Distinguished PQC Cryptography & Architecture Leader

Entangled Future; Genf; Hybrid; CHF 350,000 - 550,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Equity plan

Flexible work models

Ongoing training

Global collaboration

Performance culture

Job summary

IonQ in Geneva seeks a Distinguished Leader to provide overall technical leadership for our post-quantum cryptography hardware acceleration program, targeting hardware security modules and network-appliance applications.

You will own end-to-end architecture from cryptographic algorithms and standards strategy to FPGA-based product architecture, with a clear path to ASIC, guiding cryptography, hardware, software and security teams. This is a rare chance to shape a strategic security product line.

Responsibilities

• Define system architecture and microarchitecture of a multi-algorithm PQC accelerator implementing ML-KEM, ML-DSA and SLH-DSA/LMS with hardware/firmware partitioning and stable core-interface.
• Own the algorithm and standards strategy (NIST FIPS 203/204/205, CNSA 2.0, FIPS 140-3) and drive IP-licensing decisions for security and certification.

Job description

Distinguished PQC Cryptography & Architecture Leader at IonQ, Geneva, Switzerland. A lead-level full time position in the Quantum Platform - Network & Security team, listed under software engineering.

Job ID: 1891

ID Quantique (IDQ), part of IonQ, is a global leader in quantum-safe communications. We provide solutions to protect governments, telecommunication infrastructures, and banking & financial institutions from the “harvest-now, decrypt-later” threat, delivering both terrestrial and space-based quantum-safe networks in live operation globally.

The Role

We are looking for a Distinguished Leader to provide the overall technical leadership for our post-quantum cryptography (PQC) hardware acceleration programme, part of our quantum-safe product portfolio targeting hardware security module (HSM) and network-appliance applications. As the most senior technical authority of the programme, you will own the end-to-end architecture, from cryptographic algorithm and standards strategy to an FPGA-based product architecture with a clear path to ASIC, and you will set the technical direction across the cryptography, hardware, software and security disciplines involved. This is a rare opportunity to shape a strategic security product line at one of the few companies where quantum-safe security is the core business.

Responsibilities

You will define the system architecture and microarchitecture of a multi-algorithm PQC accelerator implementing ML-KEM, ML-DSA and SLH-DSA/LMS: hardware/firmware partitioning, throughput and lane sizing derived from real customer traffic models, and a stable core-interface specification that lets cryptographic cores evolve behind a frozen contract. You will own the algorithm and standards strategy (NIST FIPS 203/204/205, CNSA 2.0, FIPS 140-3), drive make/buy and IP-licensing decisions, and shape the security and certification architecture together with our side-channel and compliance specialists.

Benefits

• A role at one of the fastest growing and most exciting quantum companies in the world
• A competitive compensation scheme, benefits package, and equity plan designed to reward excellence
• Flexible work models that let you balance your life, your family, and your career
• Ongoing training and development to keep your skills sharp and your growth on track
• A career development plan within the IonQ group’s companies
• A dynamic, close-knit environment where you collaborate with a global team of experts
• A performance-driven culture built on trust, teamwork, and shared ambition