Senior Manager, Optical Systems Test
IonQ
Bothell, WA, USA
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 will work onsite at our office located in Bothell, WA.
Travel: Up to 20% both domestic and international
Job ID: 1584
The Role:
We are looking for a Senior Manager of Optical Systems Test to lead a team of optical verification engineers delivering quantum computers to customers. Candidates for this role have demonstrable experience developing optical and mechanical systems and tooling for all phases of the design lifecycle. You should be experienced in identifying and implementing iterative design improvements for performance, with a specific focus on Design for Manufacturing (DfM) and Design for Test (DfT). In this role, you will manage a group of optical and mechanical engineers whose role is to validate system designs and carry out testing on customer systems. You will guide the team to deliver with speed and accuracy, while balancing automation vs. product maturity. By working cross-functionally, you will improve the quality, speed, and predictability of customer deliveries, directly contributing to the company’s strategic revenue goals.
Responsibilities:
- Lead a team of optical and mechanical engineers to deliver customer systems in support of company level objectives
- Identify and drive design changes in current and future system to improve optical system design and validation process
- Identify opportunities for test automation through tooling, SW, etc.
- Manage multiple projects, priorities, deadlines, and deliverables
- Collaborate and communicate with internal and external customers, engineers, physicists, as well as engineering and operations leadership
- Work with cross-functional leadership to create, influence, and align on department and organizational level goals and objectives
- Manage costs, and schedules across our operations program
- Hire, develop, and retain top engineering and scientific talent
- Lead root cause investigations to resolve highly complex or unique situations that impact system delivery or operations
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in engineering, Physics, or related field
- 8+ years of hands-on technical leadership and people management experience
- Experience managing and mentoring engineers, physicists or scientists ranging from early career to senior
- Experience taking a complex product through the entire design lifecycle
- Experience with free space optics and laser systems
- Experience identifying and driving corrective actions for design issues found in production systems
- Strong written and oral communication demonstrated by the ability to communicate complex ideas to a variety of audiences
Preferred Qualifications:
- 15+ years of technical leadership and people management experience
- Experience delivering complex products, including hardware and software, to customers
- Direct experience in complex system integration, especially in Validation and Verification
- Experience integrating electronics and software
- Prior experience managing managers
- Prior experience with quantum computing
- Experience with some modern scripting languages, like Python, Go, etc.
The approximate base salary range for this position is $174,520 - $228,492. 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.
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!