Physicist - Resilience Engineering and Operations

About IonQ

IonQ, Inc. [NYSE: IONQ] is the world’s leading quantum company delivering solutions to tackle the most complex challenges facing our society. Our cutting-edge quantum computers, IonQ Tempo and IonQ Forte Enterprise, are at the forefront of technology, enabling partners such as Amazon Web Services, AstraZeneca, and NVIDIA to achieve performance improvements of up to 20x. In 2025, we set a world record in quantum computing by achieving 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity.

As we accelerate our technology roadmap, IonQ is committed to delivering the most powerful quantum computers, targeting 2 million qubits by 2030. Our innovative advancements in quantum networking also position us as leaders in shaping the future of the quantum internet, fostering innovation across fields like drug discovery, materials science, financial modeling, logistics, cybersecurity, and defense.

Position: Physicist - Resilience Engineering and Operations

We are seeking a dedicated Physicist to join our state-of-the-art team focused on operating and enhancing our quantum computers, which utilize trapped ion technology. As a member of our cross-functional team, you will contribute to the maintenance and optimization of our industry-leading quantum systems. During your first three months, you will receive training in quantum computer maintenance and operation, making this an excellent opportunity for recent graduates in physics and related fields.

This role is based at our Quantum Basel facility, with the flexibility 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 efforts.
• Provide an exceptional customer experience and continuously seek to enhance it.
• Automate capabilities to optimize system performance.
• Collaborate with physicists and engineers to develop tools and technologies that enhance the performance of current and future systems.
• Participate in follow-the-sun on-call rotations to ensure our systems operate at peak performance.

Qualifications

You would be a great fit if you possess the following:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in physics, engineering, or another physical science.
• A desire and capability to work closely in a distributed team, showcasing excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Hands-on experience with optical alignments, laser stabilization, or AOMs.
• A keen propensity for learning new technologies.
• Formal training or education in statistics.
• Able to adapt to a dynamic work environment.
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including participation in a 24/7 on-call shift as needed.
• 1+ year of laboratory experience in atomic and/or optical physics.

You would be an even better fit if you have:

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

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

Location

This role will be based at our facility in Basel, Switzerland, with the option for remote work a few days a week.

Travel

Travel requirements are less than 10%.