Laboratory

Cold-Atom Quantum System Research Team
RIKEN Center for Quantum Computing
(Team Director: Sylvain de Leseleuc)

Outline of Laboratory

The missions of RIKEN Center for Quantum Computing (RQC) are to deepen our understandings of quantum mechanics and quantum information, develop techniques for quantum control and measurement, build quantum computing hardware and software, and explore novel applications. We promote basic research on quantum information science and contribute to society through quantum technology.

This research team invents quantum technologies based on individual atoms manipulated with laser beams. For example, lasers can cool atoms to absolute zero temperature, catch and move them with optical tweezers, excite their electron to giant orbitals… This allows us to exploit the quantum nature of atoms and to build quantum systems atom-by-atom, with a particular aim at realizing a cold-atom-based quantum computer.

Job title and Job description

Job title

Senior Technical Staff or Technical Staff I: a few positions available.

• Senior Technical Staff supervise technical staff and others assigned to the laboratory and provide technical supports at his/her own discretion.
• Technical Staff I must provide technical support independently to implement the lab missions.

*The applicant will be assigned to an appropriate position based on his/her ability, aptitude, etc.

Job description

Development of systems (in one of the following fields: electronic, mechanics, optics, software) for the operation of cold-atom quantum platforms.

The job description may be changed during the contract period or upon contract renewal to the extent described above.

Qualification

For senior technical staff, candidates should possess a doctorate degree in a relevant field or possess equivalent technical support experience.　For technical staff I, candidates should possess at least a bachelor or equivalent degree in a related field.

Work location

RIKEN Wako Campus (2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198)
RIKEN may order the employee to change work locations, if necessary.

Salary and benefits

• 1.A one-year fixed-term employment contract, renewable based on evaluation, to a maximum of up to seven years from the date of hire.
• 2.RIKEN may adjust the above maximum period of renewability based on a) the employee’s abilities, work load at the time of contract completion, performance and work attitude and b) the continuation of the employee’s center, laboratory or project and RIKEN’s management situation and budget at the time. In principle, employment contracts will not be renewed for individuals older than 70 years.
• 3.Interim review will be conducted in the 4th year. Depending on the evaluation, the employment contract may not be renewed for the 6th year.

In principle, the first two months of employment are considered a trial period.

Salary will be an annual salary based on experience, ability, and performance, and will consist of a base salary and a variable salary. The variable salary will be determined each fiscal year based on experience, ability, and performance.
Discretionary work, commuting and housing allowances will be provided. Social insurance will be applied.

The approximate amount of salary at the time of employment:
The total amount of monthly discretionary work allowance and monthly salary at the time of hiring will be 500,000 JPY or more for Senior Technical Staff, and 350,000 JPY or more for Technical Staff I.

RIKEN has a telecommuting system, but this position requires attendance at the work location. Therefore, the telecommuting system is not available for this position, in principle.

This position falls under the specialized duties discretionary work system; one working day will be calculated as 7 hours and 30 minutes.

Days off include public holidays, New Year's holidays (Dec. 29 - Jan 3), and RIKEN Foundation Day.
Paid leave includes annual paid leave (up to 20 days depending on the month of employment), special paid leave (caring for a sick child, family nursing care, etc.), and work life balance holidays (up to 7 days depending on the month of employment).
There are also additional leave systems such as maternity leave, childcare leave, and family nursing care leave.
Smoking is entirely prohibited on site.
These and other provisions are in accordance with RIKEN regulations.
Mandatory membership in the RIKEN Mutual Benefit Society (RIKEN Kyosaikai).

RIKEN is actively undertaking initiatives to promote gender equality and diversity,and moving forward with the establishment of a diverse and vibrant research environment. If multiple candidates are found to have the same aptitude following a fair assessment, active efforts will be made to recruit female candidates.

The Wako Campus has an on-site daycare, RIKEN Kids Wako. For details, please send an email to kids@riken.jp.

Application and required documents

Required documents

• 1.Complete CV or CV
  • *Write the RIKEN job ad number “25-2238”, indicated in the parentheses next to the job title, in the RIKEN job ad number section in the upper right corner of your CV.
• 2.Resume showing career and job history
• 3.A letter of recommendation from the current supervisor (If unavailable, a letter from a substitute reference will be acceptable.)
  • *Please specify the referee’s contact information (Name, affiliation, job title, phone number, and email address)
• 4.Copies or PDF files of reports or major papers if possible (no more than three)
• 5.(Only for Senior Technical Staff) Summary of past research support activities and future plans (not more than 3 pages )
• 6.Consent form for handling personal information based on GDPR/UK GDPR
  If you are a resident of the European Economic Area (EEA) or the UK, you are required to sign and submit the document, “Consent form for handling personal information based on Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation) and the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation.”
  • *For residents of the EEA, you will find detailed information about the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on the following website:
    Data protection | European Commission
  • *For residents of the UK, you will find detailed information about Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data (United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation) on the following website:
    The UK GDPR | Information Commissioner’s Office

How to apply

The above documents except the recommendation letter combined into a Zip file should be uploaded to the following link:

RQC Cold-Atom Quantum System Research Team Application BOX_25-2238

The file name should contain your contact email address. After you uploaded the file, please let us (sylvain.deleseleuc@riken.jp) know the file name of the uploaded file.

Recommendation letter must be directly submitted from the referee to the following link with the file name " RQC Cold-Atom Quantum System Research Team [applicant’s name] (Recommendation letter)". Please specify the applicant's name, referee’s name and contact information in the recommendation letter.

RQC Cold-Atom Quantum System Research Team Application BOX_25-2238

After the referee uploaded the recommendation letter, please let us (sylvain.deleseleuc@riken.jp) know the file name of the uploaded file. If a confirmation email is not received within 7 days after submission, please contact: sylvain.deleseleuc@riken.jp.

Note: All the submitted documents will not be returned.

Deadline

Open until the position is filled

Handling Personal Data

Submitted documents are strictly protected under the RIKEN Privacy Policy and will be used only for the purpose of applicant screening at RIKEN. Personal information will not be disclosed, transferred or loaned to a third party under any circumstances without just cause.

Selection process

Application screening and interview for selected applicants

Notification of hiring decision

The notification of hiring decision (conditional offer of employment) regarding this selection shall be carried out through the presentation of an Employment Contract or a Conditional Offer of Employment issued by RIKEN.

Start of Employment

April 1, 2026 or late (Negotiable)

Contact Information

Team Director Sylvain de Leseleuc, Cold-Atom Quantum System Research Team, RIKEN Center for Quantum Computing
Email: sylvain.deleseleuc@riken.jp
For inquiries, please send an email.