Quantum Computing
Program a new kind of computer that uses quantum physics to tackle problems classical machines can't.
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What is Quantum Computing?
Quantum computers use qubits, which can exist in superpositions and become entangled, to run algorithms that may one day solve certain problems — chemistry simulation, optimisation, cryptography — far faster than classical computers. Today's machines are still small and noisy, so most work is research, building better hardware and error correction, writing software tools, and finding early useful applications. It is a long-term career bet: demand is real but concentrated in research labs, hardware companies, big tech and governments, and most roles require strong maths and physics (often a master's or PhD).
Why it's trending now
- The global pure-play quantum workforce grew to roughly 16,500 people in 2025, and industry trackers report steady hiring growth into 2026, especially for error-correction and hardware engineers.
- Major progress in quantum error correction (from Google, IBM, Quantinuum and others) moved the industry closer to fault-tolerant machines, and companies publish multi-year roadmaps toward them.
- Post-quantum cryptography is urgent now: NIST published its first post-quantum encryption standards in 2024, and organisations must migrate systems — creating demand even outside quantum hardware companies.
- 2025 was declared the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology by the United Nations, increasing public funding and education programmes worldwide.
Job roles
Common job titles you'll see in listings, and what each one actually does.
Quantum Software Engineer
Builds compilers, SDKs, simulators and tools that let developers program quantum hardware.
Quantum Algorithm Researcher
Designs and analyses algorithms for chemistry, optimisation, machine learning or cryptography.
Quantum Error Correction Engineer
Develops codes and real-time decoders that protect fragile qubits from noise — one of the most in-demand specialties.
Quantum Hardware / Control Engineer
Designs and operates qubit hardware, cryogenics, microwave/laser control electronics and FPGA systems.
Quantum Applications Scientist
Works with industry partners (pharma, finance, energy) to find problems where quantum methods could help.
Post-Quantum Cryptography Engineer
Migrates software and infrastructure to quantum-resistant encryption — a security role that exists today.
Skills from beginner to advanced
Tick skills as you learn them — your progress is saved in this browser.
1Beginner
Start here2Intermediate
Job-ready core3Advanced
Stand outMost-requested languages & tools
What employers mention most often in current job listings for this field.
Languages
Tools & platforms
Qiskit is the most frequently named SDK in job tags; Python is universal, while C++/Rust appear for performance-critical compilers, simulators and decoders.
30/60/90-day roadmap
About 1–2 hours a day. Tick goals as you complete them.
Days 1–30
Maths and quantum basics
Milestone: A notebook of basic circuits with clear explanations of what each does.
Days 31–60
Algorithms
Milestone: Implementations of four classic algorithms with simulator vs hardware comparisons.
Days 61–90
Applications and community
Milestone: A VQE/QAOA project, an open-source contribution and a hackathon entry.
Free learning resources
All free to start. Some courses offer paid certificates — auditing is free.
- IBM Quantum LearningIBM · Course · quantum.cloud.ibm.comFree
- Qiskit documentationIBM · Docs · docs.quantum.ibm.com
- PennyLane Codebook & demosXanadu · Practice · pennylane.aiFree
- Cirq documentationGoogle Quantum AI · Docs · quantumai.google
- Quantum CountryAndy Matuschak & Michael Nielsen · Book · quantum.countryFree
- Introduction to Quantum Information (KAIST)Coursera · Course · coursera.orgFree to audit
- MIT OpenCourseWare — Quantum Information ScienceMIT OCW · Course · ocw.mit.eduFree
- Microsoft Azure Quantum KatasMicrosoft · Practice · quantum.microsoft.comFree
- Essence of Linear Algebra3Blue1Brown (YouTube) · Video · youtube.comFree
- NIST Post-Quantum Cryptography projectNIST · Docs · csrc.nist.gov
Portfolio project ideas
Build these in order. Put each one on GitHub with a clear README and a short demo.
Quantum random number generator
easyUse superposition and measurement to generate random numbers on a simulator and real hardware; test their randomness.
Interactive Bloch-sphere visualiser
easyA small web or notebook tool that shows how single-qubit gates rotate a state on the Bloch sphere.
Grover search demo
mediumImplement Grover's algorithm for a small search problem, analyse success probability and compare simulator vs hardware noise.
Molecule energy with VQE
mediumEstimate the ground-state energy of H₂ or LiH with VQE and compare against classical results.
