Staff scientist
Staff Scientist, Quantum Algorithms and Applications
IonQ
Bothell, WA
Description
About IonQ:
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.
Location: This role is based at our Bothell, WA office, operating in a hybrid working model.
Travel: Up to 5%
Job ID: 1757
The Role:
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.
We are looking for a Staff Scientist, Quantum Algorithms and Applications to join the Computational Sciences team at IonQ. This is a group within Applications R&D focused on the application of quantum algorithms to problems in condensed matter physics and high energy physics. You will bring dedicated quantum algorithms expertise as well as condensed matter and high energy physics capability into the team, applied through quantum computation on IonQ's trapped-ion systems.
The work sits at the meeting point of traditional classical theory and simulation and fault-tolerant quantum computing, and the role demands real capability in both. You will bring judgement about where each approach earns its place, working independently against goals and helping shape how IonQ tackles real scientific problems as the company moves towards fault-tolerant applications.
Responsibilities:
In this position you will lead scientific work on the design and application of quantum algorithms to condensed matter and high energy physics problems. On the condensed matter side this covers model Hamiltonians such as the Heisenberg models for strongly correlated magnetic systems and Fermi-Hubbard models for high temperature superconductivity. On the high energy physics side it covers lattice QCD and lattice gauge theory. You will be responsible for the design and implementation of near-term fault tolerant quantum algorithms such as Trotter-Suzuki methods, as well as novel error mitigation and Quantum Error Detection (QED) methods on IonQ's trapped-ion hardware. You will also conduct research into the design and application of fault tolerant algorithms such as novel block encoding methods, QSVT and QPE in condensed matter and high energy physics, working alongside other fault tolerant algorithms experts, compiler teams and QEC teams to codesign these algorithms with future IonQ trapped-ion systems.
Key responsibilities include:
- Lead condensed matter and high energy physics application projects, working independently against agreed goals.
- Design and implement novel quantum algorithms, error mitigation and error detection methods (QED), with demonstrations on near-term IonQ hardware.
- Perform codesign and resource estimation of fault-tolerant quantum algorithms alongside the compiler and QEC teams for future IonQ hardware.
- Combine classical simulation and HPC workloads with quantum methods in integrated end-to-end workflows, mapping physics problems onto quantum-native formulations.
- Collaborate with other fault-tolerant algorithms researchers and with the quantum chemistry and software engineering teams, and contribute to publications and external technical representation.
Requirements:
This role requires both halves of an uncommon combination. You will need practical experience with quantum computing and quantum algorithms applied to scientific problems and equally, genuine subject matter depth in condensed matter or high energy physics. You will be comfortable working across classical simulation and quantum methods, and using scientific programming to integrate tools, run computations and maintain a code base.
You would be a great fit with:
- A doctorate in Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science or a related field, with postdoctoral or industry experience and a track record of carrying research forward independently.
- Direct experience implementing quantum algorithms on near-term quantum hardware, using error mitigation and error detection methods to improve hardware fidelity or achievable circuit depth.
- Direct experience applying quantum algorithms to scientific problems, including fault-tolerant methods such as quantum phase estimation, Hamiltonian simulation or quantum singular value transformation, and an understanding of how they map onto condensed matter and high energy physics problems.
- Deep expertise in condensed matter or high energy physics: magnetic systems, strongly correlated materials, superconductivity, spin dynamics, Fermi-Hubbard models, lattice gauge theory or related areas.
- Experience with classical simulation methods and HPC workloads for these problems, ideally including packages such as QuantumATK, QuantumEspresso or VASP, plus scientific programming in Python and C++ sufficient to integrate tools, run computations and maintain a code base in version control.
Also valuable: a peer-reviewed publication record; client or partner facing delivery experience; active participation in the fault-tolerant quantum computing community through tools, metrics, talks, repositories or patents; and familiarity with agentic AI tooling such as OpenAI Codex or Anthropic Claude Code.
The total compensation package includes base, bonus, equity, and a range of benefit options found on our career site.
If this role has a commission structure, the compensation range below just reflects the base compensation range.
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 401(k), 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.
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!