Staff Software Engineer - Embedded Software

Sorry, this job was removed at 08:38 p.m. (CST) on Friday, Nov 21, 2025
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2 Locations
Hybrid
Artificial Intelligence • Hardware • Software • Quantum Computing
Building the world’s best quantum computers to solve the world’s most complex problems.
The Role

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 Staff Embedded Software Engineer to join our controls system team. You’ll be part of a cross-functional team whose mission is to lead IonQ on its journey to build the world’s best quantum computers to solve the world’s most complex problems. 

The controls system team creates the embedded systems that perform real-time control for our quantum computers. In this role, you will work to expand the real-time control scheduling and control flow of our quantum control system. This role requires working closely with research physicists, hardware engineers, and other software teams at all stages of the software lifecycle.

Responsibilities:

  • Lead, design, architect, develop, test, deploy, maintain and improve major software components, systems, and features for real-time device control
  • Write high-quality, well-tested, production-ready code in Rust and other languages
  • Assist in the career development of others, providing mentorship on advanced technical issues
  • Improve best practices and processes.
  • Collaborate with an experienced interdisciplinary staff
  • Approach problems pragmatically
  • Help us continuously improve how we do things

The ideal candidate will have experience leading or contributing to multiple simultaneous product development efforts, projects, and initiatives. You’ll be able to balance technical expertise and savvy with strong business judgment to make effective technology choices. You’ll strive for simplicity and demonstrate significant creativity and incisive judgment.  

You’d be a good fit with:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent practical experience
  • 8+ years of experience in software development in one or more general-purpose programming languages (Python, JavaScript, …), with expert knowledge of at least one systems programming language (e.g. C, C++, Rust) 
  • Excellent engineering skills in a few key areas:
    • Real-time software development
    • FPGA codesign
    • Classical computing architectures, including superscalar processing
    • Compiler design
  • Experience writing embedded systems software
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • A love of collaborating in an interdisciplinary environment


You’d be a great fit with:

  • Proficiency or exposure to higher-level programming, such as Python development and CI/CD pipelines
  • Experience in analyzing software determinism through various hardware components and creating deterministic real-time software 
  • Knowledge of Yocto, Buildroot, or other embedded packaging systems
  • Experience with oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and other hardware test equipment

Location: This is a hybrid role based at our office in College Park, MD or Bothell, Washington.
Travel: Up to 10%
Job ID:
  1165

The approximate base salary range for this position is $162,920 - $213,304. The total compensation package includes base, bonus, and equity.

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 US 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, just outside of 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, Toronto, Canada, and Basel, Switzerland. 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.

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!


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The Company
HQ: College Park, MD
415 Employees
Year Founded: 2015

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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