Error-correction simulation or PQC migration tool
hardSimulate a repetition/surface code with a decoder and plot logical error rates — or build a scanner that finds non-quantum-safe crypto in a codebase and suggests ML-KEM/ML-DSA replacements.
10 interview questions
Try answering out loud first, then open the short model answer.
1What is a qubit?
The basic unit of quantum information. Unlike a bit (0 or 1), a qubit can be in a superposition α|0⟩ + β|1⟩; measurement gives 0 or 1 with probabilities |α|² and |β|².
2What is entanglement?
A correlation between qubits where the state of the system cannot be described as separate individual states; measuring one affects the outcomes of the other.
3What does a Hadamard gate do?
It maps |0⟩ to an equal superposition (|0⟩+|1⟩)/√2 and |1⟩ to (|0⟩−|1⟩)/√2 — commonly used to create superposition.
4Why are today's quantum computers called 'NISQ'?
Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum: they have tens to hundreds (or a few thousand) of qubits with significant error rates and no full error correction.
5What speed-up does Grover's algorithm give?
A quadratic speed-up for unstructured search: about √N steps instead of N.
6Why is Shor's algorithm important?
It factors large numbers efficiently on a fault-tolerant quantum computer, which would break RSA and similar public-key cryptography — driving the move to post-quantum cryptography.
7What is decoherence?
The loss of quantum information as qubits interact with their environment, which limits how long and how deep circuits can run.
8What is a variational quantum algorithm?
A hybrid method where a parameterised quantum circuit is evaluated on hardware and a classical optimiser tunes the parameters, e.g. VQE and QAOA.
9What is quantum error correction?
Encoding one logical qubit into many physical qubits and repeatedly measuring error syndromes so errors can be detected and corrected without destroying the information.
10What is post-quantum cryptography?
Classical cryptographic algorithms believed to resist quantum attacks, such as NIST's ML-KEM (key exchange) and ML-DSA (signatures).
Resume bullet templates
Replace the [brackets] with your real numbers. Quantified results stand out to recruiters.
Implemented [N] quantum algorithms in Qiskit/PennyLane and benchmarked them on [hardware], documenting noise effects and mitigation results.
Estimated the ground-state energy of [molecule] with VQE to within [X] mHa of the classical reference.
Contributed [feature/fix/tutorial] to [open-source quantum project], merged and used by [N] users.
Simulated a distance-[d] surface code and decoder, showing logical error suppression below [threshold].
Placed [rank] in [IBM Quantum Challenge / QHack / hackathon] among [N] teams.
Formula: action verb + what you built + tools + measurable result. Only claim numbers you can explain in an interview.
Salary & demand
Ranges vary by company, city, experience and negotiation. Always check the linked sources for the latest figures.
Bangladesh
Tk 18,345 – Tk 100,918
gross per month
There are almost no dedicated quantum-computing jobs in Bangladesh; quantum work is mostly academic research. This uses Paylab's Software Engineer range (10th–90th percentile, gross monthly) as a reference for the software skills involved.
Demand
Very limited — mainly university research. Best local path: strong CS/physics/maths degree, research experience and applying to master's/PhD programmes abroad.
Remote (from Bangladesh)
$30,000 – $100,000
per year
Estimate. Fully remote quantum roles are limited; open-source software, PQC migration and some research-engineering roles hire remotely, usually requiring a strong publication or open-source track record.
Demand
Limited but real for open-source contributors, PQC engineers and research software engineers.
Global benchmark
$140,300
US median, Computer & Information Research Scientists (BLS, 2025)
BLS has no quantum-specific category. Industry trackers report a median of roughly $124k for Qiskit-tagged roles in 2026, with senior hardware and error-correction specialists earning more. Projected growth: +22% (2025–35, much faster than average).
Demand
Emerging and specialised. Hiring is concentrated in the US, Europe, Canada, Australia, Japan and Singapore at hardware companies, big tech and national labs.
How to read these numbers: Bangladesh ranges are Paylab's 10th–90th percentile gross monthly salaries (top product companies often pay more). Remote ranges are CareerPulse estimates informed by Arc's Bangladesh remote-developer data. Global figures are US medians from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 data, 2025–35 projections) unless stated otherwise.
Start today checklist
Small, concrete actions you can finish today. Momentum beats perfect plans.