About IonQ:
IonQ, Inc. [NYSE: IONQ] is the world’s leading quantum platform and merchant supplier - delivering integrated quantum solutions across computing, networking, sensing, and security. IonQ’s newest generation of quantum computers, the IonQ Tempo, is the latest in a line of cutting-edge systems that have been helping customers and partners including Amazon Web Services, and AstraZeneca achieve 20x performance results and accelerate innovation in drug discovery, materials science, financial modeling, logistics, cybersecurity, and defense. In 2025, the company achieved 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity, setting a world record in quantum computing performance.
Headquartered in College Park, Maryland, IonQ has operations in California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Washington, Italy, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Our quantum computing services are available through all major cloud providers, while we also meet the needs of networking and sensing customers across land, sea, air, and space. IonQ is making quantum platforms more accessible and impactful than ever before.
Location: This role is based at our Louisville, CO office with the option to work a few days a week remotely.
Travel: Up to 5%, occasional travel to IonQ locations as required.
Job ID: 1568
The Role
The Senior People Business Partner (Sr. PBP) serves as the primary HR leader for IonQ’s Space Technology Division, acting as a trusted advisor and right hand to the Divisional Head of HR. This role is responsible for delivering the full spectrum of human resources support, combining strategic partnership with hands-on execution in a fast-scaling, highly technical environment. The Sr. PBP plays a critical role in shaping organizational design, driving talent outcomes, and ensuring operational excellence across the division.
Responsibilities
Strategic Partnership & Leadership
- Serve as a senior advisor to division leadership on organizational strategy, workforce planning, and talent priorities.
- Partner closely with the Divisional Head of HR to translate enterprise HR strategy into division-specific execution plans.
- Act as a thought partner on business transformation, growth initiatives, and scaling challenges within a deep-tech environment.
- Provide coaching and guidance to senior leaders on leadership effectiveness, team dynamics, and performance management.
Organizational Design & Workforce Planning
- Lead organizational design efforts, including structure, spans/layers, and role clarity aligned to business objectives.
- Drive headcount planning, workforce modeling, and scenario planning in partnership with finance and leadership.
- Support integration efforts related to acquisitions, new programs, or expansion initiatives.
Talent Management & Development
- Own and execute talent management processes including performance management, succession planning, and leadership development.
- Identify high-potential talent and partner on development strategies to build leadership bench strength.
- Guide leaders through complex employee relations matters with sound judgment and risk mitigation.
HR Operations & Execution
- Ensure consistent and compliant execution of core HR processes including onboarding, offboarding, promotions, and internal mobility.
- Partner with Centers of Excellence (COEs) across Total Rewards, Talent Acquisition, and Learning & Development to deliver integrated solutions.
- Maintain strong knowledge of federal, state (Colorado), and local employment laws and ensure adherence across practices.
Culture & Employee Experience
- Champion a high-performance, mission-driven culture aligned with IonQ’s values and the unique demands of the space technology sector.
- Monitor employee engagement and drive targeted actions to improve retention and organizational health.
- Act as a visible and trusted HR presence across the division.
Data & Insights
- Leverage people analytics to inform decision-making, identify trends, and proactively address risks.
- Develop and present insights on workforce metrics, organizational health, and talent outcomes to senior leadership.
Qualifications
- 10+ years of progressive HR experience, including significant time supporting technical or engineering organizations.
- Demonstrated success as a senior HR business partner in high-growth, complex, or innovation-driven environments (e.g., aerospace, deep tech, SaaS, or advanced manufacturing).
- Strong expertise across core HR disciplines including organizational design, talent management, employee relations, and workforce planning.
- Proven ability to influence senior leaders and operate as a trusted advisor in ambiguous and evolving environments.
- Experience supporting geographically distributed teams and scaling organizations.
- Working knowledge of Colorado employment law and broader U.S. HR compliance requirements.
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or relevant certifications (e.g., SPHR, SHRM-SCP) preferred.
Leadership & Functional Competencies
- Strategic agility and business acumen
- Executive presence and influencing capability
- Sound judgment and discretion in sensitive matters
- Data-driven decision-making
- Operational rigor with a hands-on mindset
- Ability to balance long-term strategy with immediate execution
Work Environment
- Based in the Denver metro area with regular in-person engagement with division leadership and teams.
