Senior Photonic Test Development Engineer

Ionq; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 126,887 - 166,127; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Matching 401(k)

Unlimited PTO

Parental/adoption leave

Home technology stipend

Comprehensive medical, dental, vision

Job summary

IonQ in Boston, MA seeks a Senior Photonic Test Development Engineer to lead the optical testing infrastructure for on-chip devices, using room-temperature and cryogenic setups. You will design, upgrade, and expand test systems, automate data acquisition and analysis, and collaborate across design, packaging, and system teams to enable scalable characterization.

The role requires 3+ years in optical spectroscopy, advanced degrees, laser and fiber expertise, and strong Python/MATLAB coding for

Qualifications

• 3+ years of professional experience in optical spectroscopy.
• Master or Ph.D. in engineering, physics, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience with test instrumentation for room-temperature optical test setups.
• Strong data processing, visualization, and organizational skills.
• Familiarity with free-space optics and imaging systems.
• Experience with laser sources and fiber components.
• Programming experience in Python, MATLAB, or similar for test automation.

Responsibilities

• Design, upgrade, and expand testing infrastructure for characterizing classical and quantum photonics devices at chip and wafer level.
• Develop and document robust testing procedures for component-level characterization.
• Automate the test pipeline including instrument setup, data acquisition, and analysis.
• Collaborate with design, packaging, and system teams to optimize testing features and develop test flow library.

Skills

Optical spectroscopy

Data processing

Free-space optics

Laser sources

Programming (Python)

Programming (MATLAB)

Education

Master's degree in engineering, physics, or related field

Ph.D. in engineering, physics, or related field

Tools

Python

MATLAB

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 20 times 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. IonQ has operations in California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Washington, Italy, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

IonQ’s 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

Work onsite at our office located in Boston, MA. Travel: less than 10 %.

The role

We are looking for a Senior Photonic Test Development Engineer to join our Quantum Interconnect Division. As a Senior Photonic Test Development Engineer, you’ll be part of a cross‑functional team whose mission is to lead IonQ on its journey to build the world’s best quantum computers to solve the world’s most complex problems. In this role, you will be responsible for the design, upgrade, and expansion of the optical testing infrastructure for characterizing on‑chip optical devices, utilizing both room‑temperature and cryogenic setups. The ideal candidate is someone who is a detail‑oriented problem solver with strong teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

• Design, upgrade, and expand the testing infrastructure for characterizing classical and quantum integrated photonics devices and components (passive and active) at chip and wafer level scale, utilizing both room‑temperature and cryogenic setups.
• Develop and document robust testing procedures for component‑level characterization.
• Automate the test pipeline, including instrument setup, data acquisition, and analysis, while maintaining high‑quality, scalable, and well‑tested characterization flows.
• Collaborate with design, packaging, and system teams to optimize testing features and develop a library of test flows for platform improvement.

Requirements

• 3+ years of professional experience in optical spectroscopy, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Master or Ph.D. in engineering, physics, or a related field/discipline, or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience with test instrumentation and methods for room‑temperature optical test setups.
• Strong data processing, visualization, and organizational skills.
• Familiarity with free‑space optics and imaging systems.
• Experience working with laser sources and fiber components.
• Programming experience in a general‑purpose programming language (like Python, Matlab, etc.) for test automation.

Preferred Qualifications

• 5+ years of design and characterization experience of classical integrated photonics devices.
• Hands‑on experience with cryogenic optical test setups.
• Hands‑on experience with characterizing integrated photonics devices.

The approximate base salary range for this position is $126,887 - $166,127. The total compensation package includes base, bonus, equity, and a range of benefit options found on our career site.

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.