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 salary range for this position is $115692 to $1151471.
We are looking for a Senior Systems Engineer who will be part of a cross-functional team whose mission is to lead IonQ in building the world’s best quantum computers.
IonQ is known for innovative technologies that solve problems for a wide range of industries, and we need a new problem-solver to take the reins. We’re seeking highly skilled systems engineers who have Product Development Lifecycle knowledge and technical expertise to implement strategies, evaluate products, and build upon an infrastructure that supports the changing needs of our customers. In this role, the systems engineer will support design, development, and integration of complex computer systems for every stage of the product lifecycle. The ideal candidate will be able to reliably deliver mission-critical technical data packages with an eye toward reliability, scalability, modularity, quality, accessibility, optimization, and security.
Objectives of this role
- Expected to function semi-independently: ability to receive a task from the manager and follow through by creating sub-tasks, coordinating schedule and milestones, and moving projects forward with minimal direction.
- Enable and support individual computer systems and infrastructure under development, including concept, design, integration, verification & validation.
- Implement and maintain strategies for backup, security, and redundancy
- Identify potential issues and implement solutions proactively
- Craft custom technical data packages for gated reviews
- Enable faster and smarter business processes and develop meaningful analytics
- Engage regularly with upper management, providing reports on project status, activities, and achievements
Responsibilities
- Communicate with stakeholders in cross-functional teams including optical engineers, mechanical engineers, and software engineers, to define system specifications and performance goals.
- Conduct feasibility studies, system analysis, and risk assessments to determine project requirements and constraints.
- Document Architecture, CONOPS, Use Cases, and Requirements.
- Support the design and implementation of prototypes, ensuring adherence to industry standards and best practices.
- Ensure PLM and Configuration Management policies and processes are followed.
- Ask the right questions and enable the design engineers and scientists to document the steps they are following, including support to conduct tests, experiments, and verification procedures to validate system performance, identify issues, and propose solutions.
- Enable and support gated reviews for all phases of the product lifecycle.
- Collaborate with vendors and external partners to source and evaluate components, technologies, and suppliers.
- Keep abreast of industry trends, emerging technologies, and advancements in the field, and apply relevant knowledge to drive continuous improvement to support and/or conduct trade studies and analysis for future systems.
- Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers, fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment.
Required skills and qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in engineering or computer science, or a related field.
- 5-10 years performing in a systems engineering role for complex systems
- Participating in and performing product lifecycle management gated reviews: Concept, SRR, PDR, CDR, ORR.
- Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, with experience in project management, application design and integration, and/or system operations.
- Expertise in creating, analyzing, and documenting large complex systems.
- Experience creating requirement specifications, CONOPS, use cases, system models, and test plans.
- Knowledge of Configuration Management (CM) best practices and standard version-control for hardware and software.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Desired skills and qualifications
- Master’s degree in Systems Engineering or Engineering Management
- Academic degree in Engineering Physics or AMO Physics highly desired
- Professional certification PMP, INCOSE
- Experience with or knowledge of programming languages and operating systems, state of the art computer equipment and technologies, enterprise backup and recovery procedures, system performance-monitoring tools, content delivery, or algorithm development.
- Experience working in an R&D or product development environment, preferably in the field of optics, photonics, or precision engineering.
- Subject matter expert for any of the following sub-specialties: Opto-Mechanical systems, Control Systems, cloud platforms, Electrical design and development, Mechanical design and development, data center management, Reliability, Maintainability, Quality Assurance, [DK3] or FMEA.
- Strong project management skills, with the ability to guide and coordinate multidisciplinary teams.
- Proficient in performing system-level simulations and analysis using tools such as MATLAB, Python, or similar software.
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!
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.
