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Virginia lands 19 new quantum jobs with Phasecraft’s expansion

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September 21, 2026 by Ivy Delaney

Governor Abigail Spanberger has announced that Phasecraft, a UK-based developer of quantum algorithms, will establish its U.S. headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, with a $113,000 investment creating 19 new jobs. The company designs algorithms for existing quantum computers, focusing on applications from materials science to chemical modeling, Phasecraft says. “Virginia continues to grow as a global hub for companies and technologies,” said Governor Spanberger. Phasecraft’s decision reflects Virginia’s strengthening position as a center for quantum innovation, bolstered by a skilled workforce and proximity to both federal partners and industry clients.

Phasecraft’s $113,000 Investment Creates 19 Quantum Jobs in Arlington

Phasecraft is extending its reach into the United States with a new headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, strategically positioning the company to collaborate more closely with U.S. government agencies and private sector partners. This expansion follows Phasecraft’s participation in the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI), where the company is applying its software and algorithms to assess the feasibility of utility-scale quantum computing by 2033.

Establishing a U.S. base of operations allows Phasecraft to capitalize on Virginia’s growing quantum ecosystem and skilled workforce, factors cited by the company as key to its expansion, according to the company. Phasecraft’s algorithms address complex problems in materials science, chemical modeling, and optimization, areas where quantum computing promises significant advancements.

Earlier this year, the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy selected Phasecraft for its Quantum Computing for Computational Chemistry program, tasking the company with developing algorithms to discover advanced catalysts and reduce reliance on critical minerals. This project builds on Phasecraft’s existing work, which has already demonstrated gate-count reductions exceeding one million times for battery materials, a feat achieved through hardware-agnostic algorithm design originating as a spin-out from UCL.

Governor Abigail Spanberger highlighted the significance of Phasecraft’s investment, stating, “I’m thrilled to welcome Phasecraft to the Commonwealth and look forward to seeing all they accomplish as they grow and build on Virginia’s innovation ecosystem.” The company’s arrival in Arlington County is expected to contribute to the region’s tech sector, offering access to specialized talent and a robust transportation network. “Phasecraft’s new Arlington HQ represents a significant milestone for the company,” said Phasecraft Cofounder and CEO Ashley Montanaro.

“As our work with agencies across the U.S. government and the private sector continues to grow, so too will our American work force.” Montanaro added, “We’re thrilled to now call Virginia home as the company continues to grow rapidly.” Phasecraft’s expansion is supported by the Virginia Jobs Investment Program (VJIP), which will provide consultative services and funding to aid in employee recruitment and training.

The company, founded in 2018 and currently employing approximately 40 people, has already secured over $50 million in total funding, including a recent $34 million Series B round led by Plural, Playground Global, and Novo Holdings. This funding has enabled Phasecraft to launch Mondrian, a quantum-enhanced platform designed to solve real-world network challenges using advanced optimization solutions, and to compete as a finalist in the $5 million XPRIZE Quantum Applications competition, the results of which will be announced in spring 2027.

Secretary of Commerce and Trade Carrie Chenery emphasized the transformative potential of quantum computing, noting, “Quantum computing has the potential to transform industries from energy to advanced materials, and Phasecraft’s work sits opportunity.” Arlington County Board Chairman Matt de Ferranti echoed this sentiment, stating, “With their work in developing quantum algorithms for real-world advantage, they are a perfect fit for the region’s vibrant tech ecosystem.” The company’s decision to locate in Arlington aligns with the county’s strategy of attracting international companies seeking access to federal partners, research assets, and a skilled talent pool, as noted by Senator Barbara A. Favola. Delegate Patrick Hope added, “Arlington continues to prove itself as a premier destination for technology and innovation.”

Arlington County welcomes British quantum computing company Phasecraft, which has selected Ballston for their U.S. Headquarters.

Matt de Ferranti, Arlington County Board Chairman
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Ivy Delaney

Ivy Delaney has been working with neural networks and machine learning since the mid-nineties, back when a couple of hidden layers and a long afternoon of training counted as ambitious. She has watched the field go from academic curiosity to the thing quietly running underneath everything, and she brings that long view to quantum computing. For Quantum Zeitgeist she covers the ground where the two fields meet. That means quantum machine learning and the variational algorithms it leans on, and it also means the less glamorous but more interesting story of classical machine learning already doing real work inside quantum machines, decoding error-correcting codes, calibrating noisy hardware and learning the error models that simulators depend on. She writes about the hardware those algorithms have to run on too, and about the post-quantum cryptography scramble that the same hardware has set off. Her stories typically start with the paper, whether that is peer-reviewed work, conference proceedings or an arXiv preprint, with the source linked so you can hold a claim up against the research it came from. She is unimpressed by benchmarks that will not say what they beat, and by demonstrations that only work in the press release.

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