Principal Photonic Device Design Engineer

IonQ, Inc.; Santa Barbara (CA); On-site; USD 212,000 - 275,000; Full time

Job summary

IonQ, Inc. is seeking a Principal Photonic Device Design Engineer to lead semiconductor laser development and heterogeneous photonic integration. You will define architectures, guide designs from concept to qualification, and mentor engineers across photonics, packaging, test, and system teams.

Based onsite in Santa Barbara, CA, you will drive cross-disciplinary programs, partner with foundries and suppliers, and shape technology roadmaps for scalable quantum and classical systems.

Qualifications

• PhD in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, Optics, Photonics, Materials Science, or related field with 5+ years of experience, or 8+ years industry experience.
• Deep expertise in semiconductor lasers, III-V photonics, integrated photonics, or heterogeneous photonic integration.
• Proven success developing active photonic devices through multiple design, fabrication, and characterization cycles.
• Extensive experience with photonic-device modeling, simulation, mask layout, fabrication, and design verification.
• Strong understanding of semiconductor laser physics, III-V materials, epitaxial structures, optical cavities, thermal behavior, and fabrication processes.
• Proven ability to define device architectures, resolve complex multidisciplinary problems, and drive technology from development through qualification or production.
• Experience leading technical initiatives, influencing engineering decisions, and mentoring engineers.
• Excellent technical communication, collaboration, documentation, and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of semiconductor lasers and related active photonic-device architectures.
• Translate product and system requirements into device specifications, epitaxial designs, optical structures, mask layouts, and verification plans.
• Own critical device designs from modeling and simulation through tape-out, fabrication, characterization, optimization, and production qualification.
• Establish design methodologies, modeling practices, design rules, and verification standards.
• Lead design-of-experiment activities and data analysis to improve device performance, yield, reliability, and manufacturability.
• Partner with process engineers, epitaxial suppliers, and foundries to align device designs with fabrication capabilities and manufacturing requirements.
• Lead cross-functional technical collaboration across photonics, packaging, test, electronics, controls, product, and system engineering.
• Provide technical direction, design reviews, and mentorship to engineers, and support technology transfer and production ramp.

Skills

Semiconductor lasers

III-V photonics

Integrated photonics

Device architecture

Mentoring engineers

Technical communication

Education

PhD in Electrical Engineering or related

Tools

Mask layout design

Photonic-device modeling

Fabrication processes

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.

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:

This role is based onsite at our office in Santa Barbara, CA.

Travel:

Less than 10%

Job ID:

1888

The Role:

We are seeking a Principal Photonic Device Design Engineer to join our integrated photonics team. In this role, you will serve as a technical leader for the design and development of semiconductor lasers and other active photonic devices for heterogeneous integrated platforms supporting scalable quantum and classical systems. You will define device architecture and technology roadmaps, lead designs from concept through production qualification, and provide technical direction across multidisciplinary development programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of semiconductor lasers and related active photonic-device architectures.
• Translate product and system requirements into device specifications, epitaxial designs, optical structures, mask layouts, and verification plans.
• Own critical device designs from modeling and simulation through tape-out, fabrication, characterization, optimization, and production qualification.
• Establish design methodologies, modeling practices, design rules, and verification standards.
• Lead design-of-experiment activities and data analysis to improve device performance, yield, reliability, and manufacturability.
• Partner with process engineers, epitaxial suppliers, and foundries to align device designs with fabrication capabilities and manufacturing requirements.
• Lead cross-functional technical collaboration across photonics, packaging, test, electronics, controls, product, and system engineering.
• Provide technical direction, design reviews, and mentorship to engineers, and support technology transfer and production ramp.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, Optics, Photonics, Materials Science, or a related field and 5+ years of experience, or 8+ years of relevant industry experience.
• Deep expertise in semiconductor lasers, III-V photonics, integrated photonics, or heterogeneous photonic integration.
• Demonstrated success developing active photonic devices through multiple design, fabrication, and characterization cycles.
• Extensive experience with photonic-device modeling, simulation, mask layout, fabrication, and design verification.
• Strong understanding of semiconductor laser physics, III-V materials, epitaxial structures, optical cavities, thermal behavior, and fabrication processes.
• Proven ability to define device architectures, resolve complex multidisciplinary problems, and drive technology from development through qualification or production.
• Experience leading technical initiatives, influencing engineering decisions, and mentoring engineers.
• Excellent technical communication, collaboration, documentation, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing integrated laser platforms for quantum, sensing, communications, or other high-performance applications.
• Experience working with semiconductor foundries, epitaxial suppliers, and packaging partners to transition technologies into production.
• Experience supporting strategic customers, external partnerships, proposals, or government-funded R&D programs.

The total compensation package includes base, bonus, equity, and a range of benefit options found on our career site.

If this role has a commission structure, the compensation range below just reflects the base compensation range.

Wage Transparency

$212,000—$275,000 USD

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.