International Women’s Day Special: How Jelena Trbovic made it in the Quantum Field

In celebration of International Women’s Day, Barrington James is shining a light on the women driving innovation at the intersection of science and technology. In this episode, Richard Stevenson, Director of our AI division, speaks with Jelena Trbovic, Director of Business Development at Quantrolox, to explore what it means to build a career in quantum technology. Jelena shares how quantum startups can accelerate commercial readiness through automation, collaboration, and a more diverse talent pipeline.

From physics to product development, her perspective bridges scientific precision and business pragmatism, offering valuable insight into how the next generation of quantum engineers, physicists, and technology leaders will shape one of the most transformative frontiers in science.

The global race to harness quantum computing and quantum sensing is reshaping how science, engineering, and business intersect. Once confined to research labs, quantum has become a commercial field in its own right, with new quantum jobs emerging across engineering, data science, and hardware development. In this environment, specialists who can connect physics with product development are in high demand, while business leaders must understand both the technical challenges and commercial potential of this field.

About Jelena Trbovic

As one of the few female leaders in the quantum sector, Jelena Trbovic’s career reflects both the challenges and opportunities facing women in deep tech today. She is a physicist and business development leader who has spent her career helping quantum technology move from research to reality. She holds a PhD in semiconductor spintronics and completed postdoctoral work in quantum dot fabrication at the University of Basel, developing expertise in cryogenics, nanofabrication, and device measurement.

Now at Quantrolox, a company specialising in automation software for quantum processing units, Jelena helps accelerate the path from experimental setup to scalable hardware. Her role blends scientific understanding with business development, allowing her to connect technical teams, investors, and research institutions that are shaping the future of quantum engineering.

Jelena’s success also highlights the importance of representation in science. Her progression from research to leadership demonstrates how women are increasingly playing a visible role in advancing emerging technologies, such as quantum computing jobs.

Key Takeaways

• Women like Jelena Trbovic are redefining leadership in quantum technology.
• Quantum technology is moving steadily from theory to application, creating new opportunities across research and industry.
• Automation tools are essential to scale quantum computing and reduce dependence on scarce specialist labour.
• Collaboration between startups, universities, and government programmes remains vital to progress.
• The shortage of quantum-trained professionals is one of the most significant barriers to growth.
• Hiring strategies must evolve to attract and retain interdisciplinary talent from adjacent fields.

The State of Quantum Technology

Quantum technology is no longer a niche area of physics. Global investment has surged, national strategies are in motion, and private companies are competing to unlock commercial use cases.

While quantum sensing is already finding applications in precision measurement and navigation, quantum computing is still developing the stable architectures required for mass deployment. Startups like Quantrolox are playing a crucial role by addressing the practical challenges that slow development.

Quantrolox’s automation software helps researchers tune quantum chips automatically, a process that traditionally required teams of experts working manually. By removing these time-consuming steps, hardware can be tested and improved faster, and teams can focus on innovation rather than repetitive calibration.

“Automation is not about replacing people,” Jelena explains. “It is about freeing scientists to focus on discovery instead of repetition.”

For hiring managers, this progress highlights a key trend. As automation reduces technical bottlenecks, organisations are seeking professionals who can translate scientific output into commercial strategy. The field now values hybrid talent, individuals who understand both quantum engineering and the broader market potential of their work. This is also driving a surge in quantum computing jobs, as companies look for people who can bridge hardware development, data science, and applied research.

From Physics to Commercial Strategy

Jelena’s career reflects the evolving quantum workforce. Her scientific background gave her deep technical insight into how quantum devices function. Over time, she discovered an equal passion for communication and problem-solving, translating complex research into practical outcomes and building relationships between scientists, engineers, and commercial teams.

Her move to Zurich Instruments marked the shift from academia to industry. Supporting researchers in building quantum laboratories provided her with a broad view of the global ecosystem. She saw how teams working on superconducting, spin, photonic, and ion-trap qubits were united by shared challenges, from calibration and measurement to funding and scalability.

This experience prepared her for her current role at Quantrolox, where she now focuses on partnerships with research hubs in Oxford, Delft, Finland, and Switzerland. The company collaborates with leading organisations such as the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC), QuTech, and SemiQon, allowing its software to be tested and refined across multiple hardware platforms.

This international approach reflects how modern quantum engineering teams operate globally connected, cross-disciplinary, and focused on solving technical barriers through collaboration.

Collaboration and Competition in Quantum

Quantum technology has always been built on cooperation. Research groups frequently share findings, and collaborations between hardware, software, and academic partners are common. This open approach has been key to progress so far.

