Senior Flight Software Engineer

Entangled Future; Louisville (CO); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

IonQ is seeking a Senior Flight Software Engineer for the Capella team in Louisville, Colorado (remote options noted for SF/CA). This senior full-time role focuses on real-time embedded software development across hardware and software lifecycles, including design reviews, implementation, integration, and testing for Capella mission-critical systems.

The ideal candidate has a Bachelor’s degree in CS/CE/EE and 5+ years’ hands-on experience with real-time embedded systems, C/C++, Python, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 5+ years of relevant engineering experience.
• Experience with real-time embedded systems hardware and software.
• Experience with low-level drivers.
• Experience with bare-metal or RTOS real-time software.
• Familiarity with embedded Linux and Linux kernel modules.
• Strong C/C++ and Python (and shell scripting) skills.
• Experience developing software for microcontrollers and Xilinx Zynq SoCs.

Skills

Real-time embedded

Bare-metal/RTOS

Embedded Linux

C/C++

Python

Shell scripting

Education

Bachelors degree in CS/CE/EE

Tools

Xilinx Zynq SoCs

Linux kernel modules

Job description

Senior Flight Software Engineer at IonQ, Louisville, Colorado, United States; San Francisco, California, United States (remote). A senior-level full time position in the Capella team, listed under software engineering.

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. About Capella Capella, an IonQ company, spans national security, advanced sensing, and next-generation compute to deliver secure, mission-ready intelligence. Capella’s culture is built on collaboration, rigorous engineering, and a shared commitment to delivering solutions that strengthen global stability and security. Team members work side-by-side with some of the most innovative minds in space systems, quantum-enabled technologies, and mission-critical operations. Capella values curiosity, resilience, and a willingness to tackle hard problems with precision and creativity. Capella welcomes and encourages applicants whose perspectives are historically underrepresented in technology, national security, and aerospace. No prior space experience is required. Diverse viewpoints strengthen Capella’s ability to innovate and deliver meaningful impact for partners w

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, or a related field or equivalent practical experience.
• 5+ years of relevant, hands-on engineering experience.
• Ability to support a design through all software lifecycles including initial schematic review and architectural tradeoffs, preliminary and detailed design, implementation, integration, and test.
• Experience working with real-time embedded systems - both hardware and software, including low-level drivers.
• Hands on experience developing, testing, and debugging hard real-time software (bare-metal or RTOS).
• Familiarity with embedded Linux, Linux kernel modules, and standard Linux tools.
• Strong knowledge of programming compiled (C, C++) and scripted (Python, shell script, etc.) languages.
• Experience writing software for microcontrollers and other embedded systems, e.g., Xilinx Zynq SoCs.