Senior Scientist - Fault-Tolerant Quantum Algorithms
About this role
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 position can work onsite or hybrid from one of our offices (College Park, MD, Bothell, WA
Travel: 10% domestic and international
Job ID: IONQ-1915
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.
We are looking for a Senior Scientist, Fault-Tolerant Quantum Algorithms to join Applications R&D at IonQ. In this role, you will be responsible for developing fault-tolerant quantum algorithms, and the resource models that show where they beat the best classical methods, contributing to the team's mission of turning IonQ's hardware roadmap into applications that deliver real scientific and commercial value.
This is a research and development seat. Applications R&D now runs as its own organisation, so the work is focused on algorithms research rather than frontline commercial delivery. You will play an important part in shaping the algorithms, resource models and benchmarking methods that decide which applications IonQ pursues as fault tolerance arrives.
Responsibilities:
In this position, you will work on the design and analysis of fault-tolerant quantum algorithms, running detailed resource estimates and comparing fault-tolerant approaches against NISQ and classical HPC methods, supporting the effective delivery of the Applications R&D research roadmap.
You'll have the opportunity to shape which applications IonQ pursues as fault tolerance arrives, strengthen the company's core IP position, and raise the credibility of the resource estimates IonQ publishes and shares with partners.
Key responsibilities include:
- Hands-on development of novel fault-tolerant quantum algorithms with the potential for large scientific and commercial impact across a wide range of industry verticals.
- Detailed resource analysis of quantum algorithms, including structured comparison of fault-tolerant approaches against NISQ and classical methods.
- Trusted internal expertise on fault-tolerant algorithms, communicating the state of the art, scaling behaviour, trade-offs and crossover points to stakeholders across the company.
- Development and adoption of industry-leading benchmarking and resource estimation methodologies, metrics and tools.
- A portfolio of foundational IP and peer-reviewed publications, alongside technical representation of IonQ at conferences and with research partners.
Requirements:
To be successful, you will need demonstrated expertise in fault-tolerant quantum algorithms that scale to millions of qubits and billions of gates, mastery of the mathematical techniques that underpin quantum algorithm development, and the judgement to know when a quantum approach earns its place against a classical one. We're looking for someone who participates actively in the fault-tolerant algorithms community, who optimises relentlessly for accuracy and time to solution, and who can explain technical results clearly to people who are not specialists.
You'd be a great fit with:
- A doctorate in physics, mathematics, computer science or a related field, or equivalent experience, plus two or more years of professional experience in quantum computing.
- A visible body of work in fault-tolerant algorithms with line of sight to end-customer value: invited talks, repositories, licences, publications or patents.
- Experience with quantum algorithms for real use cases, such as quantum simulation (product formulas, qubitization, qDRIFT), primitives (block encodings, LCU, QSP, QSVT, Gibbs sampling, quantum linear systems) or end-to-end fault-tolerant workflows.
- Contribution to the fault-tolerant community through tools (libraries, simulators, compilers) or metrics (costing, resource estimation, return on investment).
- Python and Qiskit or a similar quantum SDK, working knowledge of C++, and experience developing end-to-end solutions for realistic industry problems.
The approximate base salary range for this position is $168,000 - $221,514. The total compensation package includes base, bonus, equity, and a range of benefit options found on our career site.
If this role has a commission structure, the compensation range below just reflects the base compensation range.
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!