A method of programming a quantum processor comprising: encoding, by one or more classical processors of a control system, an optimization problem into an energy spectrum of a quantum Hamiltonian H total, wherein the encoding is based on couplings between qubits in the quantum processor; wherein the quantum processor is controllable such that H total evolves from an initial quantum Hamiltonian H i over time to a problem quantum Hamiltonian H p, wherein an energy spectrum of H p encodes a solution to the optimization problem, and wherein a quantum state of H total evolves from a ground state of H i towards a ground state of H p as H total evolves from H i to H p; outputting, by the control system, to the quantum processor, a first set of control parameters based on the encoding for initializing the couplings between the qubits of the quantum processor to solve the optimization problem, and parameterization of H total; determining, by the one or more classical processors of the control system, a quantum governor Hamiltonian, H QG, based on a random matrix describing a set of energy level spacings having an average energy level spacing which is substantially greater than energy level spacings of H p during a first period of time, and which is substantially equal to the energy level spacings of H p during a second period of time after the first period of time, such that an average energy level spacing of the set of energy level spacings is obtained without diagonalizing Hp; outputting, by the control system to the quantum processor, a second set of control parameters for programming the couplings between the qubits of the quantum processor, based on the set of energy level spacings described by the random matrix, such that the second set of control parameters reflect the parameterization of H total to limit evolution of the quantum state of H total into the ground state of H p as the quantum processor solves the optimization problem; and receiving, by the one or more classical processors from the quantum processor, an output associated with a state of the quantum state at the end of the evolution. encoding, by one or more classical processors of a control system, an optimization problem into an energy spectrum of a quantum Hamiltonian H total, wherein the encoding is based on couplings between qubits in the quantum processor; wherein the quantum processor is controllable such that H total evolves from an initial quantum Hamiltonian H i over time to a problem quantum Hamiltonian H p, wherein an energy spectrum of H p encodes a solution to the optimization problem, and wherein a quantum state of H total evolves from a ground state of H i towards a ground state of H p as H total evolves from H i to H p; outputting, by the control system, to the quantum processor, a first set of control parameters based on the encoding for initializing the couplings between the qubits of the quantum processor to solve the optimization problem, and parameterization of H total; determining, by the one or more classical processors of the control system, a quantum governor Hamiltonian, H QG, based on a random matrix describing a set of energy level spacings having an average energy level spacing which is substantially greater than energy level spacings of H p during a first period of time, and which is substantially equal to the energy level spacings of H p during a second period of time after the first period of time, such that an average energy level spacing of the set of energy level spacings is obtained without diagonalizing Hp; outputting, by the control system to the quantum processor, a second set of control parameters for programming the couplings between the qubits of the quantum processor, based on the set of energy level spacings described by the random matrix, such that the second set of control parameters reflect the parameterization of H total to limit evolution of the quantum state of H total into the ground state of H p as the quantum processor solves the optimization problem; and receiving, by the one or more classical processors from the quantum processor, an output associated with a state of the quantum state at the end of the evolution.