edge science into deployable technology.   In 2024 we raised US$113 million in Series B funding, the largest aggregate investment for a quantum software company. Six months later we delivered the first commercial quantum advantage with Ironstone Opal, our field-validated quantum navigation solution for defense and industry.   At Q-CTRL, we prioritize outcomes over hours. We offer flexibility, equity potential, and competitive benefits that reflect our high-performance culture. If you’re ready to help shape the future of quantum, we’d love to hear from you!

What you’ll be doing:

Lead competitive bids: Drive end-to-end proposals for complex solicitations and customer contracts—translating complex quantum and engineering concepts into compelling, winning submissions

Project delivery and execution: Partner with multidisciplinary engineering and scientific teams to guide physical builds, lab integration, and contractual milestones from award through to final delivery

Own project governance & financials: Steer project budgets, burn rates, baseline schedules, and proactive risk mitigation across active R&D contracts to ensure predictable execution

Scale our global PMO: Design and embed lightweight, scalable delivery frameworks, templates, and operational standards across our growing international hubs

Drive internal and external stakeholder management: Serve as the trusted operational bridge connecting our research scientists, hardware engineers, finance, and leadership with technical authorities and program managers at client and prime organisation

Ideally you’ll have:

Up to 8+ years of direct project/program management experience, specifically supporting complex technical engineering, deep-tech, or scientific research projects, with proven experience supporting multidisciplinary hardware delivery from early breadboard prototyping through to lab integration, environmental testing, and field trials

Proven track record leading end-to-end responses to external funding opportunities (such as government grants, defense/agency solicitations, enterprise RFPs, or competitive tenders)

A degree in a STEM discipline (or equivalent practical technical industry experience)

Strong ability to synthesise complex technical concepts into clear, persuasive, and high-impact written narratives

Demonstrated experience with project budget architecture, contract administration, expenditure tracking, and financial compliance

Hands-on experience developing project management templates, codified workflows, and operational standards for scaling teams

Exceptional cross-functional leadership skills with the ability to influence and manage stakeholders across research, engineering, finance, and executive leadership

It would be fantastic if you have these skills/experience:

Direct experience managing government-sponsored engagements

Experience working within an international, multi-time-zone team environment

Familiarity with the commercial quantum technology, hardware, or advanced computing software landscape