Job Title: Account Manager Location: Bedford, MA Division: Revenue Department: Photonics Sales
About Us:
Quantum Computing Inc. (QCi) (Nasdaq: QUBT) is an innovative, integrated photonics company that provides accessible and affordable quantum machines to the world today. QCi products are designed to operate at room temperature and low power at an affordable cost. The Company’s portfolio of core technology and products offer unique capabilities in the areas of high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, cyber security as well as remote sensing applications.
Scope of the Job:
QCi is seeking a Technical Account/Program Manager to serve as a key liaison between customers and internal engineering, operations, and business teams. This position combines account management, technical customer support, and program management responsibilities to ensure customer programs are successfully delivered according to established requirements, schedules, budgets, and quality expectations. The successful candidate will manage ongoing customer relationships while overseeing the execution of technical programs, particularly within photonics, optics, lazer technology, aerospace, and defense-related markets. This individual must be able to understand complex technical information, work effectively with engineering teams, and translate technical updates into clear, customer-appropriate communication. The role will primarily support program delivery rather than direct selling or proposal development.
Duties / Responsibilities:
- Serve as a primary point of contact for assigned customers, building strong working relationships and maintaining clear communication throughout the lifecycle of each program.
- Manage technical customer programs from initiation through delivery, including requirements, milestones, schedules, resources, risks, budgets, and final deliverables.
- Partner closely with engineering, operations, sales, and other internal teams to align customer expectations with technical capabilities and program requirements.
- Translate technical, engineering, and operational information into clear and appropriate updates for customers and other nontechnical stakeholders.
- Gather, document, and communicate customer requirements to internal teams while ensuring changes and expectations are properly managed.
- Develop and maintain program plans, schedules, status reports, action-item trackers, and other documentation needed to support successful execution.
- Monitor program costs and budgets to ensure work remains within the approved scope and financial plan.
- Identify program risks, delays, resource concerns, or potential scope changes and develop appropriate mitigation or escalation plans.
- Coordinate cross-functional activities and hold internal stakeholders accountable for program commitments and delivery dates.
- Track customer commitments and deliverables associated with approved proposals and contracts.
- Support sales and business development teams by providing program, technical, and customer information as needed; however, this position is not expected to hold primary responsibility for direct sales or proposal writing.
- Maintain accurate customer and program information within applicable ERP, CRM, and internal business systems.
- Help resolve customer issues by coordinating with engineering, operations, technical support, and other internal stakeholders.
- Prepare and deliver regular program updates, customer reviews, performance reports, and internal status communications.
- Support customer visits, program-related travel, and industry trade shows as needed.
- Ensure completed programs and deliverables meet applicable customer, company, and industry quality standards.
These responsibilities reflect the need for someone who can manage customer-facing communication while also overseeing technical program delivery, budgets, schedules, and internal engineering coordination.
Required Skills & Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, project management, communications, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
- 5+ years of relevant experience in technical account management, program management, project management, applications engineering, customer-facing engineering, or a closely related field.
- Demonstrated experience managing technical projects or programs involving cross-functional teams, customer requirements, schedules, budgets, risks, and deliverables.
- Technical or engineering background with the ability to understand complex products, systems, and engineering concepts.
- Strong customer relationship management skills and the ability to serve as a credible, professional point of contact for technical customers.
- Ability to translate detailed engineering information into clear, concise, and customer-appropriate communication.
- Experience working directly with engineering, operations, sales, and other technical or business stakeholders.
- Experience with program budgeting, cost tracking, forecasting, and financial oversight.
- Working knowledge of ERP systems and the ability to accurately enter, maintain, and retrieve program or customer information.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to prepare reports and deliver program updates.
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and complex workstreams.
- Strong problem-solving, negotiation, and decision-making skills.
- Ability to identify project risks, resolve customer concerns, and escalate issues appropriately.
- Ability to work effectively on-site at QCi’s Bedford location.
- Ability to travel approximately 10% for customer visits, program support, and occasional trade shows.
- Must meet applicable U.S. person or citizenship requirements associated with customer programs, controlled technologies, and regulatory obligations.
The experience, on-site, travel, technical communication, ERP, budgeting, and program management requirements were identified during the kickoff discussion.
Additional Preferred Skills:
- Experience in photonics, optics, lasers, electro-optical systems, or related advanced technologies.
- Experience supporting aerospace, defense, government, or other highly regulated customer programs.
- Engineering degree or prior professional experience in an engineering-focused position.
- Experience working as an applications engineer, technical program manager, technical account manager, or customer-facing engineer.
- Understanding of the technical terminology, development processes, and customer expectations associated with optical or laser-based devices.
- Experience supporting programs from proposal award through execution, delivery, and closeout.
- Familiarity with CRM platforms such as Salesforce or HubSpot.
- Experience with commercial forecasting, account health reporting, customer performance reviews, and contract or service-level tracking.
- Project Management Professional (PMP), Agile, Scrum, or another recognized project management certification.
- Experience supporting trade shows, technical demonstrations, or customer-facing industry events.
Photonics, optics, laser technology, aerospace, and defense experience were discussed as highly beneficial but not necessarily automatic disqualifiers when a candidate has a strong engineering and program management background.
Quantum Computing Inc. (QCi) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Incumbent(s) in this position may be required to perform other duties and special assignments not specifically stated above. Statements outlined in this section are designated as essential job functions in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
