  With constant improvements of quantum hardware and quantum algorithms,
quantum advantage comes within reach. Parallel to the development of the
computer at the end of the twentieth century, quantum software development will
now also rapidly gain in importance and scale. On account of the inherent
complexity and novelty of quantum computing (QC), as well as the expected lack
of expertise of many of the stakeholders involved in its development, QC
software development projects are exposed to the risk of being conducted in a
crowded and unstructured way, lacking clear guidance and understanding. This
paper presents a comprehensive quantum optimisation development pipeline, novel
in its depth of 22 activities across multiple stages, coupled with project
management insights, uniquely targeted to the late noisy intermediate-scale
quantum (NISQ) [1] and early post-NISQ eras. We have extensively screened
literature and use-cases, interviewed experts, and brought in our own expertise
to develop this general quantum pipeline. The proposed solution pipeline is
divided into five stages: Use-case Identification, Solution Draft,
Pre-Processing, Execution and Post-Processing. Additionally, the pipeline
contains two review points to address the project management view, the inherent
risk of the project and the current technical maturity of QC technology. This
work is intended as an orientation aid for all stakeholders involved in the
development of QC applications and should therefore increase the chances of
success of quantum software projects. We encourage researchers to adapt and
extend the model where appropriate, as technological development also
continues.
