Physicist / Physicist

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, represent the cutting-edge of technology, helping customers and partners such as Amazon Web Services, AstraZeneca, and NVIDIA achieve 20x performance improvements. The company achieved a remarkable 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity, setting a world record in quantum computing performance in 2025.

The company is accelerating its technology roadmap and aims to deliver the world’s most powerful quantum computers with 2 million qubits by 2030. This initiative will further enhance 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.

Position Overview

We are seeking a Physicist specializing in Resilience Engineering and Operations for our state-of-the-art quantum computers, which are based on trapped ion technology. You’ll be part of a cross-functional team dedicated to the operation and continuous improvement of IonQ’s industry-leading quantum systems. In your first three months, you will learn to maintain our quantum computers' hardware and software. We encourage recent graduates in physics and related fields to apply online using the form below; we provide training in quantum computer maintenance and operation! This position will be onsite at our facility in Quantum Basel, with the option to work remotely several days a week at your discretion.

Responsibilities

• Ensure high uptime and performance of our commercial quantum computers through maintenance, monitoring, and engineering of state-of-the-art systems.
• Enhance customer experience by continually improving service delivery.
• Automate capabilities to optimize system performance.
• Collaborate with physicists and engineers to develop tools and technologies that enhance the performance of current and future commercial systems.
• Participate in follow-the-sun on-call rotations to maintain peak performance of our systems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in physics, engineering, or another physical science.
• A strong desire to work closely in a distributed team, demonstrating excellent communication skills and a collaborative mindset.
• Hands-on experience with optical alignments, laser stabilization, and/or AOMs.
• A strong inclination for learning new concepts and a fascination with emerging technologies.
• Formal training or education in statistics.
• Ability to adapt to a dynamic work environment.
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including a 24/7 on-call shift with rotation as needed.
• At least 1 year of laboratory experience in atomic and/or optical physics.

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD in physics, engineering, or another physical science.
• Extensive experience with JavaScript or Python.
• A background in data analysis, data science, or machine learning.
• Experience in software engineering.

We encourage you to apply online using the form below if you believe you would excel in this role. Please note that only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

Location

This role will work onsite at our facility in Basel, Switzerland, with the option to work remotely a few days a week.

Travel

Travel requirements for this position are less than 10%.