IonQ is developing the world's most powerful full-stack quantum computer based on trapped-ion technology and is scaling beyond its own labs into customer environments, requiring on-site installation and integration of these complex systems.
Requirements
- A strong, systems-level mindset and demonstrated experience working hands-on with at least two of the following: + Laser/optical systems (alignment, diagnostics, basic stabilization) + Mechanical systems infrastructure, cable and routed systems installations, and cable management and dressing + Vacuum systems and UHV hardware + Precision motion stages or opto-mechanical assemblies + Control electronics, power distribution, and low-noise measurement systems.
- Strong problem-solving and debugging skills; you can methodically isolate issues in complex systems under time pressure.
- Comfort reading and interpreting engineering drawings, wiring diagrams, and CAD models.
- Experience aligning optical systems (free-space and fiber), verifying laser paths, and ensuring stability under real-world environmental conditions.
- Basic familiarity with scripting (Python, etc.) for test automation, data collection, or simple tooling.
- Experience working with trapped-ion, cold-atom, photonics, semiconductor, or other advanced R&D/production tools.
- 5+ years' experience as a technical contributor in evolving engineering and manufacturing environments
Responsibilities
- Partner with other field engineers and scientists to own the full-stack installation of our quantum computing systems at customer data centers, both domestically and internationally. This includes installation and integration of the entire system.
- Travel to customer sites for multi-week to multi-month deployments to install and integrate complex subsystems (optics, lasers, vacuum hardware, control electronics, racks, enclosures, networking, and cooling systems) with meticulous attention to detail.
- Troubleshoot and resolve complex issues in the field. You'll be the first to encounter and solve unique challenges that arise during deployment, driving root cause analysis for any failures.
- Be the critical link between our in-plant engineering teams and the realities of a field deployment. Capture real-world learnings from customer installations and feed them back into design, manufacturing, and test to make each subsequent deployment faster and smoother.
- Execute and refine installation work instructions, checklists, and troubleshooting guides for future deployments and for our manufacturing/field teams.
- Partner with Manufacturing Engineering to ensure systems leaving IonQ facilities are deployment-ready and reflect the realities of customer sites.
- Work hands-on with our sophisticated systems, including free-space optics, high-precision lasers, advanced mechanical assemblies, cryogenic systems, and operate lifting equipment for large, heavy structure with an eye for safety.
Other
- An ability to travel (domestically and internationally) up to 3 months at a time during deployments and 25% otherwise.
- A love for being on the road. Extended deployments (up to ~3 months on-site) across the US and internationally energize you.
- A love for being hands-on at your core. You’re happiest with a tool in your hand, a scope or power meter on the bench, and a complex system in front of you.
- A passion for ambiguity. Requirements change, customer facilities have surprises, and not everything is fully written down yet, and you see that as exciting.
- A drive for being relentlessly detail-oriented. You know that in quantum hardware, tiny missteps (a swapped cable, a loose fastener, a mislabeled fiber) can have massive impact, and you take pride in getting it right.
