Director, Systems Software

Physics World; Oxford; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental and vision plans

401(k) matching

Unlimited PTO

Paid holidays

Parental/adoption leave

Legal insurance

Home technology stipend

Job summary

IonQ in Oxford, UK, is seeking a Director, Systems Software to lead a software team powering our quantum computers. You will shape end-to-end software from embedded control to compiler layers, and establish devops, release, and support processes.

You'll manage a team of around twenty engineers, drive cross-functional collaboration with quantum scientists, and grow the organisation into a world-class software stack provider for internal and external customers.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading a software organisation with tens of engineers and SMEs.
• Ability to set priorities, define expectations, and deliver for internal and external customers.
• Strong understanding of software development processes in a growing org.

Responsibilities

• Lead the software team and develop long-term roadmaps for multiple projects.
• Define and evolve internal processes, DevOps, release, and 3rd-line support.
• Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to align software with quantum hardware goals.
• Own the backlog and ensure timely delivery while balancing speed and quality.
• Communicate progress and issues clearly to stakeholders.

Skills

Real-time embedded software

Compiler development

Assembler development

Graph algorithms

System monitoring

Data centre deployments

Job description

About IonQ

IonQ, Inc . [NYSE: IONQ] is the world's leading quantum platform and merchant supplier - delivering integrated quantum solutions across computing, networking, sensing, and security. IonQ's newest generation of quantum computers, the IonQ Tempo, is the latest in a line of cutting-edge systems that have been helping customers and partners including Amazon Web Services, and AstraZeneca achieve 20x performance results and accelerate innovation in drug discovery, materials science, financial modeling, logistics, cybersecurity, and defense. In 2025, the company achieved 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity, setting a world record in quantum computing performance.

Job Details

About IonQ IonQ, Inc . [NYSE: IONQ] is the world's leading quantum platform and merchant supplier - delivering integrated quantum solutions across computing, networking, sensing, and security. IonQ's newest generation of quantum computers, the IonQ Tempo, is the latest in a line of cutting-edge systems that have been helping customers and partners including Amazon Web Services, and AstraZeneca achieve 20x performance results and accelerate innovation in drug discovery, materials science, financial modeling, logistics, cybersecurity, and defense. In 2025, the company achieved 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity, setting a world record in quantum computing performance. Headquartered in College Park, Maryland, IonQ has operations in California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Washington, Italy, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Our quantum computing services are available through all major cloud providers, while we also meet the needs of networking and sensing customers across land, sea, air, and space. IonQ is making quantum platforms more accessible and impactful than ever before.

Location: Oxford, England, United Kingdom Travel: As Needed Job ID: 1805

The Role

We're looking for an enthusiastic and highly technical Director, Systems Software who will thrive in our dynamic cross-disciplinary environment. You'd be working closely with our skilled software engineers and our world-leading quantum scientists to plan and manage the development of software that powers our quantum computers.

You will initially be leading a software team of around twenty software engineers with future growth of the team expected. We develop a full stack solution ranging from the real-time control & monitoring of our systems through an IR and quantum compiler layer to application demonstration. Your role will be critical in both specifying the stack as components that can be individually developed and released, and growing the team into a world-class organisation capable of developing and supporting the stack for internal and external customers. A critical part of this will be to establish and drive suitable development, devops, release, and 3rd line support processes. The quantum core of our hardware is built from trapped-ion qubits, controlled by devices designed and made by a partner tier 1 fab. We control the ions using electrical signals and laser light, driven by real-time FPGA systems and networked equipment. The required sequences and operations are derived both by low-level experiments that our science teams produce, and by a compilation flow from quantum algorithms. Our software stack is a combination of Python and Rust. We are looking for an experienced full-stack software manager, previous exposure to quantum systems is not required.

Responsibilities

In this position, you'll have the opportunity to accelerate the delivery of our software projects, contributing directly to the success of our research and development roadmap.

A focus in this role will be leading the definition and evolution of any internal team processes and the devops processes as our stack matures. You will work collaboratively with other teams to develop stronger cross-team interfaces and processes.

Your Key Responsibilities Can Be Split Into Two Categories

• Lead the software team and work with other technical teams to build and maintain long-term roadmaps for our various software projects
• Capture feature requests from internal conversations and external requirements
• Understand conflicting priorities and manage the team to deliver according to company needs and timescales
• Drive detailed software solutions, working with the software team
• Provide clear updates on issues and progress to all stakeholders
• Own the software team's backlog, working with the team members and project management group to keep it up to date
• Be the first point of call for others in the company to understand how the software fits together at high level

• Ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of the software team and ensuring the team maintains the right balance of delivery speed and quality
• Support members of the software team, including looking out for their wellbeing
• Conducting the performance reviews for the team and supporting their career development at IonQ
• Work with the VP of Engineering to plan future growth of the software team

Requirements

To be successful, you will need proven experience managing a software organisation containing tens of engineers and subject matter experts in their respective fields.You will have a track record in setting priorities, giving clear expectations and ensuring results are suitable for the internal and external customers, with a clear understanding of critical versus urgent items.

You'd Be a Great Fit With

• Proven ability to delegate at the appropriate level while maintaining good quality output at the pace needed in a high-tech startup
• Detailed technical background in more than one of the following areas: real time embedded software, compiler development, assembler development, graph algorithmic representations, system monitoring, data centre deployments.
• Clear understanding of standard software development processes and a pragmatic approach to their use in a growing organisation
• Excellent technical and organisational communication skills, both across the organisation and to external stakeholders

It would also be beneficial to have an understanding of branching and release practices and when to use them and/or how to organise internal triage and support as our external customer base grows. Additional desirable experience would be experience in tracking team delivery of new features, including scoping, estimation, release planning and tracking.

Compensation will vary based on individual factors such as education, qualifications, and experience of the final candidate(s), specific office location, and calibration against relevant market data and internal team equity. Posted base salary figures are subject to change as new market data becomes available. Our benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, matching 401(k), unlimited PTO and paid holidays, parental/adoption leave, legal insurance, and a home technology stipend. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided when a candidate receives an offer of employment.

At IonQ, we believe in fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all while striving to identify and eliminate barriers. We empower employees to thrive by fostering a culture of autonomy, productivity, and respect. We are dedicated to creating an environment where individuals can feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued.

We are committed to equity and justice. We welcome different voices and viewpoints and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, ancestry, physical and/or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

US Technical Jobs.

The position you are applying for will require access to technology that is subject to U.S. export control and government contract restrictions. Employment with IonQ is contingent on either verifying "U.S. Person" (e.g., U.S. citizen, U.S. national, U.S. permanent resident, or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum) status for export controls and government contracts work, obtaining any necessary license, and/or confirming the availability of a license exception under U.S. export controls. Please note that in the absence of confirming you are a U.S. Person for export control and government contracts work purposes, IonQ may choose not to apply for a license or decline to use a license exception (if available) for you to access export-controlled technology that may require authorization, and similarly, you may not qualify for government contracts work that requires U.S. Persons, and IonQ may decline to proceed with your application on those bases alone. Accordingly, we will have some additional questions regarding your immigration status that will be used for export control and compliance purposes, and the answers will be reviewed by compliance personnel to ensure compliance with federal law.

US Non-Technical Jobs.

Due to applicable export control laws and regulations, candidates must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum. Accordingly, we will have some additional questions regarding your immigration status that will be used for export control and compliance purposes, and the answers will be reviewed by compliance personnel to ensure compliance with federal law.