Senior Manager, Optical Systems Test

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 looking for a Senior Manager of Optical Systems Test to lead a team of optical verification engineers delivering quantum computers to customers. Candidates for this role have demonstrable experience developing optical and mechanical systems and tooling for all phases of the design lifecycle. You should be experienced in identifying and implementing iterative design improvements for performance, with a specific focus on Design for Manufacturing (DfM) and Design for Test (DfT). In this role, you will manage a group of optical and mechanical engineers whose role is to validate system designs and carry out testing on customer systems. You will guide the team to deliver with speed and accuracy, while balancing automation vs. product maturity.  By working cross-functionally, you will improve the quality, speed, and predictability of customer deliveries, directly contributing to the company’s strategic revenue goals.

• →Lead a team of optical and mechanical engineers to deliver customer systems in support of company level objectives
• →Identify and drive design changes in current and future system to improve optical system design and validation process 
• →Identify opportunities for test automation through tooling, SW, etc.
• →Manage multiple projects, priorities, deadlines, and deliverables
• →Collaborate and communicate with internal and external customers, engineers, physicists, as well as engineering and operations leadership
• →Work with cross-functional leadership to create, influence, and align on department and organizational level goals and objectives
• →Manage costs, and schedules across our operations program
• →Hire, develop, and retain top engineering and scientific talent
• →Lead root cause investigations to resolve highly complex or unique situations that impact system delivery or operations

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in engineering, Physics, or related field
• 8+ years of hands-on technical leadership and people management experience
• Experience managing and mentoring engineers, physicists or scientists ranging from early career to senior
• Experience taking a complex product through the entire design lifecycle
• Experience with free space optics and laser systems
• Experience identifying and driving corrective actions for design issues found in production systems
• Strong written and oral communication demonstrated by the ability to communicate complex ideas to a variety of audiences

• 15+ years of technical leadership and people management experience
• Experience delivering complex products, including hardware and software, to customers
• Direct experience in complex system integration, especially in Validation and Verification
• Experience integrating electronics and software
• Prior experience managing managers
• Prior experience with quantum computing
• Experience with some modern scripting languages, like Python, Go, etc.

The approximate base salary range for this position is $174,520 - $228,492. The total compensation package includes base, bonus, equity, and a range of benefit options found on our career site.

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