Principal Solutions Architect - Quantum-Safe Networks

ionq; United States; Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid/Remote work options

Up to 30% travel

Job summary

IonQ is seeking a Principal Solutions Architect to design enterprise and service-provider networks transitioning to quantum-safe cryptography. This senior, customer-facing role combines reference architecture leadership with standards work, shaping migration playbooks and product direction for quantum-safe networking.

You will lead workshops, craft migration plans, and own the technical thread across complex pursuits, including RFI/RFPs and compliance. Travel up to 30% may be required.

Qualifications

• 15+ years designing and securing large networks in roles like solutions/network/security architect or senior engineer.
• Deep hands-on knowledge of modern network design: routing, switching, IP transport, segmentation, firewalls, VPNs, and Zero Trust.

Responsibilities

• Design quantum-safe target architectures and migration paths for WAN, transport, data center, campus and key management.
• Lead architecture workshops with customer teams and produce executable migration plans.
• Own technical threads in RFIs/RFPs, architecture proposals, and compliance questions with sales.
• Design and run proofs of concept, interoperability tests, and pilots for post‑quantum cryptography in real environments.
• Track NIST PQC standards and IETF work; translate into product requirements and engineering guidance.
• Contribute to external thought leadership (white papers, talks, blogs) and mentor internal teams.

Skills

Enterprise network design

Post-quantum cryptography

CISO engagement

Crypto‑agility

Quantum key distribution

Scripting for PoCs

Public speaking/standards

Multi-vendor network security

Job description

Role overview

A Principal Solutions Architect position focused on designing how enterprise, service-provider, and government networks transition to quantum-safe cryptography. The role combines hands‑on customer engagement with standards work and internal design authority, shaping reference architectures, migration playbooks, and product direction for quantum-safe networking. It is a senior architecture and customer-facing role rather than a software engineering position; the architect owns designs, decisions, and technical credibility rather than a codebase.

Responsibilities

• Design quantum-safe target architectures and migration paths across WAN, transport, data center, campus, segmentation, key management, and underlying cryptography.
• Lead technical discovery and architecture workshops with customer network, security, and infrastructure teams, assessing current state and producing executable migration plans.
• Own the technical thread in complex pursuits, including RFI/RFP responses, architecture proposals, compliance questions, and competitive positioning, in partnership with sales teams.
• Design and run proofs of concept, interoperability tests, and pilots for post‑quantum cryptography and hybrid key exchange in production‑representative environments.
• Track NIST post‑quantum standards, IETF protocol work, and sector‑specific mandates, and translate those into product requirements and engineering guidance.
• Contribute to external thought leadership through white papers, conference talks, blogs, and standards bodies, while mentoring internal teams and raising the architectural bar.

Requirements

• 15+ years designing and securing enterprise or service‑provider networks in solutions architecture, network architecture, security architecture, or senior customer‑facing engineering roles.
• Deep hands‑on knowledge of modern network construction and security, including routing, switching, IP transport, segmentation, firewall and access‑control design, VPN, network‑layer encryption, and Zero Trust principles, with multi‑vendor experience.
• Working knowledge of applied cryptography in networks, including TLS, IPsec, MACsec, PKI and certificate lifecycle, key management, and how algorithm and key‑material choices are made and changed.
• Demonstrated ability to engage customers at multiple levels, from leading engineering workshops to credible discussions with CISOs and senior infrastructure leaders about risk, cost, and sequencing.
• Solid grounding in post‑quantum cryptography, crypto‑agility, and quantum key distribution, with enough fluency to be credible on day one even if no prior PQC migration has been shipped.

Nice to have

• Some scripting ability to support proofs of concept and tooling work.
• Prior public‑speaking or standards‑body participation.

Benefits and work setup

• US‑based position with onsite, hybrid, or fully remote work options.
• Up to 30% travel, domestic and international.
• Position is subject to U.S. export control and government contract restrictions; candidates must qualify as a U.S. Person (citizen, national, permanent resident, or asylee/refugee) or meet applicable license requirements.