Technergetics

• Researching mesh networking approaches for Denied, Disconnected, Intermittent, and Limited-bandwidth (D-DIL) environments • Comparative analysis of LoRaWAN, Meshtastic, Thread, and military tactical data link design principles (TDMA scheduling, anti-jam, time sync) • Drafting a notional message format optimized for constrained RF links • Evaluating cluster formation strategies (entropy-based weighting, RSSI, residual energy trade-offs) • Lightweight crypto evaluation (PKI vs. symmetric key distribution for low-power MCUs) • Contributing to the final technical report and follow-on roadmap • Assist with tasking under this effort that may not be specifically listed here.

• Developing modern, responsive UIs using React and TypeScript • Building scalable backend services (Go, Node, Python) realized with GraphQL • Working with databases including PostgreSQL, Redis, and graph databases (e.g. Memgraph) • Contributing to infrastructure automation using Docker and GitLab CI/CD

• Support the AFRL (Airforce Research Laboratory) in Rome, New York and other DoD and Performer locations across the country • Review, validate, and document approaches enabling revolutionary advances in design, engineering, testing, and evaluation in the domain of fault-tolerant quantum computing • Explore computational workflows that include quantum computing procedures • Determine if any emerging approaches to quantum computing can achieve industrially useful operation exponentially faster than conventional predictions • Perform tasks to identify, select, capture, evaluate, and document the metrics and approaches that DARPA’s commercial Performers are developing and applying to build fault-tolerant, utility-scale quantum computers (USQC) • Generate and execute plans to assess the timeline, performance and operation metrics, and plausibility of each Performer’s technology • Verify a Performer’s ability to build a USQC that operates as intended, and document, report, and justify the findings • Rapidly digest large quantities of complex Performer-specific technical details, perform relevant independent evaluations, and generate standardized Government artifacts summarizing independent assessments • Evaluate quantum computing architectures, devices, algorithms, and applications including utility and maturity • Identify Performer subsystems and components required to successfully design and construct the system • Discover, develop, implement, execute, evaluate, analyze, articulate, and justify models and simulations at the component, subsystem, and system levels • Assess DARPA and Performer requirements; capture and document the level of maturity of these elements • Identify, assess, and capture design, development, and integration risk • Identify the Performer’s interface approach and review any existing information

• The day-to-day activities of DARPA’s QBI team include performing tasks to identify, select, capture, evaluate, and document the metrics and approaches that DARPA’s commercial Performers are developing and applying to build fault-tolerant, utility-scale quantum computers (USQC). • The QBI team is responsible for generating and executing plans to assess the timeline, performance and operation metrics, and plausibility of each Performer’s technology. • Candidates will verify a Performer’s ability to build a USQC that operates as intended, and they will document, report, and justify the findings. • Typical work can be divided into three categories: • Review and Evaluation • Rapidly digest large quantities of complex Performer-specific technical details, perform relevant independent evaluations, and generate standardized Government artifacts summarizing independent assessments of that material • Evaluate quantum computing architectures, devices, algorithms, and applications including utility and maturity • Identify Performer subsystems and components required to successfully design and construct the system • Discover, develop, implement, execute, evaluate, analyze, articulate, and justify models and simulations at the component, subsystem, and system levels • Assess DARPA and Performer requirements; capture and document the level of maturity of these elements • Identify, assess, and capture design, development, and integration risk • Identify the Performer’s interface approach • For efforts with an existing Interface Control Document (ICD), review the information and identify any shortcomings. It may be necessary to convert the Performer-provided ICD to a common framework identified/developed by the Government evaluation team. • For Performer efforts that do not have an existing Interface Control Document, assist the Performer to track system interfaces through an ICD or similar document. • Documentation and Reporting • Assist non-traditional performers to complete design reviews • Participate in system concept and readiness reviews • Perform prototype subsystem System Requirements Review (SRR) through Final Design Review (FDR) and prototype construction • Assist with diverse evaluation and documentation activities • Identify, implement, and apply standardized Government and systems engineering products, practices, and documentation • Professionalism and Teamwork • Work with a multidisciplinary team of researchers, physicists, scientists, engineers, and subject matter experts to identify problems and synthesize solutions which can be integrated into preexisting workflows and processes • Discover, develop, and lead novel workflows to enhance and improve evaluation processes as new Performers are added to the program • Cultivate a professional and respectful environment of cooperation by listening and considering the views of others. • Be willing and able to seek opportunities for collaboration with personnel from other functional units (finance, contracting, etc.) and other technical areas of participating organizations to accomplish work-related activities.

• Conduct independent and team-based research to develop and advance key components of a wide-area, heterogeneous quantum network • Lead the design, simulation, and optimization of integrated photonic devices and circuits tailored for quantum information processing, sensing, and communication applications • Design photonic circuits that support quantum algorithms and protocols, ensuring high fidelity and scalability of quantum systems • Interface integrated photonics with light sources, detectors, and control systems, contributing to the development of robust, scalable quantum devices • Contribute to system-level design and optimization for efficient data transfer, processing, and quantum entanglement in integrated photonics setups • Support photonic tape-out process for integrated photonic circuits, coordinating with fabrication teams to ensure that designs meet specifications and are optimized for fabrication at leading-edge photonic foundries • Directly participate in the design and testing of integrated photonic devices, including working with photonic simulation software (e.g. Ansys Lumerical, COMSOL, or similar) performance optimization • Use layout software (e.g. GDSFactory, KLayout, or similar) to design integrated photonic circuits • Design integrated photonic devices and systems with an emphasis on scalability, reliability, and manufacturability, ensuring compatibility with large-scale quantum systems.