openQSE: Co-Designing the Quantum Software Stack from Applications to Control Systems

Overview

openQSE: Co-Designing the Quantum Software Stack from Applications to Control Systems

As quantum computing evolves from isolated experimental platforms toward integration with high-performance computing (HPC) environments, the need for interoperable quantum-HPC software infrastructure is becoming increasingly urgent. Developing such middleware requires co-design across the full quantum computing stack. Application-level choices about how problems are formulated and expressed in quantum workflows directly influence how workloads are compiled and executed on hardware. At the same time, constraints imposed by hardware control systems and device execution models shape the abstractions and services that middleware must provide.

To this end, openQSE is a collaborative initiative involving twenty-seven institutions spanning academia, national laboratories, and industry that is working to develop open specifications and reference implementations for quantum software middleware supporting the orchestration and execution of quantum workloads in HPC systems.

This workshop will convene researchers and practitioners across the quantum-HPC software stack to examine cross-layer interactions in quantum workload execution. All participants are welcome — joining openQSE is not a requirement for attending. Through short technical talks and an interactive co-design session, the workshop will explore how workloads evolve from application specification to hardware execution and identify challenges in defining interoperable middleware interfaces.

The workshop is intended to serve as a community forum to gather perspectives and help shape a roadmap for open and interoperable quantum-HPC software infrastructure.

Details

Program

Each topical block will reserve time for discussion and audience feedback as timing permits.

Objectives

Short-Term

• Establish a shared understanding of co-design challenges across applications, middleware, and control systems.
• Collect concrete use cases and requirements that directly impact middleware design and interface specifications.
• Identify gaps in current abstractions and interfaces that limit interoperability and portability across quantum-HPC systems.
• Foster cross-domain collaboration between application developers, middleware architects, and hardware/control vendors.
• Generate actionable outcomes from discussions and deep dives to inform ongoing research and development.

Long-Term

• Lay the groundwork for common interfaces, best practices, and abstractions across the quantum software stack.
• Create a sustained community network across application, middleware, and hardware domains.
• Integrate workshop outcomes into hybrid quantum-HPC architecture co-design.
• Promote best practices for middleware design and resource abstraction.
• Enable long-term alignment between hardware evolution and software ecosystem development.

Target Audience

Attendees are expected to have a basic understanding of quantum computing and/or HPC systems. The workshop welcomes:

• Quantum application developers
• Middleware and runtime developers
• HPC architects and operators
• Quantum software engineering researchers
• Quantum hardware and control system developers

Expected attendance: 30–50 participants. Participation is open; joining openQSE is not required.

Speakers

The current planned speaker and facilitator roster is embedded in the schedule above. Additional talk details will be posted as confirmations are finalized.

Organizers

Amir Shehata Main Contact

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)

Amir Shehata is a Principal Investigator at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where he leads efforts at the intersection of high-performance computing (HPC) and quantum computing. His work focuses on building scalable software frameworks and architectures that enable the integration of quantum systems into HPC environments. He is a leading contributor to openQSE, driving initiatives in hybrid workflows, system design, and cross-platform interoperability for emerging quantum-HPC ecosystems. He has experience organizing community activities, including leading the quantum-HPC Integration Workshop at ORNL in July 2025 and organizing a Birds-of-a-Feather session at SC Asia 2026 focused on quantum-HPC integration.

LinkedIn

Alex Chernoguzov

Quantinuum

Alex Chernoguzov is the Chief Engineer of Commercial Products at Quantinuum, where he works on quantum computing systems and software integration. His work focuses on bridging quantum hardware capabilities with software stacks to enable scalable and reliable quantum applications. He contributes to the development of hybrid quantum-classical workflows and the broader quantum computing ecosystem, including participation in cross-organizational efforts to define interoperable software interfaces and engage in community-driven technical discussions.

LinkedIn

Andrea Delgado

Qblox

Andrea Delgado is a roadmap leader at Qblox, where she drives product strategy and long-term planning for quantum control systems. Her work focuses on aligning hardware capabilities with emerging requirements in quantum computing and scalable system architectures. She is a key organizer within the IEEE Quantum Week (QCE) conference series, serving as Program Board Chair for QCE 2026 and previously as Technical Papers Program Chair for QCE 2025 and 2023, as well as Track Chair roles in earlier editions.

LinkedIn

Ermal Rrapaj

NERSC, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Ermal Rrapaj is a Computer Systems Engineer and quantum computing researcher at the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. His work focuses on the intersection of scientific computing algorithms and HPC system architecture, as well as analyzing quantum computing use cases for large-scale scientific applications. His research spans quantum computing algorithms, quantum-HPC integration, machine learning for scientific workloads, and performance analysis of large-scale HPC systems.

LinkedIn

Josh Moles

Snoquera

Josh Moles is the founder and CEO of Snoquera, where he works to make resilient precision timing practical without the high-cost infrastructure it has historically required. His background spans quantum computing, custom silicon, and national security systems, from complex communication systems at the U.S. Department of State to hardware and systems programs at IonQ, Google, Intel, and Northrop Grumman covering quantum-classical integration, custom SoC validation, and embedded and FPGA design. An IEEE Senior Member, he serves on the Global Quantum Industry Group's Quantum Computing Infrastructure Advisory Board, co-moderated a panel on quantum-HPC integration at QCE 2026, and is moderating an accepted panel at Supercomputing (SC) 2026.

LinkedIn

Lee J. O'Riordan

Xanadu

Lee J. O'Riordan is a Senior Quantum Software Developer II at Xanadu, where he focuses on advancing high-performance computing capabilities within quantum software, particularly through performance optimization of PennyLane. His work includes enabling multi-vendor CPU support, GPU acceleration, and distributed computing to improve the scalability and efficiency of quantum simulations. He specializes in template metaprogramming, SIMD, and compiler optimization.

LinkedIn

Thomas Naughton

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)

Thomas Naughton is a researcher at Oak Ridge National Laboratory specializing in high-performance computing systems and software. His work focuses on scalable system architecture, performance optimization, and integration of emerging technologies into HPC environments. He contributes to advancing hybrid computing models and infrastructure for next-generation scientific workloads. He is also actively involved in community leadership, including organizing Birds-of-a-Feather sessions at the Supercomputing (SC) conference for PMIx and participating in MPI workshops and BoFs.

ORNL Profile

Materials

Slides, recordings, and other materials will be posted here after the event.

Contact

Questions about the workshop? Contact the main organizer Amir Shehata or reach the broader openQSE community on openQSE Slack.