Are you passionate about turning cutting-edge research into real-world technological advancements? Do you excel at building bridges between scientific research and innovation? We are seeking a dynamic Innovation Project Lead with experience in deep tech innovation / business development to join our team and help drive the next generation of network technologies – quantum internet!

In this unique role, you will be working at QuTech, dedicating all your efforts to QIA, the Quantum Internet Alliance, a collaboration involving more than 40 industrial and academic organizations across Europe.

QIA’s mission is to build a global Quantum Internet by developing a full-stack prototype quantum internet network that validates all key subsystems. As a pioneering community dedicated to advancing a groundbreaking technology, QIA’s ambition extends beyond scientific leadership . The aim is to build an innovative European Quantum Internet ecosystem, capable of scaling all sub-systems to achieve world-leading European technology. In this regard QIA has launched the world’s first global quantum internet technology forum (QIATF) and is expanding its ecosystem further.

Find out more about QIA at

About the role

As the QIA Innovation Project Lead, you will focus on expanding QIA’s scientific advancement into European leadership in quantum internet innovation. Jointly with the QIA Innovation Manager, you will help drive innovation within the QIA consortium and grow collaborations with industry, academia, and key partners through QIATF and other initiatives. This role involves managing internal innovation activities, external relationships, and business development to maintain QIA’s leadership in quantum internet technologies and commercialization.

Key Responsibilities

QIA Internal Activities:

1. Manage QIA innovation projects enabling further technology development towards commercialization.
2. Conduct market research to identify global quantum network trends, competitors, and potential markets or early adopters for QIA’s research-based products and services.
3. Support funding initiatives by helping with grant applications and partnership proposals, using QIA’s internal and external networks.
4. Engage with QIA’s technical teams to drive innovation and facilitate knowledge sharing through workshops, training, entrepreneurship and discussions on Intellectual Property (IP).
5. Support the development of the future QIA innovation strategy, working closely with QIA Innovation team and QIA members.

QIA External Activities:

1. Expand and manage the QIA Technology Forum Special Interest Groups (SIGs).
2. Monitor and report on the impact of the QIATF activities to continuously improve the strategies in alignment with QIA vision and QIA’s technical teams.
3. Identify and engage with potential early adopters of the quantum internet to explore use cases and gather feedback for QIA’s technical teams.
4. Establish and cultivate strategic partnerships with public and private organizations to accelerate innovation and commercialization efforts of QIA.
5. Represent QIA at industry events, relevant conferences, and networking opportunities to expand our network and identify new partnership opportunities.

Qualifications

• Degree in one of the following fields: Business Administration, Innovation Management, Physics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering;
• Proven project management experience.
• At least 3 years of experience in technology commercialization / stakeholder management / business development in a technical deep tech field, preferably in networking technologies / telecommunications or quantum science.
• Experience with large multi actor and multidisciplinary R&D projects; experience with EU projects is a plus.
• Experience in establishing pilot and proof-of-concept projects.
• Successful history of securing funding through public grants, partnerships; Experience with investments is a plus.

Skills

• Independent professional, highly responsible and willing to take initiative in a complex multi-actor environment.
• Excellent networker, maintaining long-term relationships and establishing new ones.
• Innovative thinker with a can-do mentality to tackle challenges in a dynamic environment.
• Adaptable and flexible with the ability to quickly adjust to new challenges and changing priorities.
• Team player with a positive attitude who enjoys and fosters a supportive and productive team environment.
• Excellent communication skills in English (orally and in writing).

Dutch citizenship or a European working permit is required to apply

Conditions of employment

As our QIA Innovation Project Lead , you will receive a TU Delft contract, project-based ending on March 30, 2026. Because we are reaching out to a large target audience, we will offer 2 different scales: Scale 10 (€3345 gross to €5278 gross) for junior to mid-senior candidates and Scale 11 (€4492 gross to €6148 gross) for senior candidates both based on a 38 hour per workweek. This range reflects our commitment to supporting professionals at different stages of their careers and offering competitive compensation. We are also dedicated to providing a supportive and inclusive working environment where you can learn and grow every day.

Additionally, you will also receive:

• A choice of working contract from 32h to 38h per week.
• 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.
• An excellent pension scheme via the ABP.
• The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year.
• Discount on health insurance.
• Flexible working week.
• Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget.
• Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses.
• Partially paid parental leave.
• Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program.

TU Delft

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

QuTech

, we work on radically new technologies with world-changing potential. Our mission: to develop scalable prototypes of a quantum computer and a quantum internet by integrating world-class research and groundbreaking innovation. Through excellence, relevance, and leadership, we cultivate a vibrant quantum technology ecosystem. Together, we are creating the quantum future, because we believe that quantum technologies can be a game changer in many societal and economic sectors, including health, agriculture and safety.

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