Quantum Engineering with David Reilly and Tom Ohki

Revolutionary Quantum Engineering with David Reilly and Tom Ohki

Have you ever wondered what it takes to build computing systems that work at temperatures colder than outer space? David Reilly and Tom Ohki are tackling this exact challenge, leading a "special ops" team of engineers from their unique position at Emergence Quantum—the startup born from Microsoft's Station Q program. They're not just building quantum computers; they're creating the entire infrastructure ecosystem that will make scalable quantum computing possible.

Episode Summary

This episode explores how quantum computing's most challenging engineering problems are being solved from the ground up. David Reilly (former Station Q lead) and Tom Ohki (ex-Raytheon BBN Technologies) share their journey from academic research to building Emergence Quantum—a company focused on the systems-level challenges of quantum computing and beyond.

Unlike typical quantum startups racing to build better qubits, Emergence takes a "qubit-agnostic" approach, focusing on the critical control systems, cryogenic electronics, and infrastructure needed to scale any quantum platform. Their work spans from cryo-CMOS control systems that operate at millikelvin temperatures to revolutionary applications of cryogenic cooling in classical data centers.

What You'll Learn

• How cryo-CMOS technology solves the fundamental wiring bottleneck that prevents quantum computers from scaling beyond hundreds of qubits
• Why the "special ops" team model enables breakthrough engineering when tackling unprecedented technical challenges across quantum and classical computing
• How cryogenic cooling could transform classical data centers by dramatically reducing power consumption and improving processor performance
• The systems-level thinking required to build quantum computers that actually work at scale, beyond just improving individual qubit performance
• Why Australia offers unique advantages for deep tech R&D companies focused on long-term hardware development rather than venture-driven growth
• How quantum computing infrastructure development creates spillover benefits for classical computing, sensing, and other cryogenic applications
• The historical parallels between today's quantum engineering challenges and the foundational R&D that built the internet and early computing systems
• Why "qubit-agnostic" approaches to control systems provide more flexibility as quantum hardware continues evolving

Company & Guest Links

• Emergence Quantum
• David Reilly
• Tom Ohki

Research & Papers

• Nature paper on cryo-CMOS coexistence with spin qubits 
• Historical cryo-CMOS research

Organizations Mentioned

• Microsoft Station Q (former quantum research division)
• Raytheon BBN Technologies (internet pioneer, quantum research)
• University of Sydney

Technologies & Concepts

• Cryo-CMOS: CMOS electronics operating at cryogenic temperatures
• Dilution refrigerators: Ultra-low temperature cooling systems
• Superconducting quantum devices and control systems

Key Insights

• "We recognize that although quantum is very much moving into more traditional engineering domains, there's still so much fundamental research—you have to walk both paths. It will be both fundamental science and applied engineering, all at the same time." — David Reilly on the dual nature of quantum development
• "Every member had this deep expertise, and we were able to progress in a flexible agile way. That was exactly the secret." — Tom Ohki on building high-performing technical teams
• "You could ask the question: what are the attributes of scalable qubits, given the constraints of what you can build at the control layer?" — David Reilly on systems-level thinking
• "If you don't believe in [scaling classical cryogenic computing], but you believe in quantum computing, there's some mismatch here—because the fundamental aspects are completely identical." — Tom Ohki on infrastructure requirements
• "We're not trying to disrupt the incumbent technology. We're trying to improve it. But along the way, we're building the foundation for a world beyond that." — David Reilly on their strategic approach

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