The Year of Quantum Science spells broad opportunities for IT pros
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the discovery of quantum mechanics, and to mark the occasion, the United Nations designated 2025 as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology. The action serves as a wake-up call to employers to prepare for pending commercial applications, and to IT workers to prepare for new skills demand.
The timing is perfect, since “quantum computing is at an exciting state, where active collaboration between academia and industry is leading to rapid innovation,” explains Mohit Pandey, a quantum computing scientist at Boston University. Pandey has extensive experience in using quantum computing for drug discovery while working in the biotechnology industry.
The U.N. designation signifies the importance of this phenomena; as it advances at a blistering pace, says Hany Mesha, principal solutions architect at business and technology advisor OliverWyman North America.
But the now-rapid pace of quantum development raises a number of questions for organizations and educators, Mesha says. For example: How can many organizations work with such advanced technology? Where will they find workers with quantum technology skills? Does the industry have sufficient education programs to train workforce needs, or the right university programs to produce qualified graduates? Do we have the right government policies and incentives in place to serve this workforce?”
“It’s a clarion call that through all levels of education, from high-school, college, university and all the way through to adult education,” agrees Paul Mee, senior partner of performance transformation, at Oliver Wyman North America. “The strategic macro question being “What are you going to do as a nation to ensure that the next generation of STEM or technology-savvy individuals will be sufficient across your workforce, educators, and population in general?”
‘Prime time’ for quantum computing approaches
The timing of the U.N. recognition coincides nicely with the realization that in the next three to four years, quantum computing capabilities will have demonstrated performance capabilities than can surpass classical systems on a focused, but important class of applications, explains Bob Sorensen, chief analyst for quantum computing at high performance computing research firm Hyperion Research.
“We are beyond the physics R&D domain and now the research is engineering oriented: How can the quantum environment be optimized? How can quantum machine be architected to satisfy the many use cases that have been predicted and proselytized? How will quantum networks and quantum communications be delivered? How will quantum infrastructure – for example, the equivalent of contemporary data centers or cloud services – be architected and where located?” Mesha explains.
Growing need for IT generalists with quantum understanding
Organizations should be able to start truly benefitting from quantum technology in the next couple of years.
“Quantum computers are likely to benefit organizations in solving their hardest business problems, as quantum computers get more sophisticated. As we all know that technology is rapidly evolving, all organizations need to prepare themselves to become future-proof,” says Pandey
As part of that process, over the next few years the IT sector will see the need for more generalized quantum-skilled technologists, and fewer academic-based researchers.
“As the sector matures and quantum computing moves from primarily a research activity into a more typical commercial production environment, the need to have highly trained quantum physicists and related experts will diminish,” Sorensen says. “Instead, there will be a growing demand for more general-purpose, classical-trained, hardware and software engineers, software developers and application programmers that see quantum essentially as yet another computing accelerator integrated into the mainstream HPC ecosystem.”
Mee and Mesha offer the following list that outlines how top quantum-related IT roles will break down. (The ‘demand indicator’ is derived from the velocity of vacancy postings for each role, and those open or unfulfilled beyond 90 days. Oliver Wyman’s sister company Mercer tracks such phenomena and compensation.)
1. Quantum tech or computing engineer
Responsibilities: Develops/produces hardware components and architecture, creating stable performing quantum systems, interfacing classic compute infrastructure
Typical employers: Tech companies, startups
Demand indicator: 10
2. Quantum software or O/S developer
Responsibilities: Develop quantum algorithms/ software, hybrid systems, operating systems functionality, messaging and interoperability
Typical employers: Tech companies, startups
Demand indicator: 9
3. Quantum algorithm developer
Responsibilities: Design/apply quantum algorithms for industry problems
Typical employers: R&D labs, big tech, hyperscalers, government and defense
Demand indicator: 9
4. Quantum hardware architect/engineer
Responsibilities: Build/test quantum processors and devices
Typical employers: Hardware startups, research labs, major infrastructure corporations
Demand indicator: 9
5. Quantum research scientist/physicist
Responsibilities: Fundamental/applied research in quantum science
Typical employers: Academia, government, private labs
Demand indicator: 7
6. Quantum error correction theorist/ practitioner
Responsibilities: Developing and analyzing methods to protect quantum data from errors, designing, optimizing, and simulating quantum error correction code
Typical employers: Universities, startups, labs, major quantum compute players
Demand indicator: 7
7. Quantum machine learning engineer
Responsibilities: Apply quantum computing to AI/ML use cases
Typical employers: Tech firms, research groups
Demand indicator: 6
8. Quantum cybersecurity specialist
Responsibilities: Develop post-quantum cryptography, quantum-safe systems
Typical employers: Security firms, government
Demand indicator: 6
9. Technical and standards/policies author
Responsibilities: Document quantum tech related policies, standards, controls, and assurance protocols
Typical employers: Corporate IT divisions, Consulting firms, IT-related legal and compliance firms
Demand indicator: 5
”I expect quantum technology, compute and science roles will continue to morph and evolve. And, demand by role will fluctuate over time, though overall certainly not go down,” Mee says.
The impact on today’s IT professional
So what does this all mean for today’s IT professional?
“True expertise in operating and programming quantum computers in an end user environment is currently in short supply,” Sorensen says. “Now is the time for those interested in becoming quantum proficient to begin building expertise. Indeed, projections call for significant shortages in key areas of quantum computing as the technology becomes more widespread in the next three to four years. Early preparation will enable IT professionals to hit the ground running at that time.”
For those wanting to get in on opportunities in the advanced computing sector, quantum computing will become a key tool in the toolbox to address the most vexing computational workloads, Sorensen explains. Quantum computers will not exist as a standalone solution, but rather one that must be appropriately integrated in a classical advanced computing ecosystem, requiring IT professionals that can effectively support quantum capabilities in such an integrated environment.
Steps IT pros can take to cash in on a quantum skills war
There are many ways that OT pros can take the first steps in becoming quantum computing capable, Sorensen explains. Most vendors offer low-cost access to quantum systems on a pay-as-you-go plans with free tutorials and other materials to bring classical IT professionals up to speed on the unique capabilities of quantum systems.
Likewise, there are numerous classical simulators for quantum systems that are freely available and that can be run on a wide range of classical systems as a way to further gain early skills in the quantum computing area, Sorensen says.
The good news for those IT pros that make the investment: “It almost goes without saying, but it would be reasonable to assert that a ‘talent crunch’ or severe shortage across the quantum tech arena is fast approaching. If it isn’t here already,” Mesha says. The reasons:
Demand outstrips supply: “There’s a severe imbalance where demand for quantum computing talent significantly exceeds the available supply of qualified professionals,” Mesha says.
Competition for talent: “Established tech companies and startups alike are competing for the same limited pool of talent, further exacerbating the issue,” Mesha says.
Broad base of skill gaps: “The shortage isn’t just about having enough people with [technical or scientific] background in quantum; it’s about finding experts across a wide spectrum like quantum algorithms, hardware development, software engineering, error correction, coexistence (QC plus classic IT) and ultimately transformation and change execution such organizations will be able to truly access the benefits promise of quantum computing,” Mesha says.
