Quantum Engineering with David Reilly and Tom Ohki

Revolutionary Quantum Engineering with David Reilly and Tom OhkiHave 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 SummaryThis 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 LearnHow cryo-CMOS technology solves the fundamental wiring bottleneck that prevents quantum computers from scaling beyond hundreds of qubitsWhy the "special ops" team model enables breakthrough engineering when tackling unprecedented technical challenges across quantum and classical computingHow cryogenic cooling could transform classical data centers by dramatically reducing power consumption and improving processor performanceThe systems-level thinking required to build quantum computers that actually work at scale, beyond just improving individual qubit performanceWhy Australia offers unique advantages for deep tech R&D companies focused on long-term hardware development rather than venture-driven growthHow quantum computing infrastructure development creates spillover benefits for classical computing, sensing, and other cryogenic applicationsThe historical parallels between today's quantum engineering challenges and the foundational R&D that built the internet and early computing systemsWhy "qubit-agnostic" approaches to control systems provide more flexibility as quantum hardware continues evolvingCompany & Guest LinksEmergence QuantumDavid Reilly