However, as the sector matures, collaboration is beginning to coexist with competition. As funding becomes more selective and certain quantum computing methods show greater scalability potential, companies are starting to consolidate and specialise. Mergers between hardware and software firms are becoming more frequent as the market moves toward commercial readiness.

"Every company is learning together,” Jelena says. “Competition exists, but collaboration still drives us forward"

For employers, this shift means strategic hiring and partnerships are more critical than ever. The organisations that succeed will be those that build teams capable of adapting quickly, combining technical depth with business acumen.

The most effective professionals in quantum jobs today are no longer just scientists or engineers. They are communicators, collaborators, and innovators who can operate comfortably between research and real-world application. For women in STEM, this evolving environment also represents a powerful opportunity to lead. The growth of the quantum technology sector depends on diverse talent capable of combining technical skill with creative problem-solving.

The Quantum Talent Shortage

Every quantum company, from startups to government programmes, is facing the same reality. There are not enough skilled professionals to meet demand. Physicists, electrical engineers, software developers, and chemists all have roles to play, yet supply lags behind.

This shortage is driving several hiring trends:

• Retraining from adjacent fields. Professionals from semiconductor manufacturing, AI, and precision engineering are being upskilled for jobs in quantum.
• Automation and efficiency. Tools like Quantrolox’s software help teams manage the workload of complex experiments without requiring large numbers of specialists.
• Early STEM outreach. Encouraging young people to pursue physics and engineering is vital to sustaining the talent pipeline.

Without these efforts, the industry risks slowing its progress due to human resource limitations rather than technological ones. Recruiters and hiring managers, therefore, play a central role in the next phase of development, identifying transferable skills and aligning them with quantum computing jobs that accelerate innovation.

Global Hubs Driving Innovation

Quantum progress depends on global collaboration. Research hubs in the UK, Switzerland, Finland, the Netherlands, the United States, and Australia are leading the charge, each contributing unique expertise.

Quantrolox’s distributed structure enables it to leverage the strengths of these locations. Oxford connects the company to the UK’s national quantum programme, Delft offers experimental facilities and partnerships with organisations such as Quantum Machines and Qblox, Finland provides advanced spin qubit research, and Switzerland ensures proximity to innovation clusters such as Quantum Basel.

This international reach enables the company to access top talent and adapt to the differing regulatory and funding conditions in each region. It also mirrors the way many quantum computing and quantum sensing companies now operate as interconnected teams that share goals and insights across borders. For professionals seeking quantum jobs in Europe, these hubs represent key centres of opportunity for research and commercial work.

Building a Career in Quantum

For professionals exploring quantum computing jobs or quantum engineering jobs, this is an ideal moment to enter the field. Demand is growing faster than supply, and the skills developed in adjacent sectors are increasingly valuable.

Jelena’s advice to those starting in quantum is simple. 

Stay curious, stay adaptable, and keep learning. The field rewards those who are comfortable with uncertainty and driven by exploration.

Roles within quantum are not limited to research physicists. The industry requires specialists in control systems, cryogenics, data science, electronics, software development, and commercial strategy. Those who can adapt quickly and learn the fundamentals of quantum principles will find themselves well-positioned in a market that values curiosity and problem-solving.

For organisations, attracting these professionals means offering more than just competitive salaries. It requires a clear mission, flexible career paths, and collaboration with universities and innovation networks. Building an environment where engineers and scientists can grow together will be essential for long-term success. Professionals entering quantum jobs today have the chance to help define an entirely new industry, one that merges physics, computation, and commercial innovation.

The Future of Quantum 

The next decade will define the practical impact of quantum technology. Whether in computing, sensing, or secure communications, progress will depend on talent as much as on hardware.

Companies that invest in the right mix of expertise today will be those ready to capture future commercial opportunities. Likewise, professionals who develop both technical and strategic skills will lead the next generation of innovation.

As one of the few women leading in the quantum space, Jelena Trbovic exemplifies how technical ability and leadership can combine to inspire others. Her story is a reminder that the future of quantum depends on diverse perspectives and the courage to innovate beyond convention.

How Barrington James Accelerates Quantum Technology Growth

At Barrington James, we support organisations across quantum technology, quantum sensing, and quantum computing as they move from research to market. Our recruitment consultants understand the technical depth and commercial complexity that define this field, helping clients build high-performing teams across every function.

Whether you are hiring a quantum engineer, scaling a quantum computing startup, or expanding your quantum recruitment strategy, Barrington James provides the market knowledge and international reach to help you succeed.

By championing inclusive hiring and celebrating diverse pathways into STEM, we help organisations shape a stronger, more representative future for the quantum field.