Chief Architect - Optical Communication Terminals

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.  

We are seeking a highly skilled and innovative Chief Architect to join our team. This position reports directly to Skyloom’s VP of Engineering as a member of the Engineering & Operations leadership team.

The Chief Architect will possess expertise in optical systems, optical communication technologies, and the development of optical communication solutions, preferably for laser communications and optical inter-satellite links (OISLs). This position is a key role in designing, simulating, and optimizing optical systems for high-performance laser communication networks for space-based systems. This role interfaces closely with the production, quality, and supply chain teams delivering a hardware design that is capable of cost-effective mass production.

As a Chief Architect, you will design, implement, and optimize free-space optical communication terminals across government and commercial customers. You will analyze and improve system performance metrics—such as wavefront error, SNR, and BER—while contributing to innovation in areas like atmospheric turbulence mitigation, adaptive optics, and laser propagation. 

This role also offers leadership opportunities, including guiding projects, collaborating across disciplines, and contributing to R&D shaping next-generation OCT products.

The ideal candidate is an experienced Optical Communications engineer with strong analytical skills and hands-on free space optical communication expertise. 

• →Lead engineering activities for an optical communications payload from concept through launch 
• →Define, analyze, and validate system and subsystem requirements for space environments 
• →Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop integrated communication solutions, focusing on system architecture, performance, and reliability.
• →Derive quantified requirements for optical communication terminals using analytical techniques, numerical modeling, and bench-top testing.
• →Conduct hardware/software validation of optical communication systems and subsystems
• →Provide technical support for integration and troubleshooting of optical systems and develop root cause analysis for products exhibiting non-conformances in the optics subsystem.
• →Analyze large amounts of laboratory data for validation and improvement purposes.
• →Provide clear and rigorous presentations/reports on the subjects listed above, effectively communicating with a broad range of cross-functional teams.

• Own critical design review processes, ensuring quality, completeness, and compliance 
• Lead system-level test planning, verification, and compliance analysis 
• Collaborate across multidisciplinary teams (RF, software, FPGA, integration, quality, operations) 
• Present program updates and technical solutions to internal/external stakeholders 
• Mentor and support team members within a collaborative engineering environment 
• Possess excellent communication skills to convey technical concepts clearly and efficiently across a range of subject areas, engaging with management, peers, and suppliers.
• Organize and deliver assigned projects independently according to the project schedule.
• Demonstrate enthusiasm for working on multiple projects simultaneously in a self-directed manner, thriving in a fast-paced, multi-cultural startup environment.

• 10+ years of experience in Free Space Optical communication systems. Proven experience in optical system design, modeling, and validation.
• Bachelor's, Master's, or Ph.D. degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Practical experience with fiber optic and free-space optics laboratory setups 
• Familiarity with relevant communication standards and coding techniques 
• Strong understanding of wavefront errors, SNR, BER, and link budgets 
• Exhibit strong analytical skills for building models and solving complex problems.
• Experience with optical simulation/modelling tools (e.g., Zemax, Code V, MATLAB, Python) 
• Knowledge of adaptive optics, beam steering, and pointing error impacts 
• Team player with strong problem-solving skills with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Knowledge in the development of space optical instruments, especially in the field of telescopes, spectrometers, and interferometers within an industrial or scientific environment.
• Strong quantitative data analysis abilities using tools such as Matlab, Python, or equivalent.
• To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, the candidate must be a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., a protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

• Space-flight industry experience 
• Laser Safety knowledge
• Experience transitioning an optical product into production
• Spanish speaking is a plus

If you are interested in being a part of our team and mission, we encourage you to apply!