Senior Account Executive, NW SLED

IonQ; Boulder (CO); Hybrid; USD 182,000 - 262,000; Full time

Job summary

IonQ, Inc. in the United States is seeking an Experienced Senior Account Executive to lead commercial expansion into State and Academic institutions within the target region.

This individual contributor role covers the full IonQ portfolio including Quantum Computing, Networking, Sensing, Applications and Space, and reports to the GTM lead. The role requires deep relationships with academic and government stakeholders, 15+ years in technology sales with quota carrying responsibilities, and a STEM

Qualifications

• Existing relationships with Academic and Government stakeholders.
• 15+ years in Technology Sales/Business Development with quota in SLED.
• Undergraduate degree in Business/Science/Engineering/Math/CS or STEM field.
• Proven leadership and team-player with hands-on approach.

Responsibilities

• Create and execute IonQ's SLED sales strategy across portfolio.
• Develop relationships at senior levels of State and Academic institutions.
• Identify opportunities with State/local/Higher Ed and Academic institutions.
• Build pipeline for IonQ Quantum Computers.
• Collaborate with customers on new use cases with AppDev team.
• Qualify opportunities based on budget, skills, interest and timing.
• Create proposals aligned with opportunities considering local rules.
• Negotiate and close business deals.
• Drive customer satisfaction with Customer Success Team.

Skills

Relationship building with SLED Stake

Leadership & teamwork

Sales experience in SLED/BD

Strategic account management

Education

Undergraduate degree in Business/STEM

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.

Location: This position can work onsite or hybrid from one of our offices in the US or fully remote, with a preference for someone in the North West. Ideally Colorado.

Travel: Up to 50%

Job ID: 1886

The Role:

We are looking for an Experienced Senior Account Executive who will be part of a cross-functional team whose mission is to lead IonQ commercial expansion into States and Academic Institutions within their target region. The product coverage covers all of IonQ's portfolio including Quantum Computing, Networking, Sensing, Applications and Space. This is an individual contributor role, targeted at experienced sales leads with the ability and expertise in building a team as the business expands.

The GTM lead will be the ultimate owner of account relationships and GTM strategy in partnership with a Field Engineering lead who will bring the technology depth in support of all market development activities in the target region.

Responsibilities

• Create and execute IonQ's SLED sales strategy covering all aspects of IonQ portfolio (Compute Hardware / Software and AppDev, Networking, Sensing and Space).
• Develop strategic relationships at senior levels of State and Academic institutions.
• Identify new opportunities with State, local, Higher Ed, and Academic institutions.
• Develop a pipeline of sales opportunities for IonQ's Quantum Computers.
• Work with customers and prospects to identify and collaborate on new use cases in partnership with IonQ's AppDev team.
• Qualify the opportunities based on budget availability, skills, interest, executive commitment, and timing.
• Create proposals aligned with the opportunity at stake taking into consideration State and local restrictions.
• Negotiate agreements and close business deals.
• Drive customer satisfaction, in partnership with IonQ's Customer Success Team.

Requirements

• Existing relationships with Academic and Government stakeholders.
• Minimum of 15-years experience in Technology Sales/Business Development with quota carrying responsibilities in the SLED space.
• An undergraduate degree in Business, Science, Engineering, Math, Computer Science or another relevant technical field (STEM).
• Proven team player with leadership abilities and a getting your hands dirty to get the job done.
• Demonstrated experience and understanding of the business drivers and use of technology in SLED.

Preferred Qualifications

• Existing relationships with Academic and Government stakeholders in target Geo.
• Minimum of 15-years experience in Hardware Infrastructure or AI/ML Technology Sales/Business Development with quota carrying responsibilities in public sector.
• Experience in early market development for emerging Tech.
• Knowledge in High performance computing, Quantum Computing Platforms, Algorithms, Applications (AI/ML at minimum).
• Experience in category creation selling i.e. creating compelling approaches to sell solutions that are not usually a named category in customer budgets.
• Proven negotiating skills.
• Experience in consultative selling creating win-win deals in situations where a market is being developed and requires bespoke deal architectures.

OTE for this role is expected to be around $380K

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

$182,400—$262,200 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.