Location: This role is based onsite at our headquarters in College Park, MD.
Travel: 10% domestic and international
Job ID: 1490ย
The Role:ย
We are looking for a Staff Scientist - Quantum Applications 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 - Quantum Applications, you will be part of the new Quantum Applications team based in College Park, Maryland , you will be a key link to the University of Maryland ecosystem, serving as a bridge to collaborate with world-class faculty and researchers both at UMD and at institutions globally.
You will operate at the intersection of two frontiers: pushing the boundaries of cutting-edge academic research on latest quantum hardwares and developing the next generation of quantum algorithms poised to solve real-world problems better than state-of-the-art classical methods. You will play a key role in developing 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)!
Responsibilities:
- Practical Algorithm Innovation: Lead the hands-on development of Fault-Tolerant Application-Scale Quantum (FASQ) algorithms designed to scale for real-world impact. You will emphasize "hardware-aware" FASQ, ensuring research is rooted in the constraints of practical early fault-tolerant systems to drive scientific and commercial breakthroughs.
- Full-Stack & Hardware-Centric Optimization: Work directly with quantum compiler, cloud, and hardware engineering teams to build highly optimized hybrid workflows specifically tuned for IonQ's trapped-ion architecture. Your goal is to make the best use of available quantum hardware for proof-of-principle demonstrations and experiments, moving beyond abstract error correction theory.
- Rigorous Algorithm Analysis: Conduct deep technical evaluations comparing quantum algorithms of interest against relevant state-of-the-art classical algorithms. You will identify the specific performance characteristics and scaling behaviors that define the boundary between classical and quantum capabilities.
- Academic Strategy & Advocacy: Act as a primary advocate for IonQ's academic presence by actively engaging with the UMD faculties. You will guide, propose, and initiate impactful academic research projects that carry significant industrial weight and commercial potential.
- IP & External Influence: Build a robust portfolio of foundational IP and high-impact-factor, peer-reviewed publications. You will represent IonQ's technical vision at major conferences and in high-level discussions with external stakeholders, emphasizing our path to practical, application-scale quantum advantage.
Requirements:
- Advanced Degree: Ph.D. in Physics, Computer Science, Mathematics, or a related field with 5+ years of professional work experience in quantum research.
- Demonstrated Expertise in Quantum Algorithms: This is the core of the role. You must have a proven track record of developing and implementing novel quantum algorithms (e.g., FASQ, FTQC, or NISQ) for real-world applications.
- Strong Research Portfolio: A history of high-impact research, supported by a strong portfolio of peer-reviewed publications or significant contributions to production-grade quantum codebases.
- Technical Stack Proficiency: Mastery of Python and Qiskit (or similar quantum SDKs), along with experience in High-Performance Computing (HPC) environments.
Preferred Experience:
- Hardware Awareness: While we don't expect you to build the hardware, a deep familiarity with the operation and physical principles of trapped-ion quantum computers is a significant advantage.
- Hardware-Centric Optimization: Experience working directly with hardware engineering teams to tune algorithms for specific architecture constraints.
- Error Mitigation: Proficiency in hardware-level error mitigation and advanced compilation strategies.
The approximate base salary range for this position is $167,808 - $219,704. The total compensation package includes base, bonus, equity, and a range of benefit options found on our career site.