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 Test Engineer in the Integrated Photonics team. In this role, 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.
In this role, you will focus primarily on designing and building the testing infrastructure needed to characterize the photonic integrated circuit (PIC). This includes wafer-level-tester as well as automated testing systems for characterizing passive PIC components, micro-optics, and metalenses, which will be implemented in trapped-ion quantum computer systems. You will also have the opportunity to work with atomic physicists to innovate the trapped-ion quantum computer utilizing integrated photonics. The PIC-based devices you characterize will help drive the overall development of a new and game-changing photonics technology to enable scalable quantum computing.
Responsibilities:
- Design, build, upgrade, and maintain the PIC testing infrastructure for characterizing passive components, on-chip detectors, micro-optics, and metalenses at both chip and wafer level, for integration into trapped-ion quantum computing systems
- Identify, procure, and install equipment and coordinate with facilities and other IonQ teams to facilitate the development of the PIC testing infrastructure
- Develop testing procedures for component-level characterization, with an emphasis on creating and maintaining underlying drivers and core function scripts to build a robust foundation to allow for flexible, short ramp-up, experiment development
- Train other team members on the testing procedures and ensure team adherence to best practices for code repository maintenance and for summarizing the testing results
- Improve the testing data pipeline by incorporating and extracting layout information to allow for more efficient test definition as well as streamlining the analysis and data storage to ensure smooth accessibility to allow for comparison of measurement results with simulation and between various platforms
- Characterization of passive components, micro-optics, and metalenses to feed back the experimental data to design engineers to improve the component performance across multiple wavelengths and temperatures.
- Collaborate closely with other areas of the PIC team (design, packaging, architecture, foundry) to ensure testing priorities align with the PIC team roadmap and to ensure the results are summarized and communicated in a manner that facilitates design downselection and actionable decisions
You’d be a good fit with:
- Master's or Ph.D. in engineering or related field/discipline
- 7+ years of industry experience
- 6+ years of experience in the hands-on characterization of passive PIC components, micro-optics, and/or metalenses
- 5+ years of programming experience in a general-purpose programming language (like Python, Matlab, etc.)
- Experience with bringing up and maintaining multiple optical test labs, including wafer-level testers
- Experience with test equipment driver development and with building and maintaining a testing code repository for automating test measurements
- Strong data processing, visualization, and organizational skills, and related experience with software use (e.g. JMP)
- Familiarity with free-space optics and imaging systems
You’d be a great fit with:
- 7+ years of PIC design and characterization experience of passive PIC components, micro-optics, and/or metalenses
- Experience with bringing up and maintaining a wafer-level test setup for optical measurements
- Experience working with visible-light laser sources and fiber components
- Strong programming skills for data analysis and experimental automation software, and experience with version control systems such as git
- Experience using 3D CAD tools like Autodesk Inventor or SolidWorks
- Familiarity with fabrication processes and design constraints for PICs
- Experience with design, simulation, and layout of PIC components
- Strong understanding of free-space optics and imaging systems
Location: This role is based onsite at our headquarters in College Park, MD.
Travel: Up to 10%
Job ID: 1163
The approximate base salary range for this position is $123,191 - $161,289. 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!
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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