IonQ is developing the world's most powerful full-stack quantum computer based on trapped-ion technology. We are pushing past the limits of classical physics and current supercomputing technology to unlock a new era of computing. Quantum computing has the potential to impact every area of human society for the better. IonQ’s computers will soon redefine industries like medicine, materials science, finance, artificial intelligence, machine learning, cryptography, and more. IonQ is at the forefront of this technological revolution.
We are looking for a Senior Staff Software Engineer on the Automation & Calibration Team. As a Senior Staff Software Engineer, you’ll be part of a cross-functional team whose mission is to keep the fleet of IonQ’s quantum computers and demonstration systems running autonomously at peak performance and throughput in order to solve the world’s most complex problems faster.
Improving the quality and optimizing the efficiency of our quantum computers requires developing control routines and automated calibrations with our team of experimental physicist operators. Prior experience with control theory, hardware device control, and working with scientists will be helpful; data analysis and statistical methods are even more useful.
We encourage applicants from different career paths for this position. You could be a software engineer with an emerging interest in quantum computing. You could be a quantum researcher with strong software engineering skills and desire to focus on the engineering discipline. We’d love a blend of hands-on experience as well as tactical and strategic direction.
Responsibilities:
- Write software to automate our system behavior to meet business and technical goals
- Write software to calibrate our systems’ physical parameters
- Provide technical expertise in building robust, well-engineered, tested software solutions
- Effectively self-manage projects, priorities, deadlines, and deliverables
- Identify, track and mitigate execution roadblocks and technical risks
- Mentor more junior engineers and team members with different technical backgrounds in your area of expertise
- Listen and learn from team members with different areas of expertise and experiences
You’d be a good fit with:
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent industry experience in Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, or related field.
- 13+ years of professional programming experience (or an equivalent combination of education and experience) in a general-purpose language like Python, Go, Rust, or C++
- Data analysis skills in areas like statistical testing, modeling, optimization, and/or machine learning.
You’d be a great fit with:
- MS or PhD or equivalent industry experience in Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, or a related field
- Experience with machine learning and/or mathematical optimization
- A background in digital signal processing and/or control theory
- Experience in working with technical experts outside of traditional software engineering, particularly electrical engineers and physicists
Location: This position can be on-site or hybrid from one of our offices in College Park, MD, or Bothell, WA.
Travel: Occasional, 1-4 per year
The approximate base salary range for this position is $187,358 - $245,300.
Compensation will vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Posted base salary figures are subject to change as new market data becomes available. Beyond base salary, total compensation includes a variable bonus and equity component and a range of benefit options found on our career site at ionq.co/jobs. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided when a candidate receives an offer of employment. Our benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, matching 401K, unlimited PTO and paid holidays, parental/adoption leave, legal insurance, a home internet stipend, and pet insurance!
IonQ's HQ is located in College Park, Maryland, a quick 15-minute metro from Washington DC. We are actively building out our recently opened manufacturing and production facility in Bothell, WA (near Seattle). Depending on the position, you may be required to be near one of our offices in College Park, Seattle, or Toronto. However, IonQ will expand into additional domestic and international geographies, so don’t let this stop you from applying!
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.
The position you are applying for may 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 status for export controls and government contracts work and/or obtaining any necessary license/confirming the availability of a license exception under U.S. export controls. 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!
Top Skills
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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