“Fault tolerance opens a whole new chapter”
Building software for quantum error correction
When Burak Mete chose to study computer science, it was initially for pragmatic reasons. But then, during the first semester of his master's program, he discovered his passion for quantum computing. Today, he wants to play an active role in paving the way for fault-tolerant quantum computing and enjoys working closely with theoretical and experimental physicists to develop efficient control software for quantum error correction.
By Maria Poxleitner
“From my very first lectures on quantum computing, I was mesmerized by the topic. It was all so new and exciting to me,” Burak Mete recalls. Back then, during the first semester of his master’s program at Technical University of Munich (TUM), he took many courses, says the computer scientist, but quantum computing was his main focus. He studied the underlying physics in much more depth than his courses designed for computer scientists required. “You go back to physics textbooks, and then you find yourself studying,” Burak says as if this had happened without any effort on his part. “I didn't need to do that. I was just excited.” Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, he also had plenty of time. Perhaps one of the positive aspects of the pandemic, he adds thoughtfully. “I think I found a passion in that first stretch.” At the time, he didn't know that the community working on this topic was already so large. "Especially Munich is now one of the biggest hubs in the world. I wasn’t aware of that. But towards the end of my master’s program, I realized ‘Okay, there’s actually a lot to do here. I could actually pursue a career in this field.’”
Today, a few years later, the 29-year-old works as a Software Solution Architect for the Munich Quantum Valley (MQV) gGmbH. He has been part of the software team since August. Burak sits at his desk in the open office on the Garching Research Campus and explains what he will focus on in his new role: “Building control software for quantum error correction and integrating it into the Munich Quantum Software Stack is the part that I’m leading and it’s my biggest priority.” The Munich Quantum Software Stack (MQSS) is a collection of software packages designed to make quantum computing accessible even to users without specialized knowledge. This has long been the case with today's conventional computers – everyone is using a laptop or smartphone without having to know what is going on at software and hardware level. “Our goal is to build something, that allows users to hook up to a quantum computer.”
“I saw the tool grow basically right from the beginning”
The computer scientist has been working on MQSS not just since he started his new position at the MQV gGmbH, but for several years now. After completing his master's degree, he moved to the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre (LRZ) to pursue his doctorate. “I heard about their vision on hosting multiple modalities of quantum computers, like superconducting, ion-trap, and neutral-atoms quantum computers. In addition, there was this plan to develop a software hub to connect the user-facing side to these quantum machines. The whole mission sounded very exciting to me.” This software hub, now known as MQSS, that the LRZ is developing as part of MQV in collaboration with two departments at TUM, was still in its infancy back then. “We started from a very basic web server. That's when I joined. I saw the tool grow basically right from the beginning.” Burak himself has worked on various components of the software stack, ranging from transpilers that rewrite a given input circuit to match the features of the quantum hardware used for the computation to so-called adapters that allow users to access MQSS through various quantum programming frameworks such as Qiskit or Pennylane to automated workflows for hybrid quantum computing. “I would like to summarize hybrid quantum–classical computing as the paradigm where you need both quantum and classical high-performance computing to solve a common problem, and these two different systems need to communicate with each other,” Burak describes the task on which he worked most.
Burak Mete, 29
Position
Software Solution Architect
Institute
MQV gGmbH
Degree
Computer Science
At the MQV gGmbH, Burak is responsible for the software-wise development and implementation of efficient workflows and routines for quantum error correction. This requires close collaboration with colleagues from the theory and hardware departments.
Looking back on the first funding phase of MQV, the computer scientist offers a positive assessment: “I think this first phase went really well. What we’ve built is great.” It started as a proof of concept and, as of today, has already served many different users from research and industry. However, with the coming era of fault-tolerant quantum computing, there’s actually a lot more one can do, he continues. “Fault tolerance opens a whole new chapter.” His new role in leading the integration of quantum error correction into the computing stack software-wise allows him to actively shape this new chapter.
Working at the intersection of computer science and physics
An important task will be to reduce latency. For quantum error correction, a certain subset of qubits, called “syndrome qubits”, has to be measured repeatedly, Burak begins his explanation. These measurements do not reveal the computed data itself, but they show signs of errors and provide information whether a correction is necessary or not. A software component – a decoder – must turn this stream of data into decisions very quickly, he continues. “If it is too slow, the data piles up, and at certain steps the quantum processor has to wait for the answer.” Developing efficient workflows and routines for quantum error correction that minimize this “waiting time” – the latency –, implementing them software-wise and integrating them into MQSS is Burak’s main task, which is closely intertwined with the work of other teams at MQV. “Implementing quantum error correction really connects the theory and development of quantum-error-correction algorithms with hardware and software development,” enthuses the computer scientist, who takes great pleasure in working at this very interface. The fact that colleagues from the other teams sit just a few desks away facilitates close collaboration.
Burak’s colleagues appreciate not only his extensive expertise and his calm and thoughtful demeanor. On his very first day at work, much to the delight of his coworkers, he brought in a package of Turkish delight from the Istanbul-based family business, which typically supplies Istanbul cafés and restaurants with this Turkish sweet. As a child, he always enjoyed helping out at the manufactory – which his grandfather used to run and which now belongs to his father – packing the sweets into boxes and, of course, volunteering as a taste tester, Burak says with a smile. “Whenever I go there, I take a couple of boxes with me. I’ll definitely bring some more to the office.”
Toward the end of his high school years in Istanbul, the decision to study computer science was more of a pragmatic one, Burak recalls: “It wasn’t so much a passion, I’d say. It was more like, ‘Okay, I think I’m good at this.’” In later semesters, topics such as machine learning then sparked a certain fascination and enthusiasm for the field. TUM, which was considered one of the top universities in Europe for Burak’s areas of interest, drew the student to Munich for his master’s program. “And I also wanted a new challenge. I’ve never lived in a different city before,” Burak adds. The move was certainly challenging. During his first year of studies, when the COVID-19 pandemic was still making everyday life difficult, he had to move six times due to Munich’s challenging housing market. But he didn’t let that deter him. Today, Burak lives with his wife and their little baby in Munich and feels completely at home in the Bavarian capital. He appreciates that Munich is a somewhat quieter big city. “I love and miss Istanbul, but it’s a big metropolis and it can be chaotic,” he says with a laugh. When he looks back on the past few years, he also feels a sense of pride: When he came to Munich, he didn’t know anyone in the city, he says, and also didn’t really have any long-term plans. “But now, after six years, I have a five-month-old daughter. I’m part of this very dynamic ecosystem and work at one of the world’s leading hubs for quantum computing. Just looking back on the journey, I’m really proud of what we’ve accomplished, also as a family.”
Published 30 October 2026; Interview 13 October 2026