Location: This position can work onsite or hybrid from one of our offices or fully remote in the US.
Travel: 10% domestic and international
Job ID: 1489

The Role: 

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’ll be part of a cross-functional team whose mission is to lead IonQ on a multi-generational journey to solve the world’s most complex problems using the world’s best quantum computers built at IonQ. 

As a technical leader in quantum 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 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:

• Develop impactful hybrid quantum applications that accelerate commercial advantage in practice and at scale. Be part of a client-facing team that finds, defines, and solves problems of real-world interest using IonQ trapped-ion quantum computers.
• Develop and integrate first-of-a-kind quantum algorithms into end-to-end workflows for real-world applications in materials science and combinatorial optimization, including, but not limited to, interfacing with leading commercial and scientific tools such as Synopsys QuantumATK, Quantum ESPRESSO, VASP (materials science and semiconductor applications), Synopsys LS-DYNA, HFSS, Fluent, Sentaurus, Gurobi, CPLEX, Pyomo (optimization applications); translate practical use cases into quantum-native formulations, connect classical simulation outputs to quantum models such as Fermi–Hubbard and Heisenberg Hamiltonians, and map quantum-computing results back into domain workflows for actionable use in production-relevant applications. 
• Perform hands-on development of fault-tolerant quantum algorithms and collaborate with the Fault Tolerant Quantum Computing (FTQC) algorithms team at IonQ to create a large scientific and commercial impact across a wide range of industry verticals. Contribute deep expertise in classical and quantum algorithms to evaluate and benchmark approaches (FTQC, NISQ, and HPC), clearly communicating state-of-the-art performance, scaling behavior, trade-offs, and cross-over points to stakeholders while driving adoption of standardized benchmarking metrics and tools.
• Collaborate with quantum compiler, cloud and hardware engineering teams to develop highly optimized hybrid workflows for trapped-ion quantum computers.
• Develop portfolio of foundational IP and high-impact-factor peer-reviewed publications; represent IonQ externally with customer/clients and at conferences.

Requirements:

• Doctorate degree in Physics, Computer Science, Mathematics or another STEM domain, plus 5+ years of professional work experience in the quantum computing field solving the toughest challenges for society.
• Expertise in the quantum simulation of large-scale semiconductor materials and devices, with hands-on experience using tools such as QuantumATK and Quantum ESPRESSO / VASP to analyze band structures, defect states, and related electronic properties across a wide range of materials and lattice types. Experience in parameter extraction / classical simulation transformation for use in quantum-native models for fault tolerant quantum computers.
• Expertise in development and resource estimation of FTQC algorithms across domains in condensed matter physics, semiconductor physics, high energy physics etc. that can scale to millions of qubits, billions of gates with line-of-sight to end-customer value.
• Expertise in application of FTQC algorithms for solving complex combinatorial optimization problems across domains such as transportation, supply chain, logistics and related areas, with hands-on experience developing novel algorithms and software tools for optimization and operations research, supported by a strong track record of peer-reviewed publications and contributions to production-grade codebases.
• Expertise in key mathematical techniques used in quantum computing - linear algebra, matrix decompositions, probability theory, symmetry, computational complexity and ability to communicate from community to business to PhD level.
• Demonstrated expertise in Python and Qiskit or similar quantum SDK; working knowledge of C++.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 7+ years of professional work experience developing end-to-end solutions for realistic industry problems in areas such as computer-aided engineering, semiconductor materials design etc. Demonstrated experience with applying commercial tools to solve problem sets of practical relevance.
• Active participant in the FTQC algorithm community including the development of tools (libraries, simulators, compiler), metrics (costing, resource estimation, ROI) and community (economic development, standards) with an active portfolio of invited talks, repos, licenses, publications and/or patents.
• Success working directly with clients to define and deliver solutions; excellent collaboration and communication skills.
• Experience developing quantum algorithms for NISQ era quantum computers, including hybrid solutions e.g. classical pre/post processing (CPU) and variational (GPU + QPU) energy minimization, QAOA, etc.
• Demonstrated expertise software development using Agentic-AI using Codex, Opus or similar AI assistants.

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.