Government Affairs & Public Policy Manager, EMEA

NightDragon Acquisition Corp.; Oxford; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision plans

Paid time off and holidays

Parental/adoption leave

Home technology stipend

Job summary

IonQ, Inc. in the United Kingdom seeks a Government Affairs Manager to drive policy research and stakeholder engagement across Europe.

You will work with the Head of International Government Affairs to build relationships with policymakers, regulators and industry bodies, coordinating briefings and meetings across multiple teams. The role emphasizes monitoring developments, preparing materials, and contributing to public-private partnerships while supporting growth in a strategically important

Qualifications

• Experience in government affairs, public policy, regulation, political advisory work or a related environment.
• A good understanding of European institutions and policy-making processes.
• Strong research and written communication skills.
• Confident engaging effectively with both internal and external stakeholders; organized, analytical and proactive.
• Based in, or willing to relocate to, the UK, with the ability to travel regularly across Europe.
• Preferred: experience in technology, defence, semiconductors or other innovation-led sectors.
• Additional European language capability.
• Familiarity with government funding programmes, public-private partnerships or dual-use policy.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and analyze policy, regulatory and funding developments relevant to quantum computing and IonQ's activities across Europe.
• Support engagement with government officials, regulators, industry associations and other external stakeholders, including preparing briefings and coordinating meetings.
• Support IonQ's participation in government programmes, funding opportunities and public-private partnerships.
• Develop briefing notes, stakeholder materials and policy analysis to support senior leaders.
• Work cross-functionally to ensure activity is coordinated with wider business priorities.

Skills

Government affairs

Public policy

Regulation

Stakeholder engagement

Policy analysis

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.

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, UK

Travel: Regular travel across Europe as required

Job ID: IONQ-2083

The Role:

IonQ is hiring a Government Affairs Manager to support our government affairs activity across Europe, working closely with the Head of International Government Affairs to strengthen relationships with policymakers, regulators, government agencies and industry bodies.

This is a hands-on role focused on policy research, stakeholder engagement and execution. You will help monitor political, regulatory and funding developments, prepare briefing materials, coordinate engagement with government stakeholders and support IonQ's participation in relevant programmes, partnerships and industry initiatives. The role offers significant exposure across the business and the opportunity to develop within a strategically important and growing area for IonQ.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and analyze policy, regulatory and funding developments relevant to quantum computing, emerging technology and IonQ's activities across Europe
• Support engagement with government officials, regulators, industry associations and other external stakeholders, including preparing briefings and coordinating meetings and follow up activity
• Support IonQ's participation in government programmes, funding opportunities, public-private partnerships and relevant industry initiatives
• Develop clear briefing notes, stakeholder materials and policy analysis to support senior leaders and external engagements
• Work across Government Affairs, Commercial, Legal, Communications and technical teams to ensure activity is coordinated and aligned with wider business priorities

Requirements

• Experience in government affairs, public policy, regulation, political advisory work or a related environment, within industry, government, a trade association or consultancy
• A good understanding of European institutions and policy-making processes
• Strong research and written communication skills, with the ability to produce clear briefing materials and policy analysis
• Confidence engaging effectively with both internal and external stakeholdersOrganised, analytical and proactive, able to operate effectively in a fast moving international environment
• Based in, or willing to relocate to, the UK, with the ability to travel regularly across Europe

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in technology, deep tech, defence, semiconductors or another innovation led sector
• Additional European language capability
• Familiarity with government funding programmes, public-private partnerships or dual-use technology policy

Compensation

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.