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.
The IonQ Applications team is seeking a pioneering Senior Staff Scientist who’s committed to delivering the world’s best quantum AI solutions on the world’s best quantum computers to solve the world’s most complex and impactful problems for customers around the world. As an AI thought leader and expert doer, you will span wide and dig deep to identify, champion and deliver hybrid applications where IonQ trapped-ion quantum computers can unlock new value.
As a role model for a team of PhD application scientists, you will help discover new algorithms, develop core IP, develop computational resource models, and optimize hybrid codes from quantum circuit to cloud platform. You will also work closely with product, marketing, sales, operations, and external customers/partners to brainstorm new ideas, define multi-year Quantum AI roadmaps, and represent IonQ at high-visibility conferences (often all in a single day)!
Responsibilities:
- Lead hands-on development of state-of-the-art hybrid AI applications optimized for CPU, GPU and IonQ trapped-ion QPU.
- Be an intrapreneur within the company to shape, champion and deliver on a multi-year quantum AI roadmap. Influence hardware/firmware/software co-design.
- Collaborate across compiler, system, cloud and partner teams to integrate quantum algorithms within larger hybrid software platforms and workflows.
- Be a go-to technical leader and decision-maker for a team of talented PhD scientists
- Grow IonQ’s global footprint by identifying problems of business interest to new clients in global markets and fostering customer relationships.
- While this role is remote-friendly and highly flexible, candidates must be able to travel to global customer sites and attend virtual meetings during non-core hours—potential for onsite co-location at customer sites during key engagements.
You’d be a good fit with:
- PhD in Computer Science, Math, Physics, Electrical Engineering in relevant field or similar level of professional experience
- 10+ years of industry experience in relevant domain
- Update-to-date, hands-on programming skills involving training and developing enterprise-scale AI models. Highly adept at using tools of the trade such as (not limited to) git, slurm, Python, Torch, TensorFlow, Hugging Face, scripting, visualization, profiling, parallel programming, etc.
- Active portfolio of high-impact scientific papers in quantum computing, AI or ML.
You’d be a great fit with:
- Hands-on experience developing and optimizing quantum algorithms using quantum SDKs such as Qiskit (preferred), CUDA-Q, Cirq, Q#, Penny Lane and Torch Quantum. Experience developing circuits for NISQ hardware is a plus.
- Track record of scaling up software from research-grade artifacts (Matlab, Julia, R, Jupyter Notebook) to beta-customer to full release.
- Industrial domain expertise in a field such as NLP, operations research, logistics, manufacturing, engineering simulations, etc.
- Success as an originator and team leader for cross-disciplinary projects that apply LLM, Generative AI or other foundational AI models toward impactful business problems.
Location: This position can work onsite or hybrid from one of our offices (College Park, MD, Bothell, WA) or fully remote in the US or Switzerland (for eligible European candidates).
The approximate base salary range for this position is $162,920 - $213,304 USD.
The base pay component of the offer will vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Posted figures are subject to change as new market data becomes available. Beyond base pay, total compensation includes a variable bonus and equity component, as well as a range of benefit options found on our 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 plus paid holidays, parental/adoption leave, legal insurance, a home internet stipend, and pet insurance!
IonQ's HQ is located in College Park, Maryland which is only a 15-minute metro ride from Washington DC. We are actively building out our recently opened manufacturing and production facility in the Seattle, Washington area. Depending on the position, you may be required to be located near one of our offices in College Park, Seattle, or Toronto. However, IonQ will be expanding 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.
If you are interested in being a part of our team and mission, we encourage you to apply!
Top Skills
What the Team is Saying
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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IonQ Offices
Hybrid Workspace
Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
Our employees live across the globe, and are only expected to spend as much time on site as they need and/or want during the week. Nearly half of our employees are fully remote and live in several countries including Switzerland, Canada, and the US.
