Head of Research

Hiring | Head of Research, Academia Collaboration & Principal Quantum Scientist

Experience: 1520 Years | Pune, India

We are seeking a visionary Head of Research & Principal Quantum Scientist to lead a high-impact Research Division for our client. This leadership role will drive breakthrough innovation across Quantum Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Digital Payments, and Security, while building strong academic partnerships and translating research into scalable enterprise solutions.

The role will own the end-to-end research lifecyclefrom defining strategic research roadmaps and managing collaborations with leading academic institutions to delivering commercially viable products. The objective is to future-proof the organization through deep technology research and innovation in emerging domains.

Key Responsibilities

Research Strategy & Leadership

Define and execute the research roadmap across AI, Quantum Computing, Payments, Security, and Customer Experience

Lead and scale research teams while driving innovation programs and academic partnerships

Manage research budgets, timelines, ROI tracking, and executive stakeholder reporting

Represent the organization at global conferences, academic forums, and innovation councils

Academic Collaboration & Innovation

Build strategic collaborations with IITs and leading research institutions through structured research models

Drive joint research initiatives including patents, publications, prototypes, and innovation programs

Oversee researcher exchange programs and collaborative experimentation

Commercialization & Product Innovation

Translate deep research into MVPs and enterprise-ready platforms

Evaluate emerging technologies and provide technical due diligence for strategic investments

Build frameworks for responsible AI, trust, and safety in autonomous AI systems

Key Challenges

Bridging academic research with real-world enterprise deployment

Managing multi-disciplinary R&D portfolios across AI and Quantum technologies

Driving adoption of cutting-edge technologies within large-scale systems

Balancing strategic leadership with hands-on scientific innovation

Skills & Experience

Education:

PhD or Post-Doctorate in Quantum Computing, Artificial Intelligence, or related fields

Experience:

15+ years of R&D experience with 5+ years as Principal Scientist, Research Lead, or Lab Head

Deep expertise in Quantum frameworks such as Qiskit or Cirq and classical ML ecosystems

Strong track record of patents, research publications, and academic collaborations

Experience working with government research programs and academic institutions

Proven leadership in building and scaling high-impact research teams

This is a rare opportunity to lead research at the intersection of Quantum Computing, AI and financial technology, while shaping next-generation platforms and industry innovation.