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Staff Technical Program Manager - Quantum Sensing

Pleasanton, California, 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.  

Location: This role will work onsite at our Pleasanton, CA office. 
Travel: Up to 25% domestic travel to support customer communications, proposal activities, production readiness, program execution, and customer delivery milestones.
Job ID:  1606

The Role: 

We are looking for a Staff Technical Program Manager to lead complex, cross-functional programs across the complete product lifecycle: early technology development, new technology introduction, new product introduction, production ramp, sustainment, and end-of-life sunsetting. This role is ideal for someone who has successfully taken complex hardware/software systems from concept and prototype through production, customer deployment, operational sustainment, and eventual transition or retirement.

As a Staff TPM, you will operate at the intersection of engineering, product, manufacturing, supply chain, finance, business development, and customer-facing teams. You will help shape and execute program strategy, support federal and commercial proposals, drive NPI and NTI execution, manage programmatic labor and non-labor financials, and create data-driven analysis that informs both strategic and tactical business decisions.

You will be a pivotal leader in ensuring that IonQ’s programs meet technical requirements, achieve contractual and customer milestones, scale effectively into production, deliver strong business outcomes, and remain operationally disciplined throughout the product lifecycle.

Responsibilities:

  • End-to-End Program Execution: Lead the full technical lifecycle for complex quantum programs from technology maturation and R&D through production, customer delivery, and field sustainment.
  • Integrated Strategic Planning: Build and own the "Integrated Master Schedule" (IMS) and execution plans that synchronize engineering, supply chain, manufacturing, and quality requirements.
  • New Product & Tech Introduction (NPI/NTI): Drive the transition of quantum technologies from prototype to production, ensuring manufacturing readiness, site requirements, and scalable handoffs.
  • Financial & Resource Stewardship: Manage programmatic financials, including labor/non-labor forecasting, variance analysis, and "Estimate at Completion" (EAC) to ensure fiscal discipline.
  • Risk & Dependency Governance: Proactively identify and mitigate technical, operational, and supply chain risks while managing cross-functional dependencies and decision logs.
  • Executive & Stakeholder Communication: Serve as the primary technical interface, translating complex programmatic details into clear status updates, dashboards, and recommendations for executives and customers.
  • Operational Excellence & Mentorship: Establish scalable operating mechanisms for program governance (e.g., launch readiness reviews) and mentor junior TPMs to elevate the organization's execution standards.

Requirements:

  • Senior Technical Leadership & Life Cycle Ownership: Over 15 years of experience leading complex, integrated hardware/software programs from R&D/prototyping through NPI, high-volume production, and global customer deployment.
  • Strategic Financial & Operational Stewardship: Proven ability to independently manage programmatic financials (EAC, labor/non-labor forecasting, variance management, and revenue inputs), including direct experience with Earned Value Management (EVM) and serving as a Control Account Manager (CAM) or similar to ensure alignment with programmatic governance standards.
  • Cross-Functional & Executive Influence: Proven success as a primary technical interface, capable of synchronizing diverse teams (e.g. Engineering, Supply Chain, and Finance) while effectively communicating program health and strategic recommendations to executives and federal/commercial customers.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Advanced Technical Foundation: Possession of an advanced degree in a technical or business discipline, providing the academic rigor required for complex systems engineering.
  • Deep Domain Expertise: Significant experience in high-complexity sectors such as quantum computing, aerospace, defense, semiconductors, or optical and secure communications.
  • Public Sector Navigational Skills: A proven background managing programs within federal, DoD, DOE, or national laboratory environments, including navigating government contracting requirements.
  • Lifecycle Transition Mastery: Expert at leading systems from prototype to production, specifically overseeing production line setup, material readiness, and supply chain synchronization.
  • Data-Driven Financial Modeling: Ability to develop sophisticated financial models, revenue forecasts, and capacity plans that directly inform executive-level business cases and decisions.
  • Professional Certification & Methodology: Industry-recognized credentials (PMP, PgMP, Six Sigma, or Agile) that demonstrate a commitment to standardized, high-quality program governance.
  • Advanced Tool Proficiency: Power-user capabilities in technical and analytical stacks, including Jira/Confluence, GitHub, SAP/Oracle, and data visualization tools like Tableau or PowerBI.
  • Organizational Scaling: Demonstrated ability to build scalable TPM processes from scratch, establishing operating rhythms that improve the efficiency of the entire engineering organization.
  • Strategic Technology Sunset: Experience managing the full product "tail," including end-of-life transitions, technology sunsetting, and replacement planning to ensure seamless customer handoffs.


The approximate base salary range for this position is $145,920 - $191,047. 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. 

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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