Principal Engineer - Classical Cryptography & Architecture

Entangled Future; Genf; Hybrid; CHF 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fast-growing company

Equity plan

Flexible work models

Training & development

Career development

Global team collaboration

Performance-driven culture

Job summary

IonQ in Geneva, Switzerland is seeking a Principal Engineer to own the classical cryptography architecture for its post-quantum hardware acceleration products. The role requires leadership in symmetric ciphers, hashes, RSA/ECC offload, and entropy architecture within hybrid classical-quantum systems.

You will work with PQC architecture leadership to ensure cryptographic agility, secure key management, and migration paths while collaborating with a global team of experts in a fast-growing quantum

Qualifications

• Deep mastery of classical cryptography and cryptographic architectures.
• Experience with hardware-accelerated cryptography for enterprise-grade devices.
• Familiarity with post-quantum algorithms and PQC standards is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Own the architecture and implementation strategy of classical cryptographic functions for the product line.
• Collaborate on integration with PQC hardware acceleration and hybrid systems.

Skills

Classical cryptography

Cryptography architecture

AES/GCM

SHA-2/SHA-3

RSA/ECC offload

Hardware acceleration

Key management

Hybrid PQC understanding

Tools

HSM offload tooling

Job description

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

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 Principal Engineer to own the classical cryptography architecture of our post-quantum cryptography (PQC) hardware acceleration products, targeting hardware security module (HSM) and network-appliance applications. Real-world quantum-safe systems are hybrid systems: classical and post-quantum algorithms operating side by side, with careful key management, crypto agility and migration paths. You will be the senior authority for this classical and hybrid layer, working alongside our PQC architecture leadership. The role demands fluency on both sides of the transition: deep classical mastery combined with a solid working command of the post-quantum algorithms and standards the products are built around.

Responsibilities

You will own the architecture and implementation strategy of the classical cryptographic functions of the product line: symmetric ciphers and modes (AES/GCM and beyond), hash functions (SHA-2/SHA-3, HMAC/KDF constructions), RSA/ECC offload, and true random number generation and entropy architecture (SP 800-90A/B/C).

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