- Hybrid work environment with flexibility aligned to business needs.
- Occasional travel to other IonQ locations as required.
Compensation
The approximate base salary range for this position is $128,445 - $167,497. The total compensation package includes base salary, bonus, equity, and a range of benefits available on our career site.
Compensation will vary based on individual factors such as education, qualifications, and experience of the final candidate(s), specific office location, and calibration against relevant market data and internal team equity. Posted base salary figures are subject to change as new market data becomes available. Our benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, matching 401K, unlimited PTO and paid holidays, parental/adoption leave, legal insurance, and a home technology stipend. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided when a candidate receives an offer of employment.
At IonQ, we believe in fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all while striving to identify and eliminate barriers. We empower employees to thrive by fostering a culture of autonomy, productivity, and respect. We are dedicated to creating an environment where individuals can feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued.
We are committed to equity and justice. We welcome different voices and viewpoints and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, ancestry, physical and/or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.
US Technical Jobs. The position you are applying for will require access to technology that is subject to U.S. export control and government contract restrictions. Employment with IonQ is contingent on either verifying “U.S. Person” (e.g., U.S. citizen, U.S. national, U.S. permanent resident, or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum) status for export controls and government contracts work, obtaining any necessary license, and/or confirming the availability of a license exception under U.S. export controls. Please note that in the absence of confirming you are a U.S. Person for export control and government contracts work purposes, IonQ may choose not to apply for a license or decline to use a license exception (if available) for you to access export-controlled technology that may require authorization, and similarly, you may not qualify for government contracts work that requires U.S. Persons, and IonQ may decline to proceed with your application on those bases alone. Accordingly, we will have some additional questions regarding your immigration status that will be used for export control and compliance purposes, and the answers will be reviewed by compliance personnel to ensure compliance with federal law.
US Non-Technical Jobs. Due to applicable export control laws and regulations, candidates must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum. Accordingly, we will have some additional questions regarding your immigration status that will be used for export control and compliance purposes, and the answers will be reviewed by compliance personnel to ensure compliance with federal law.
If you are interested in being a part of our team and mission, we encourage you to apply!
Skills Required
- 10+ years of progressive HR experience
- Strong expertise in organizational design and talent management
- Demonstrated success in high-growth or innovation-driven environments
- Working knowledge of Colorado employment law and U.S. HR compliance
- Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree or certifications preferred
IonQ Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about IonQ and has not been reviewed or approved by IonQ.
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Healthcare Strength — Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage is described alongside HSA/FSA options, disability and life insurance, and mental health support. Inclusive elements such as transgender health benefits are also part of the package.
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Parental & Family Support — Paid maternity, paternity, and bonding leave is described as fully paid for eligible employees. Additional leave types such as bereavement leave are also included in time-off provisions.
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Retirement Support — A 401(k) plan with company matching up to 5% is included as part of the core package. Vesting is noted as applying over time, indicating the match is structured as a longer-term retention benefit.
IonQ Insights
What We Do
Quantum computers are a revolutionizing technology — they have the potential to transform business, society, and the planet for the better, and IonQ is at the forefront of this revolution. After over 25 years of academic research, IonQ was founded in 2015 by Chris Monroe and Jungsang Kim with $2 million in seed funding from New Enterprise Associates, a license to core technology from the University of Maryland and Duke University, and the goal of taking trapped ion quantum computing out of the lab and into the market. In the following three years, we raised an additional $20 million from GV, Amazon Web Services, and NEA, and built two of the world’s most accurate quantum computers. In 2019, we raised another $55 million in a round led by Samsung and Mubadala, and announced partnerships with Microsoft and Amazon Web Services to make our quantum computers available via the cloud. In 2020 and 2021, we built additional generations of high performance quantum hardware, added Google Cloud Marketplace to our cloud partner roster and announced a series of collaborations and business partnerships with leading academic and commercial institutions. On October 1st, 2021, IonQ began trading as IONQ on the New York Stock Exchange, making it the world's first public pure-play quantum computing company. We remain hard at work realizing the world-changing potential of quantum computing.
Why Work With Us
We’re growing a passionate, diverse team of collaborative, creative people. We believe in pursuing innovative, challenging work with integrity, alongside team members we can learn from and grow with.
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