How to Actually Get Hired

Dr Jack Brennan is a physicist who completed his PhD and postdoctoral research at the University of Glasgow working in quantum computing and quantum sensing. He was previously a Research Associate with the University's quantum computing group and has published on topics including quantum chaos, SNSPD sensors, and error mitigation. He is not a startup media figure. He has never been on a podcast. His background is entirely academic and scientific, which means a cold email that leads with genuine technical knowledge of his research will land far better than any standard outreach template. He was also involved with STAC (Smart Things Accelerator Centre) which is an investor in this round, meaning the relationship with the accelerator is a credible warm reference if you've had any interaction with the Scottish deep tech ecosystem. Wridhdhisom Karar is the Measurement Lead - a rare title that signals their measurement and characterisation work is a first-class concern, not an afterthought. Prof Martin Weides is the Scientific Advisor and is one of the UK's leading authorities on superconducting quantum devices - his research group at Glasgow is the academic foundation of the entire company. The James Watt Nanofabrication Centre is one of the best-equipped cleanroom facilities in the UK - mention it specifically to show you know where they work. The Infinity G accelerator was the first cohort of deep tech startups at Glasgow - being part of cohort one is a signal of academic and institutional backing that gives them unusual access to facilities and talent networks. For Quantum Hardware/Device Engineer: This is the core technical hire. Someone who can work inside a nanofabrication cleanroom environment designing and testing superconducting components. Core skills: PhD or postdoc background in condensed matter physics, superconducting devices, or quantum hardware; experience with niobium or aluminium superconducting qubit fabrication; cryogenic measurement experience; familiarity with quantum processors, resonators, or SNSPD sensors; experience with electron beam lithography or photolithography is a differentiator. This is a specialist role but it exists at every UK university quantum group, which means the candidate pool is much more accessible than it seems. For proof of work, write a short technical summary of the advantages and trade-offs of niobium vs aluminium in superconducting qubit fabrication, reference specific papers, including work from Prof Martin Weides' group at Glasgow. Email it directly to Dr Jack Brennan. Your cold email angle: 'Jack, I've been working on [niobium-based / superconducting] devices at [University X] and I wrote a technical breakdown of the Nb vs Al trade-offs in your device architecture [attached]. I want to work on the manufacturing scale-up at Quantcore. Is there a conversation to be had?' For Commercial Strategy/Business Development: The press release specifically mentions 'non-technical positions to aid its commercial strategy.' With national laboratory customers and a sovereign supply chain mandate, the commercial opportunity includes government contracts, defence procurement, and university research partnerships. Core skills: deep tech B2B commercial development, experience navigating UK government or defence procurement, understanding of the UK quantum ecosystem and its key institutional stakeholders, ability to write compelling technical proposals and grant applications, relationship-building with research councils (EPSRC, Innovate UK). For proof of work, map the top 10 UK quantum computing companies and national labs that would be natural Quantcore component customers - write a one-page commercial landscape brief that shows you understand the supply chain positioning. Your cold email angle: 'Jack, I mapped the UK quantum hardware supply chain and identified 10 institutions that would likely want a domestic niobium component supplier for sovereignty and security reasons [attached]. I've worked in deep tech BD at [company / institution] and I want to help Quantcore build the commercial strategy around the sovereign supply chain thesis.' For Operations/Lab Manager: A four-person deep tech spin-out operating inside a university nanofabrication centre needs someone who can handle the non-science work: equipment procurement, cleanroom scheduling, regulatory compliance, financial administration, grant reporting, customer delivery logistics. This is unsexy but critical and it absolutely qualifies as a 'non-technical position to aid commercial strategy.' Core skills: operations or lab management experience in a research or deep tech environment, familiarity with UK university spin-out structures, experience with Innovate UK or EPSRC grant administration a strong differentiator, organised and detail-oriented, able to work in a very small team with high autonomy. Your cold email angle: 'Jack, you have four scientists and a mandate to triple the team while serving national lab customers and scaling a nanofabrication operation. The thing that breaks fast-growing deep tech spin-outs isn't the science - it's operations. I've managed [lab / operations] at [institution or startup] and I want to be the person who makes sure Quantcore doesn't have to think about logistics. Can we talk?'