Physicist - Resilience Engineering and Operations / Physicistess - Resilience Engineering and Operations

About IonQ

IonQ, Inc. [NYSE: IONQ] is the world’s leading quantum company, dedicated to delivering solutions that address some of the most complex challenges facing society today. Our latest generation of quantum computers, IonQ Tempo and IonQ Forte Enterprise, represent cutting-edge technology that has enabled our customers and partners—including Amazon Web Services, AstraZeneca, and NVIDIA—to achieve remarkable performance improvements of up to 20 times.

In 2025, IonQ set a world record in quantum computing performance by achieving an outstanding 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity. As we accelerate our technology roadmap, our goal is to deliver the world’s most powerful quantum computers featuring 2 million qubits by 2030. This advancement will enhance innovation across various fields such as drug discovery, materials science, financial modeling, logistics, cybersecurity, and defense. Additionally, IonQ’s pioneering work in quantum networking positions us as a leader in the realization of the quantum internet.

Position: Physicist - Resilience Engineering and Operations

We invite you to join our innovative team as a Physicist specializing in Resilience Engineering and Operations for our state-of-the-art quantum computers based on trapped ion technology. You will collaborate with a cross-functional team dedicated to operating and enhancing IonQ’s leading quantum computer technologies. In your first three months, you will learn how to maintain the hardware and software of our quantum systems. Recent graduates in physics and related fields are encouraged to apply; we will provide the necessary training in quantum computer maintenance and operation. This role is based onsite 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.
• Enhance customer experience continuously while delivering exceptional service.
• 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 optimal system performance.

Qualifications

You would be a good fit for this role if you possess:

• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in physics, engineering, or another physical science.
• A strong desire to work collaboratively in a distributed team environment, coupled with excellent communication skills.
• Hands-on experience with optical alignments, laser stabilization, and/or AOMs.
• A genuine enthusiasm for learning and a fascination with emerging technologies.
• Formal training or education in statistics.
• The ability to adapt to a dynamic and evolving work environment.
• A willingness to work flexible hours, including participation in a 24/7 on-call shift that changes as needed.
• At least 1 year of laboratory experience in atomic and/or optical physics.

Preferred Qualifications

To excel in this role, you would ideally have:

• A 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.

Apply online using the form below. Please note that only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

Location & Travel

This role will be based onsite at our facility in Basel, Switzerland, with the option to work remotely a few days a week. Travel requirements are less than 10%.