Senior Research Scientist

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 Research Scientist for quantum memory development. As a Senior Research Scientist, you’ll lead 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 in quantum memories 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 quantum memory systems that will be the backbone of the world’s largest quantum computers.

Responsibilities: 

• Design and test control sequences for quantum memories with high efficiency and fidelity
• Coordinate with photonic design and fabrication teams to produce high performance nanophotonic devices
• Optimize low-duty cycle tune-up routines to keep quantum memory systems running with high up time
• Continuously improve repetition rate, efficiency, and fidelity of quantum memories
• Interface with RF and optical engineers to scale the control and qubit routing systems for a large scale optical-interconnect architecture

You’d be a good fit with: 

• PhD in physics, applied physics, electrical engineering 
• Work in quantum optics and microwave control of qubits (ideally spin qubits in diamond)
• Experience designing and testing photonics 
• Experience in optically-mediated entanglement protocols between qubits

You’d be a great fit with: 

• Experience architecting high performance electro-optic systems
• Experience in cryogenics (especially dilution refrigerators)
• Experience in RF design
• Experience using Lumerical, Comsol, and/or Sonnet for photonics and RF design

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