Non-classical quantum technologies that rely on manipulation of quantum states and exploitation of quantum superposition and entanglement are approaching a level of maturity sufficient to contemplate commercialization as the basis of practical devices for sensing, communications, navigation and other applications in the relatively near-term. However, realization of such technologies is dependent upon the development of appropriate Quantum Systems Engineering (QSE) approaches. It is clear that whilst traditional systems engineering will support much of the integration need, there are aspects associated with system of interest definition, system modelling, and system verification where substantial advances in the systems engineering approach are required. This paper lays out in detail the challenges associated with Quantum Enabled Systems and Technologies (QEST) and analyses the adequacy of systems engineering processes and tools, as defined by the Systems and Software Engineering lifecycle standard (ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288), to meet these challenges. The conclusions of this paper provide an outline agenda for systems research in order to engineer QEST.
Non-classical quantum technologies that rely on manipulation of quantum states and exploitation of quantum superposition and entanglement are approaching a level of maturity sufficient to contemplate commercialization as the basis of practical devices for sensing, communications, navigation and other applications in the relatively near-term. However, realization of such technologies is dependent upon the development of appropriate Quantum Systems Engineering (QSE) approaches. It is clear that whilst traditional systems engineering will support much of the integration need, there are aspects associated with system of interest definition, system modelling, and system verification where substantial advances in the systems engineering approach are required. This paper lays out in detail the challenges associated with Quantum Enabled Systems and Technologies (QEST) and analyses the adequacy of systems engineering processes and tools, as defined by the Systems and Software Engineering lifecycle standard (ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288), to meet these challenges. The conclusions of this paper provide an outline agenda for systems research in order to engineer QEST.
Context: Quantum software development is a complex and intricate process that diverges significantly from traditional software development. Quantum computing and quantum software are deeply entangled with quantum mechanics, which introduces a different level of abstraction and a deep dependence on quantum physical properties. The classical requirements engineering methods must be adapted to encompass the essential quantum features in this new paradigm. Aim: This study aims to systematically identify and analyze challenges, opportunities, developments, and new lines of research in requirements engineering for quantum computing. Method: We conducted a systematic literature review, including three research questions. This study included 105 papers published from 2017 to 2024. Results: The main results include the identification of problems associated with defining specific requirements for quantum software and hybrid system requirements. In addition, we identified challenges related to the absence of standards for quantum requirements engineering. Finally, we can see the advances in developing programming languages and simulation tools for developing software in hybrid systems. Conclusions: This study presents the challenges and opportunities in quantum computing requirements engineering, emphasizing the need for new methodologies and tools. It proposes a roadmap for future research to develop a standardized framework, contributing to theoretical foundations and practical applications.
As quantum computers advance, the complexity of the software they can execute increases as well. To ensure this software is efficient, maintainable, reusable, and cost-effective—key qualities of any industry-grade software—mature software engineering practices must be applied throughout its design, development, and operation. However, the significant differences between classical and quantum software make it challenging to directly apply classical software engineering methods to quantum systems. This challenge has led to the emergence of Quantum Software Engineering (QSE) as a distinct field within the broader software engineering landscape. In this work, a group of active researchers analyze in depth the current state of QSE research. From this analysis, the key areas of QSE are identified and explored in order to determine the most relevant open challenges that should be addressed in the next years. These challenges help identify necessary breakthroughs and future research directions for advancing QSE.
Quantum engineering represents a burgeoning field at the intersection of quantum mechanics, engineering, and technology, aimed at harnessing the unique properties of quantum systems for practical applications. This paper provides an overview of recent advances in quantum engineering and explores the diverse array of applications enabled by quantum phenomena. From quantum computing and quantum communication to quantum sensing and metrology, quantum engineering promises to revolutionize various domains by offering unprecedented capabilities for processing and manipulating information, sensing and detecting signals, and simulating complex systems. By leveraging the principles of superposition, entanglement, and coherence, researchers are developing novel quantum devices and technologies with the potential to transform industries ranging from healthcare and telecommunications to finance and materials science. developments in quantum engineering, highlights emerging trends and challenges, and outlines future directions for research and innovation in this exciting and rapidly evolving field.
With the advance of quantum computing, quantum software becomes critical for exploring the full potential of quantum computing systems. Recently, quantum software engineering (QSE) becomes an emerging area attracting more and more attention. However, it is not clear what are the challenges and opportunities of quantum computing facing the software engineering community. This work aims to understand the QSE-related challenges perceived by developers. We perform an empirical study on Stack Exchange forums where developers post-QSE-related questions & answers and Github issue reports where developers raise QSE-related issues in practical quantum computing projects. Based on an existing taxonomy of question types on Stack Overflow, we first perform a qualitative analysis of the types of QSE-related questions asked on Stack Exchange forums. We then use automated topic modeling to uncover the topics in QSE-related Stack Exchange posts and GitHub issue reports. Our study highlights some particularly challenging areas of QSE that are different from that of traditional software engineering, such as explaining the theory behind quantum computing code, interpreting quantum program outputs, and bridging the knowledge gap between quantum computing and classical computing, as well as their associated opportunities.
As quantum computing continues to advance, the development of reliable and scalable quantum software systems becomes increasingly crucial. However, designing and implementing hybrid (quantum-classical) software systems poses unique challenges that require novel approaches and best practices. This position paper argues for the importance of developing architectural and design patterns specific to Quantum Software Engineering (QSE). We provide an overview of existing quantum software design patterns (more focused on low-level, programming details) and highlight the lack of patterns addressing hybrid software systems and architectural patterns. We discuss the key challenges that architectural patterns should address, including quantum-classical integration, maintainability, efficiency, and security. We also discuss the implications for practitioners, providing guidance on how to think high-level about hybrid software development process. Finally, we outline future research directions and emphasize the need for collaboration between the quantum computing and software engineering communities to establish a comprehensive high-level patterns framework for QSE.
Quantum computing, grounded in principles such as superposition and entanglement, is revolutionising the design, testing, and understanding of software. While the community is working on its technical challenges, the human and collaborative aspects have received little attention. This vision paper outlines a research agenda for human-centred quantum software engineering (HC-QSE). Building on current QSE foundations, the agenda spans three interrelated themes: understanding practice, designing support, and embedding responsibility. The first calls for studying how interdisciplinary teams construct and share mental models of quantum behaviour, collaborate across disciplinary boundaries, and reason under uncertainty inherent in probabilistic computation. The second focuses on creating tools, workflows, and learning environments that enhance comprehension, interpretability, and shared accountability among practitioners, educators, and learners. The third integrates ethical reflection and equity considerations into the design and governance of quantum software ecosystems. By centering human experience within QSE, this agenda encourages cooperative, reflective, and ethically grounded approaches to building quantum software.