Why are so many quantum companies hiring senior positions?

In the last 12 months, there’s been a noticeable uptake in senior hiring across the quantum computing sector. Whether you’re a start-up founder or leading a scale-up, you’ve probably felt the pressure too. Demand for leadership is growing, and fast.
 
Big investment is driving team expansion
The UK alone invested over £70 million into quantum technologies in 2023 through Innovate UK and EPSRC funding calls. That capital isn’t sitting idle. It’s powering key projects, expanding roadmaps and creating leadership gaps at C-level and just beneath. Technical teams can scale quickly but without experienced leadership in place, delivery slows and investor confidence can dip.
 
Research talent needs technical guidance
Many of the new hires in quantum are coming straight out of PhDs or postdoc positions, with incredible niche expertise but limited commercial experience. These researchers need product-minded leadership and someone who’s done the scaling journey before. Senior hires are bridging that gap, turning cutting-edge research into something commercially viable.
 
Small companies are scaling organically
Quantum companies are still relatively small, often fewer than 50 employees. That makes each senior hire even more critical. With more projects moving from proof-of-concept into application development companies are hiring leaders in product, engineering and operations to support that transition.
 
Founders are juggling more than ever
Some founders are stepping back from hands-on technical leadership to focus on fundraising, investor relations or strategic partnerships. Bringing in a trusted senior hire allows these areas to grow without risking the company’s technical direction.
 
If you’re growing your leadership team and want access to senior professionals who’ve already navigated these challenges, get in touch with the IntaPeople team. We work with quantum start-ups and scale-ups across the UK.