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Senior Microarchitecture Researcher

Bothell, Washington, United States

About IonQ: 

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.  

Role Overview

Role:

We are looking for a Microarchitecture (uArch) Researcher. As a uArch researcher, you will 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 contribute to the physical implementation, design and layout of fault-tolerant architectures in ion trap quantum processors. You will work on implementing, tailoring, simulating and designing large-scale chip architectures that support fault-tolerant quantum computation. Your work will directly contribute to the physical and logical architecture of the quantum chips of the future.

Responsibilities:

You will take quantum error correction protocols from theory to a physical layout on ion trap processors, and build the simulation tools that tell us how those layouts perform under realistic noise.

The work is deeply collaborative. You will work alongside trap designers, AMO physicists, QEC researchers and colleagues from a broad range of research backgrounds, and share your results through papers and other technical writing.

Key responsibilities include:

  • Contribute to the physical implementation of quantum error correction protocols on ion trap processors.
  • Contribute to a library of simulation tools that analyse logical performance under realistic physical noise models.
  • Collaborate with trap designers, AMO physicists, QEC researchers and a broad spectrum of other research backgrounds.
  • Contribute to research papers and other technical writing.

Requirements:

To succeed, you will need four years of research experience in either quantum computing or chip architecture, and a degree in quantum computing, physics, engineering, chemistry or a related field.

You will bring strong expertise in one or more of AMO theory, QEC theory, QCVV theory or classical VLSI theory, and be comfortable applying it to the architecture of real quantum hardware.

You’d be a great fit with:

  • Strong expertise with quantum simulation techniques, including at the physical, gate, circuit and QEC level.
  • Experience with classical chip architecture and an interest in quantum chip architecture.
  • Experience with quantum error correction, logical operations and decoders.
  • The ability to communicate at every level, from the research community to the business to PhD level.

The total compensation package includes base salary, bonus, equity, and a range of benefits available on our career site.

If this role has a commission structure, the compensation range below just reflects the base compensation range.

Wage Transparency:

$188,000 - $282,000 USD

Compensation will vary based on individual factors such as education, qualifications, and experience of the final candidate(s), specific office location, and calibration against relevant market data and internal team equity. Posted base salary figures are subject to change as new market data becomes available. Our benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, matching 401(k), unlimited PTO and paid holidays, parental/adoption leave, legal insurance, and a home technology stipend. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided when a candidate receives an offer of employment. 

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! 

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