Staff Supplier Quality Engineer

About IonQ: 

IonQ, Inc. [NYSE: IONQ] is the world’s leading quantum company delivering solutions to solve the world’s most complex problems. IonQ’s newest generation quantum computers, IonQ Tempo and IonQ Forte Enterprise, are the latest in cutting-edge systems that have been helping customers and partners such as Amazon Web Services, AstraZeneca, and NVIDIA achieve 20x performance results. The company achieved 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity, setting a world record in quantum computing performance in 2025.

The company is accelerating its technology roadmap and intends to deliver the world’s most powerful quantum computers with 2 million qubits by 2030 to accelerate innovation in drug discovery, materials science, financial modeling, logistics, cybersecurity, and defense. IonQ’s advancements in quantum networking position the company as a leader in building the quantum internet.

Location: This role is based at our Bothell, WA office, with the option to work a few days a week remotely.
Travel: 25%-50% (primarily for supplier visits/audits)
Job ID: 1454 

The Role:

We are looking for a hands-on Staff Supplier Quality Engineer (SQE). As a Staff SQE, 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 partner with teams from manufacturing, supply chain, and design engineering to create and maintain the quality systems and processes that ensure the reliability and performance of components and materials from our supply base. Supplier quality is paramount to IonQ, and this Staff SQE role will help ensure a systematic approach to implementation, execution, and maintenance of a robust Quality Management System (QMS) as it pertains to external suppliers.

Responsibilities:

• Partner with St. Sourcing and Engineering & Technology on supplier selection and qualification activities, including conducting on-site audits and assessments to evaluate potential new suppliers.
• Monitor and manage ongoing supplier performance, driving continuous improvement initiatives to enhance quality, reliability, and delivery from the existing supply base.
• Lead the execution of incoming material inspection, supplier audits, and comprehensive supply base change management.
• Support incoming material inspection, concurrently establishing, refining, and documenting robust procedures for future operational hand-off.
• Drive specific Supplier Quality Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure supplier performance and determine how these efforts drive overall quality improvement, leading to better customer satisfaction and lower total cost of ownership.
• Lead and conduct supplier audits and assessments to evaluate supplier quality management systems, manufacturing processes, and overall capability. Drive continuous improvement initiatives at supplier sites.
• Conduct the company's Supplier Corrective Action Request (SCAR) process. Drive the resolution of complex supplier quality issues, working cross-functionally to identify appropriate containment, perform in-depth root cause analysis, and implement effective corrective and preventive actions. Track quality-related action items with vendors and suppliers, verifying completion and driving issues to closure.
• Actively Participate In the Qualification Review Board (QRB), collaborating with Engineering and Manufacturing to manage changes and qualifications for supplied materials, parts, and processes, particularly for critical components.
• Represent Supplier Quality on the company process Change Control Board (CCB), leading significant supplier-related process changes and continual improvement initiatives within the supply chain.

Requirements:

• Minimum of 8+ years related Supplier Quality, manufacturing, and/or manufacturing engineering experience in a production environment.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering or other technical discipline.
• Extensive experience in supplier failure analysis, root cause analysis, corrective actions, implementing robust process controls, and leading process improvement within a supply chain context.
• ERP & MRP system experience, preferably Oracle NetSuite.
• Experience and knowledge of Quality Management Systems (QMS), such as ISO 9001, and achieving business certifications.
• Experience with quality methods and tools such as Six Sigma or Eight Disciplines (8D) for complex supplier issue resolution.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills, particularly in interacting with external suppliers and senior management, including the ability to explain data requirements to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and meet deadlines in a dynamic fast-paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proven ability to thrive and contribute effectively in a rapidly changing, fast-scaling startup environment.
• Experience working with suppliers, contractors, and employees on compliance-related matters, including data collection (PowerBI) and sharing, and ensuring ITAR compliance in all interactions.
• General knowledge of industry technical standards (such as ANSI, CMMI, ASTM, etc.) as they apply to supplier quality, with an emphasis on interpretation and application.
• General knowledge of complex optical, electrical, or mechanical products and systems and experience in high-technology manufacturing environments.
• General knowledge of ESD, calibration, and preventive maintenance processes within a supplier context.
• General knowledge and experience with Reliability Engineering, translating customer availability to system/component quality and reliability for supplied parts.
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate cross-functional teams and supplier teams in systematic improvement activities and drive impactful results.
• Effective interpersonal skills and ability to work well with customers, suppliers, and in a team environment.
• Experience and knowledge of environmental, health & safety management systems, such as ISO 14001, and achieving business certifications.

The approximate base salary range for this position is $131,962 - $172,773. The total compensation package includes base, bonus, equity, and a range of benefit options found on our career site.

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 401K, 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. 

IonQ's HQ is located in College Park, Maryland, just outside of Washington DC. We are actively building out our recently opened manufacturing and production facility in Bothell, WA (near Seattle). Depending on the position, you may be required to be near one of our offices in College Park, Seattle, Toronto, Canada, and Basel, Switzerland. However, IonQ will expand 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.

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!