Staff Software Engineer - Developer Tools at Ionq

About IonQ: 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. Location: This role can be based at our office in Bothell, WA (US) or in Oxford, England (UK). Travel: Twice per year Job ID: 1453 The Role As a Staff Software Engineer for Developer Tools, you will be responsible for delivering the next generation of quantum compiler tools and features, with the focus of integration into quantum software applications, overall developer experience, documentation and developer tooling. Your work will involve setting high-level technical standards, mentoring senior engineers and scientists, and providing deep expertise to solve the most challenging problems in quantum compilation, optimization, and hardware interfaces. You will drive the adoption and enhancement of critical, user-facing compiler infrastructure, ensuring our tools are aligned with cutting-edge quantum research (e.g., advanced error mitigation, novel compiler optimization techniques). You will work across organizational boundaries, Compiler, QEC, Applications, and Engineering, to support scientific breakthroughs and define the technical strategy for packaging, documentation, and release processes for major components of IonQ’s developer tooling ecosystem. The Developer Tools team builds the critical software layer for IonQ’s quantum software tools. In this Staff role, you will be a key driver in shaping the future of this ecosystem, and bridging the gap between critical parts of our engineering and computing organizations. Your impact will be measured by the successful delivery of critical, cross-functional projects and the elevation of technical execution across the entire team. As a Staff Software Engineer, your influence extends beyond a single project; you define the technical bedrock upon which IonQ's developer ecosystem is built. The compiler is the critical interface where quantum algorithms are realized on hardware, and your architectural decisions will dictate the performance ceiling and accessibility of our systems. You will lead the charge in making advanced quantum techniques, from sophisticated hardware-aware compilation to state-of-the-art error mitigation, seamlessly available to every developer. This role offers the unique opportunity to leverage your deep experience to solve fundamental technical challenges, mentor the next generation of quantum software leaders, and accelerate the global adoption of quantum computing. Responsibilities • Define the technical strategy and roadmap for major components of the compiler toolchain, optimization suite, and developer interfaces, ensuring long-term maintainability and performance. • Serve as the primary architect and technical lead for large, complex engineering projects spanning multiple teams (e.g., integrating a new compilation paradigm or full-stack error mitigation strategy). • Drive the design and implementation of highly scalable and robust interfaces for hardware-specific compilation features, including advanced pulse-level control and system diagnostics. • Establish best practices and mentor engineers on software architecture, design patterns, testing methodologies, and maintainership. • Collaborate closely with research teams to evaluate, prototype, and productize novel quantum algorithms and compilation techniques, bridging the gap between research and production. • Oversee the comprehensive documentation, examples, tutorials, and packaging strategy for all compiler-related developer tools to ensure ease of adoption and a world-class user experience. • Act as a key technical resource for the Applications Engineering team, providing deep expertise to employ compilation techniques to solve customer-specific challenges and gather requirements for new features. • Champion continuous improvement in software engineering processes, automated testing, CI/CD, and validation standards across the Developer Tools organization. Requirements: • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, or a related field, or equivalent training, fellowship, or work experience. • 10+ years of professional software engineering experience, with a significant portion spent in a technical leadership or architectural role. • Deep expertise in Python and experience designing and maintaining large-scale, performance-critical software systems. • Expert-level understanding of quantum computing principles, quantum circuits, optimization techniques, and compiler fundamentals. • Proven track record of driving complex, cross-functional engineering projects from concept to production delivery. • Experience in system-level architecture and design, translating high-level requirements into clear, actionable technical specifications and implementation plans. • A history of mentorship and elevating the technical capabilities of a multi-level engineering team. • Familiarity with Agentic AI coding tools and techniques, and experience integrating them into modern software development workflows. • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with a track record of authoring impactful technical papers, specifications, and external documentation. Preferred Qualifications: • An advanced degree (PhD or Master's) in Physics, Computer Science, or a related field with a focus on quantum computing or compiler technologies. • Direct experience in compiler development (classical or quantum), particularly with optimization passes, intermediate representations, or static analysis tools. • Deep expertise in system-level programming (C++, Rust) for high-performance computing or hardware interaction. • Significant contributions to open-source software, especially in the quantum computing ecosystem (e.g., Qiskit, Pennylane, Cirq, ucc, jeff). • Experience with low-level hardware control, pulse-level programming, dynamic circuits, or systems programming. • A strong background in applied quantum error correction (QEC) or advanced quantum error mitigation techniques. • A demonstrated ability to influence technical direction across organizational boundaries and secure buy-in for strategic initiatives. The approximate base salary range for this position is $167,808 - $219,704 (USD). The total compensation package includes base, bonus, equity, and a range of benefit options found on our career site. 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 401K, 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. IonQ's HQ is located in College Park, Maryland, just outside of Washington DC. We are actively building out our recently opened manufacturing and production facility in Bothell, WA (near Seattle). Depending on the position, you may be required to be near one of our offices in College Park, Seattle, Toronto, Canada, and Basel, Switzerland. However, IonQ will expand into additional domestic and international geographies, so don’t let this stop you from applying! 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!