Principal Software Architect

IonQ; Oxford; On-site; GBP 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical

Dental and vision plans

401(k) matching

Unlimited PTO and paid holidays

Parental/adoption leave

Legal insurance

Home technology stipend

Job summary

IonQ, Inc. is seeking a Principal Software Architect to lead the architecture of the Compute Software organization, shaping software from hardware control to developer interfaces for our quantum computer platform.

You will drive the evolution of architecture to support next-generation systems and coach technical leads across UK/US teams. You will guide real-time and non-real-time software, collaborate with infrastructure, firmware and compiler teams, and ensure the architecture scales with

Qualifications

• More than 10 years of software development experience, with more than 5 as a software architect.
• Experience with real-time software development and scalable architectures.
• Experience writing software in Rust and leading architectural decisions.

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 architecture.

Skills

Software architecture

Real-time software development

Rust

Leadership

Strategic thinking

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.

Role Overview

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.

Key responsibilities include

• 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

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.

You will work at the level of the whole system, describing each component, what it does and its constraints, and then handing the detailed design and implementation to the development teams rather than designing through code. A grounding in formal architecture methods and principles such as cohesion, coupling and encapsulation will help you succeed, as will experience of evolving an architecture that has to grow with the product. Our immediate focus is system software and lower level control; experience further up the software stack is an advantage.

You'd be a great fit with

• More than 10 years of software development experience, with more than 5 as a software architect
• A clear understanding of software architecture principles
• A background in real‑time software development
• Experience working on software projects written in Rust

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.