Senior Atomic Physicist

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 Physicist for optical signal chain development. As a Senior Physicist, 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 do pioneering work on optical signal chains for long-range quantum networks and modular quantum computing. You will work with a world-class team of scientists and engineers to build systems that can rapidly process and store quantum information from photons and apply those systems to building scalable quantum computing systems. Your work will stretch from pioneering systems to operationalizing and scaling optical signal chains that will be the backbone of the world’s largest quantum computers.

Responsibilities: 

• Evaluate how pieces of the optical signal chain can be hardened for autonomous operation and production
• Investigate the feasibility in prototype experiments and develop routines that calibrate and maintain the optical setup.
• Benchmarking different variations of the signal chain against each other by comparing signal losses (impacting the rate) with stability (possibly impacting both rate and fidelity) and scalability; 
• Coordinate with other teams internally at IonQ and/or with external vendors to develop subcomponents.

You’d be a good fit with: 

• PhD in physics, applied physics, electrical engineering 
• Work in quantum optics and quantum computing (ideally previous work with single photons)
• Experience designing and testing complex opto-mechanical and opto-electronical setups (including using acousto-optical and electro-optical modulators for intensity and frequency feedback loops)  
• Experience in developing automated routines (hardware & software) that calibrate and maintain setups autonomously

You’d be a great fit with: 

• Experience in optically-mediated entanglement protocols between qubits
• Experience in quantum frequency conversion 
• Experience in writing software for lab environments (preferred language: Python)

If you are interested in being a part of our team and mission, we encourage you to apply!