Staff Cryptography Engineer

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

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Equity plan

Flexible work model

Training & development

Global team

Job summary

IonQ in Geneva, Switzerland is seeking a Staff Cryptography Engineer to join the Quantum Platform—Network & Security team. You will implement post-quantum cryptography software, build reference models, and develop test infrastructure for PQC algorithms.

The role requires mastery in C/C++/Rust, Python, and a Master’s degree with 5+ years in cryptographic software. You will collaborate with experienced engineers in a hands-on, security-critical environment.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Cryptography, Mathematics, Computer Science or a related field with at least five years of cryptographic software experience.
• Solid understanding of modern cryptographic primitives; exposure to post-quantum schemes (lattice-based or hash-based) and their mathematics.

Responsibilities

• Implement and maintain reference and bit-accurate models of ML-KEM, ML-DSA and SLH-DSA/LMS in C/C++/Rust and Python.
• Develop constant-time software implementations of cryptographic functions and test-vector tooling (NIST ACVP) for verification and CAVP certification.
• Assist hardware and firmware teams with algorithm questions, debugging and evaluation of third-party cryptographic libraries.

Skills

C/C++

Rust

Python

Cryptography

Post-quantum

Education

Master’s degree in Cryptography/CS/Math

Tools

NIST ACVP tooling

CAVP tooling

Job description

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

The Role

We are looking for a Staff Cryptography Engineer to join our team building post-quantum cryptography (PQC) hardware acceleration for HSM and network-appliance products. You will implement the software side of modern post-quantum algorithms: reference models, optimised implementations, and the test infrastructure that proves they are correct. This is a hands-on development role at the heart of applied cryptography, working with some of the most experienced cryptographic engineers in the field.

Responsibilities

You will implement and maintain reference and bit-accurate models of ML-KEM, ML-DSA and SLH-DSA/LMS in C/C++/Rust and Python, develop constant-time software implementations of cryptographic functions, and build out the known-answer-test and test-vector tooling (NIST ACVP) used for verification and CAVP certification. You will contribute to the decomposition of algorithms into hardware-friendly building blocks (Keccak, NTT and polynomial arithmetic, samplers, encode/decode), support RTL and firmware engineers with algorithm questions and debugging, and help evaluate third-party cryptographic libraries, working under the guidance of our senior cryptography engineers.

• Implement reference models, optimised software and test-vector infrastructure for ML-KEM, ML-DSA and SLH-DSA/LMS
• Support hardware and firmware teams with algorithm expertise, debugging and certification-oriented tooling

Requirements

We are looking for a candidate with a Master’s degree (PhD a plus) in Cryptography, Mathematics, Computer Science or a related field and at least five years of experience implementing cryptographic algorithms or security-critical software in C/C++ or Rust. You have solid understanding of modern cryptographic primitives and ideally first exposure to post-quantum schemes (lattice-based or hash-based) and their underlying mathematics.

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