Staff Scientist – Fault-Tolerant Quantum Algorithms

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 Staff Scientist – Fault-Tolerant Quantum Algorithms to lead the technical development in utilizing IonQ’s quantum computers to create highly differentiated quantum solutions that will bring value to society. As a Staff Scientist – Fault-Tolerant Quantum Algorithms, you’ll be a core member of a cross-functional team whose mandate is central to IonQ’s mission to solve the world’s most complex problems using the world’s best quantum computers.

As a hands-on expert in fault-tolerant algorithms, you will help discover the next generation of quantum applications that are poised to deliver results exceeding state-of-the-art classical methods. You will play a key role in developing quantum algorithms, core IP, computational resource models, long-term roadmaps, and end-to-end workflows that have the potential to disrupt the field of computing. You will also work closely with product, engineering, marketing, sales, operations, and external customers/partners to brainstorm new ideas, propose complex, multi-year initiatives and represent IonQ at high-visibility technical conferences (often all in a single day)!

• →Lead hands-on development of novel fault-tolerant quantum algorithms that will make a large scientific and commercial impact across a wide range of industry verticals.
• →Perform detailed resource analyses of quantum algorithms and perform SWOT analysis of FTQC approaches as compared to NISQ and/or classical methods.
• →Provide trusted expertise in FTQC algorithms and communicate the current state-of-the-art, scaling behaviors, trade offs, cross-over points, etc. to stakeholders across the company.
• →Drive constructive technical interactions across multi-disciplinary teams to identify, define and solve challenging real-world problems using IonQ trapped-ion quantum computers.
• →Develop and drive adoption of industry-leading benchmarking and resource estimation methodologies, metrics, and tools.
• →Develop portfolio of foundational IP and high-impact-factor peer-reviewed publications; represent IonQ externally with customer/clients and at conferences.

• PhD in physics, mathematics, computer science, or similar field, or comparable field or equivalent work experience + 3 years of professional experience in the quantum computing field
• Demonstrated expertise in FTQC algorithms that can scale to millions of qubits, billions of gates with line-of-sight to end-customer value: active portfolio of invited talks, repos, licenses, publications and/or patents
• Active participant in the FTQC algorithm community via, e.g., development of tools (libraries, simulators, compiler), metrics (costing, resource estimation, ROI), and/or community (economic development, standards)
• Relentless dedication to optimizing algorithmic performance (accuracy, time-to-solution) through elegant theoretical equations, as well as engineering optimization 
• Mastery of key mathematical techniques used in quantum computing and quantum algorithm development, and a demonstrated ability to communicate scientific results clearly.

• 5+ years of professional work experience developing end-to-end solutions for realistic industry problems such as computer-aided engineering, cybersecurity, chemistry, etc.
• Experience working with quantum algorithms for relevant use cases. This could include quantum simulation (e.g., product formulas, qubitization, qDRIFT, etc.), quantum algorithms and primitives (e.g., block-encodings, LCU, QSP, QSVT, Gibbs sampling, quantum linear systems, etc.), and/or end-to-end fault-tolerant quantum algorithms as applied to detailed use cases.
• Demonstrated expertise in Python and Qiskit or similar quantum SDK; working knowledge of C++.
• Experience proposing, winning, and executing on consultative (paid) contracts; government contracting or defense contracting experience a plus
• Experience commercializing end-to-end software utilizing hybrid computing e.g. CPU + GPU + QPU, Edge, Cloud, etc. Knowledge of CI/CD a plus.

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