Photonic Layout Engineer

Clutch Canada; Maryland; Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Annual bonus

Generous leave

Hybrid work

Medical and dental insurance

Job summary

IonQ is seeking a Photonic Layout Engineer to join the QPU Design team. You will layout photonic integrated circuits (PICs) used in quantum processor units, coordinating with scientists and fabrication engineers to bring designs into production.

You will accelerate tape-outs, verify layouts with DRC/LVS, and prepare reticle-size files via Python, enabling scalable qubit hardware. A strong background in PIC layout and Python tooling is essential.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in the design and layout of Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs).
• Experience with waveguides, beamsplitters, grating couplers or similar photonic components.
• 2+ years of Python for photonics layout (IPKISS, GDSFactory, Klayout).
• Degree in Photonics, Physics, Electrical Engineering or related field, or equivalent industry experience.

Responsibilities

• Arrange and route photonic components on the chip in coordination with metal track and CMOS routing.
• Produce reticle-size photonic layout files using Python scripts for tape-out.
• Collaborate with scientists, photonic designers, test and fabrication engineers to define design rules.
• Layout verification through DRC and LVS; contribute to custom layout PDks.
• Document the layout process and final tape-out mask files.

Skills

PIC layouts

Python for photonics

Collaboration

Device physics knowledge

Education

Degree in Photonics/Physics/Electrical Engineering

Tools

Luceda IPKISS

GDSFactory

Klayout

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.

What to expect:

We are looking for a Photonic Layout Engineer to join our QPU Design team at Oxford Ionics/IonQ. In this role, you will be responsible for the layout of photonic integrated circuits (PICs) that form a central part of our Quantum Processor Units (QPUs), the novel technology that sit at the heart of our quantum computers and contributes to the team’s mission of advancing the design of these high‑performance chip. You will work closely with scientists, photonic design engineers and fabrication engineers to bring new designs for ion trapping chips into production.

You’ll play an important part in shaping the hardware that supports our work in building the world’s most advanced quantum systems.

What you'll be responsible for:

In this position, you will work on integrating photonic components into complex multi‑layer chips. This work will support the effective delivery of devices that make use of on‑chip light delivery to allow scaling to thousands of qubits and beyond. You will have the opportunity to accelerate the tape‑out of new chips and drive the design workflow of integrated photonics, contributing directly to the success of building utility‑scale quantum computers.

You will be responsible for arranging and routing photonic components on the chip, in coordination with the metal track and CMOS routing. You will produce reticle‑size photonic layout files using Python scripts as part of tape‑out of the full chip, suitable for use in a commercial foundry.

• Collaborating with scientists to discuss their requirements.
• Interfacing with photonic designers, test engineers, packaging engineers and fabrication engineers to define design rules and shape component design.
• Layout verification through DRC and LVS.
• Contributing to custom layout Process Design Kits (PDKs) that are specific to IonQ and the foundry.
• Documenting the layout process and the final tape‑out mask files.

Requirements

To be successful in this role you will need significant experience in the design and layout of Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs). We are looking for someone who can consider requirements and constraints from other parts of the chip in the layout process, understand the purposes of different photonic components, enjoys complex layout work and can contribute effectively within a fast moving, highly technical team.

You'd be a great fit with:

• Proficiency in Photonic Integrated Circuit layouts.
• Familiarity with the principles of photonic devices, such as waveguides, beamsplitters, grating couplers or similar, including design, test and fabrication.
• At lest 2 years of experience working with Python software packages, specifically for photonic mask layout, such as Luceda IPKISS, GDSFactory or Klayout.
• A degree in Photonics, Physics, Electrical Engineering or a related field, or equivalent industry experience.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills, and the ability to work independently and prioritise tasks in a time‑sensitive environment.

Other experience that would be beneficial includes experience in generating layout files for photonic devices or complex semiconductor devices, particularly with custom elements. Knowledge of the manufacturing processes and techniques in these two fields would also be helpful. A background in commercial simulation, verification and layout environments such as Synopsys, Cadence or Ansys is desirable. Strong programming and software skills would also be an asset in this role.

Benefits

Be part of a team that’s shaping the future of quantum. We offer more than just a role, you’ll join a world class community of scientists, engineers and innovators working to unlock the full potential of quantum computing.

We offer a range of benefits, including opportunities to further your career alongside industry leaders, a competitive salary with IonQ stock options, an annual performance bonus, generous annual leave, flexible hybrid working, private medical and dental insurance for you and your family, and much more.

Join us and be part of the future of quantum computing.

We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.

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.