Principal Software Architect

Entangled Future; Oxford; Hybrid; GBP 134,000 - 178,000; Full time

Job summary

IonQ in Oxford is seeking a Principal Software Architect to lead the design of real-time and distributed software for a quantum computer. You will own the system software architecture across hardware control, orchestration and developer APIs, guiding a global team toward a scalable, world-leading product.

The role blends strategic thinking with hands-on collaboration, coaching technical leads, and coordinating with infrastructure and compiler teams in the UK and US to deliver on current

Qualifications

• Experience designing large-scale software architectures with real-time and distributed components.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts to diverse teams.
• Proven track record coaching technical leads across multiple teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop and document the system software architecture.
• Lead architecture across a family of products.
• Coordinate with other architects and engineers globally.
• Guide real-time hardware control and orchestration components.
• Support future roadmap with architectural planning.

Skills

Software architecture

Real-time systems

Distributed processing

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Communication

Job description

Principal Software Architect at IonQ, Oxford, England, United Kingdom. A lead-level full time position in the Compute - Engineering team, listed under software engineering.

Role

We are looking for a Principal Software Architect to join our Compute Software organisation at IonQ. In this role, you will be responsible for developing and maintaining the architecture of the software that enables a quantum computer, from low level hardware control up to developer programming interfaces, contributing to the team’s mission of delivering a complete software product for a quantum computer.

You’ll play an important part in shaping the software and tools that support our work in building the world’s most advanced quantum systems. Our architecture now needs to evolve to support the next generation of our systems, and you will lead that work.

Responsibilities

In this position, you will develop the software architecture covering real-time and non-real-time hardware management, low level orchestration and user interfaces for the current product and the future roadmap of products. You will also work with the technical leads from the development teams to support the effective development and delivery of a scalable solution that supports internal experimental scientists and external customers.

You’ll have the opportunity to develop an evolving software architecture to support a family of products, contributing directly to the success of the system software team in delivering a world leading quantum computer. You will coach and train technical leads in good architectural principles, and work closely with the infrastructure, firmware and compiler teams across the UK and the US.

Requirements

To be successful, you will need prior experience of developing a large and scalable software architecture covering real-time requirements and distributed processing. We’re looking for someone who can think strategically at the architecture level, solve challenging technical issues, track the latest industry good practice and tools, and communicate those ideas and technologies to the wider software team.

Responsibilities

• Development and documentation of the system software architecture
• Managing the evolving architecture across a family of products
• Coordination with other architects across the whole of software and the wider system
• Research and analysis to support future requirements elucidation
• Coordination with technical leads to ensure that the design and implementation meets the intention of the architecture