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.
We are looking for a Senior Staff Quantum Scientist to join our Science team at IonQ. In this role, you will take a leading role in our research efforts, driving experimental efforts and the architecture of our future generation quantum systems.
We are pioneering advancements in quantum computing by utilising trapped ion technology and our proprietary laser-free quantum control methods. Our research and development efforts build on our fully integrated quantum processors that can be fabricated within standard silicon foundries. This unique approach allows us to leverage the highest-performing qubit technology while ensuring scalability and manufacturability using existing semiconductor fabrication technology.
We approach quantum computing with a focus on minimising errors, striving to achieve ultra-low gate errors at scale. Our immediate objective is to develop functional quantum computers within the NISQ regime, aiming to construct fault-tolerant machines that require minimal QEC overhead. Our recent breakthroughs include achieving 99.97% fidelity in two-qubit gates and 99.9992% fidelity in single-qubit operations without error correction, setting new industry standards for performance.
Responsibilities:As a Senior Staff Quantum Scientist you will be at the forefront of our research and development, taking a leading role within our experimental science team. You will be responsible for driving innovation in coherent control, calibration, and benchmarking at scale, with a particular focus on enabling ultra-low error rates and system reliability across larger trapped-ion devices.
You will work hands-on with our current hardware, with work spanning design, debugging, and executing experiments, developing novel control schemes, and pushing the boundaries of system performance.
Beyond hands-on experiments, you will help shape technical direction, mentor junior scientists, and ensure our work translates into scalable, fault-tolerant systems.
Key responsibilities include:- Lead the prototyping and characterisation of advanced coherent control schemes for trapped-ion qubits using laser and microwave fields.
- Drive system-level benchmarking and optimisation, ensuring near-term devices achieve world-leading performance and stability.
- Validate and integrate new trap technologies (e.g. on-chip electronics or photonics) to support scaling towards error-corrected architectures.
- Guide junior scientists in experimental design, analysis, and presentation of results.
- Represent IonQ at conferences and external collaborations.
To be successful, you will need a strong foundation in atomic or qubit-related physics, developed through a PhD in physics or a closely related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and practical experience. We are looking for at least seven years of post-PhD experience in academia or industry, or equivalent relevant research experience, with the ability to lead projects, work autonomously and guide junior scientists.
Proven experience in quantum control, with hands-on work in calibration, benchmarking or coherent control of qubits, will be key to success. Practical skills in control software, hardware integration or experimental data analysis are also important.
You’d be a great fit with:This work connects experimental physics with control hardware, software and data analysis. Experience linking these areas will help you investigate system performance and develop coherent control schemes for trapped-ion devices.
Technical leadership also means helping colleagues design experiments and communicate their results. Your experience of collaboration, mentoring and sharing scientific findings will support that part of the role.
- Deep experience in AMO physics or quantum computing. Trapped-ion experience is useful but is not required.
- Experience in spectroscopy or simulation of multilevel systems, control hardware characterisation, gate fidelity benchmarking or running algorithms on hardware.
- Strong proficiency in programming and data analysis.
- A track record of collaboration across teams and clear communication of complex scientific results through publications, talks or conferences.
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 401(k), 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
- PhD in physics, atomic physics, qubit-related physics, or a closely related discipline, or equivalent education and practical experience
- At least seven years of post-PhD experience in academia or industry, or equivalent relevant research experience
- Experience leading projects, working autonomously, and guiding junior scientists
- Hands-on experience in quantum control, qubit calibration, benchmarking, or coherent control
- Strong proficiency in programming and data analysis
- Experience in spectroscopy or simulation of multilevel systems, control hardware characterization, gate-fidelity benchmarking, or running algorithms on quantum hardware
- Experience with trapped-ion quantum systems
- Experience linking experimental physics with control hardware, software, and data analysis
- Track record of collaboration and communicating scientific results through publications, talks, or conferences
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 — Health coverage is described as comprehensive, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, HSA options, and no-cost mental-health support. Company materials also cite strong premium coverage levels for employees and dependents in recent years.
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Parental & Family Support — Paid maternity, paternity, and bonding leave are presented as fully paid for eligible employees. This breadth of family support is emphasized across company and job materials.
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Retirement Support — A 401(k) with company match up to 5% is part of the package, with materials noting a relatively short vesting schedule. Retirement support is positioned as a core element of total rewards.
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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